Jodie Belyea (Dunkley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the committee's report No child left behind: report into the Thriving Kids initiative. As the member for Dunkley and as a member of the House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability, which delivered the Thriving Kids report, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to be part of the Thriving Kids interviews and submissions. We had months of careful listening and rigorous examination of evidence, and we had a shared determination to do a better job for Australian children earlier. I acknowledge the dedication and leadership shown by the chair, the member for Macarthur, and the deputy chair, the member for Kooyong, of the inquiry, and thank them.

Before speaking on the recommendations, it's important to understand why we held the inquiry in the first place. The reasoning behind the Thriving Kids inquiry is about protecting the long-term sustainability and integrity of the National Disability Insurance Scheme while improving how children with developmental delays and disabilities receive support earlier. The inquiry argues that the NDIS must remain strong for people with severe and permanent disabilities and that earlier intervention for mild to moderate developmental needs in children should be addressed through accessible, evidence based community and education systems, and services in communities. Ultimately, Thriving Kids seeks to rebalance the system by strengthening earlier supports, by improving data collection and accountability, and by ensuring equitable access—especially for vulnerable and rural communities—so that both children and those that support them and the NDIS itself can thrive well into the future.

Over the course of this inquiry, the committee travelled across the country. We heard directly from families, educators, health professionals, carers, community organisations and advocates. We received evidence from national peak bodies and small grassroots services. We spoke with school principals and education professionals juggling increasingly complex needs within children. We listened to paediatricians describing preventable developmental delays. One theme emerged again and again: families do not experience challenges in neat silos. A child struggling at school may also be living within housing instability. A young person experiencing anxiety may be waiting months for clinical support. A parent seeking help may have to tell their story five times to five different services that do not talk to one another before they receive help.

The fragmentation of our support system is inefficient and exhausting for families who are already under pressure. The Thriving Kids report is the culmination of that evidence. It contains 16 practical and achievable recommendations designed to ensure that children, no matter their background, postcode or circumstances, thrive. I am particularly proud that the report strongly supports the hub-and-spoke model of service delivery. This model is practical, evidence based and, most importantly, centred around children and families. It creates accessible local hubs where families can access integrated services from specialist supports located within schools and community organisations. It improves coordination and ensures that help is available in accessible locations.

In our hearings, we heard powerful testimonies about how integrated service models reduce barriers and build trust. When families can walk into one location and access health support, parenting programs, early learning, advice and referrals to specialist services, they are far more likely to engage. When services share information appropriately and work collaboratively, children are far less likely to fall through the gaps.

For my electorate of Dunkley, this model has particular significance. Dunkley is a vibrant, diverse and growing community. Across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, we are home to hardworking families with children, dedicated educators, committed health professionals and an extraordinary network of community organisations. But, like many communities, we also face real challenges, including the cost of living, increasing demand for mental health services and the ongoing impacts of social and economic disadvantage in parts of our region.

I think of families who have told me about how difficult it can be to navigate the National Disability Insurance Scheme. I think of parents who have shared their frustration at long waiting lists for paediatric assessments. I think of school leaders who have spoken to me about the growing complexity of student wellbeing. These are not isolated stories; they reflect a system that requires services and programs to be delivered earlier to children, for parents and carers.

The 16 recommendations span early childhood development, health, education, family support and data sharing. They recognise that thriving is multidimensional. A child's wellbeing and capacity to thrive is shaped by their physical, mental, educational and family stability in a community environment. The report calls for an inclusive co-design process to ensure that policy is grounded in evidence and lived experience. It recommends establishing a thriving kids advisory council to guide implementation across all levels of government. It proposes phased implementation with appropriate safeguards and amendments to strengthen foundational services. It calls for the establishment of an inspector-general to ensure greater oversight and accountability. Importantly, it recommends a streamlined provider registration system to reduce duplication, a commission service model that builds on high quality existing services and improved access to telehealth and online supports, particularly for regional communities. It emphasises robust data integrity so that decisions are informed by accurate and transparent information.

One of the most significant recommendations is the introduction of a single-entry portal for children with developmental concerns, a universal starting point so that families know where to turn—no more navigating a maze of disconnected services, no more telling their story repeatedly, just a clear, streamlined pathway to support. The hub-and-spoke model was a suggested model reinforced by many organisations, where centres coordinate as satellite outposts in different settings, which will benefit each region. It means that in communities like Dunkley, families can access wraparound supports through an integrated model close to home. It means earlier identification of developmental delays, timely mental health intervention and stronger connection between schools and community services.

The report also recommends a rapid parliamentary review after 24 months, the inclusion of professional and parent consultative groups, increased support during educational transition, strengthened regional and rural services, workforce development, new Medicare items for annual paediatric reviews and greater transparency in school disability funding.

Research consistently shows that investing in early childhood supports delivers significant long-term benefits, improved educational attainment, better health outcomes and reduced demand on crisis services. Every dollar invested early yields substantial returns.

Beyond the economic argument lies a moral one. Every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential. These are not abstract recommendations; they respond to the real and growing need for Thriving Kids. Currently one out of six boys in primary school have a diagnosis with the NDIS. That statistic alone underscores the scale of developmental and support needs facing families today. Early intervention is not optional; it is essential. That is why this is an important initiative.

Place based solutions are central to this report. Communities understand their own strengths and challenges. By empowering local services to collaborate within a strong national framework, we can build systems that are both consistent and responsive.

Following the agreement in January between the Commonwealth and states and territories, the start date for the Thriving Kids initiative has been extended to allow development of the model. This is a responsible step. Reform of this scale must be done carefully, transparently and in partnership with those that it affects. The Thriving Kids report provides a roadmap to strengthen and connect these efforts. It is there for our children, their families and our community so that they too can thrive.

Melissa McIntosh (Lindsay, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australian families are right to be concerned about the Albanese government's Thriving Kids program. As shadow minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and shadow minister families and social services I'm hearing these concerns directly, and they cannot be ignored. Labor's program, designed to direct children with autism away from the $50 billion a year National Disability Insurance Scheme, is already raising serious concerns for many families across Australia. To date, only two jurisdictions—South Australia and the Northern Territory—have agreed to the program. This is despite the Prime Minister stating it had been committed to at National Cabinet.

This new $4 billion Thriving Kids program was due to commence by 1 July this year, but the start date has already been pushed back to October. When Labor first announced Thriving Kids, it made clear that the NDIS eligibility would change, with only children experiencing the most acute developmental delay remaining on the scheme. Instead, children aged eight and under with delay and/or autism with low to moderate support needs will be supported outside the NDIS.

What does this mean for families? Following Labor's announcement of the program, Children and Young People with Disability Australia surveyed 1,535 parents, carers and young people. Of those, nearly four in five—or 79 per cent—said the rollout was too rushed and risked children with disability falling through the cracks. Families are right to be concerned. From 1 January 2028, these changes will apply to children aged eight and under, with even those already on the NDIS subject to reassessment. That means mums, dads and grandparents already exhausted from caring for a child with disability may now be forced to fight through even more bureaucracy just to retain the support their child relies on.

We must also acknowledge that the concept of moderate autism is itself contested by people with lived experience and advocacy groups. At the same time, we are seeing increased reliance on automated systems to allocate funding. The government says the program will bring consistency, but for many families it is creating uncertainty and fear.

As the member for Lindsay in Western Sydney, I hear these concerns every single week. Families speak about delays and cuts to NDIS plans, providers taking advantage of vulnerable participants and plans being reduced by decision-makers with little understanding of disability. Data provided to the Senate showed that 30 per cent of reassessed plans between May and October last year had their funding reduced by an average of 22½ per cent. Appeals are rising sharply at the Administrative Review Tribunal, where the agency running the NDIS spent $60 million on external lawyers last financial year to fight participants. Some people fighting the bureaucracy have reportedly died waiting for an outcome on their case. This is not just a policy issue; it is a human one, and it does not stop with the NDIS.

From 2027, children under eight with mild to moderate autism or developmental delays will no longer enter the scheme. Instead, they will rely on schools, early childhood centres, Medicare and community services. As experts have pointed out, this responsibility will fall heavily on teachers and early childhood educators, many of whom want to help but simply do not have the resources, the training nor the time. We already know how fragile inclusion is in our schools. Data from Children and Young People with Disability Australia shows that 60 per cent of parents report their child with disability has been bullied, a 10 per cent increase since 2022. More than half say their child has been excluded from excursions or camps, and almost one in three report restrictive practices such as restraint or seclusion. This is the reality families are navigating.

It is critical that the Albanese government gets this right. As the shadow minister, I support reforms that strengthen the sustainability of the NDIS, but not at the expense of vulnerable children and their families. Families deserve to know exactly how this program will work and how support will be delivered in real, practical terms. They deserve to know what this means for their child. Of particular concern, under these changes, funding and support plans for NDIS participants will be generated by a computer program with little to no discretion for staff to intervene. That means a significant reduction in human judgement in decisions that profoundly impact people's lives. For families already under pressure, that uncertainty is not just frustrating, it is frightening. Families need clarity, they need confidence, and they need a system that works with them, not against them. If we get this right, we give every child a chance to thrive. If we get it wrong, the consequences are lifelong.

Debate adjourned.