Psychiatrists welcome rollout of Thriving Kids initiative in South Australia

The South Australian Branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) welcomes the rollout of Thriving Kids, a new, national program, targeting early developmental concerns in young children.

The College acknowledged the Malinauskas Government’s ongoing, meaningful engagement and consultation with the sector, including psychiatrists in South Australia, to help develop this wide-reaching program.  

The Federal Government’s Thriving Kids initiative, which began in its initial stages on 1 October 2026, aims to provide support early in life for children with autism and neurodevelopmental delays, outside of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). 

RANZCP SA Branch Chair Dr Devon Marshman said the reform represented an important opportunity to identify and address developmental concerns early, through mainstream care, foundational support and community-based services, before a child turns eight. 

“We hope that most children are well supported through foundational supports and community-based services. Some children, however, may have co-occurring mental health conditions or have more complex clinical needs that require additional, specialised support from child and adolescent mental health services,” Dr Marshman said.

“As details for Thriving Kids in SA are being ironed out, the RANZCP SA Branch looks forward to continuing to work with government to ensure that, as young patients come off the NDIS, a full spectrum of support is available to them.

“This includes targeted support from allied health services, and clear referral pathways to specialist treatment and care if further mental health needs are identified.”

The College acknowledges that many changes will not occur right away, with current NDIS eligibility criteria remaining in place until January 2028.

“There remains an important opportunity for continued collaborative dialogue with health professionals in this space as well as families most likely to be affected by the incoming changes. This will help ensure that all children in South Australia who require support can access timely care that’s close to home and embedded in their local community," Dr Marshman said.

“We look forward to working with Minister Katrine Hildyard and the South Australian Government to ensure that the views and expertise of psychiatrists working on the frontline of SA's mental health system help inform these reforms.”