The Queensland government remains the only holdout state not to sign the agreement for Thriving Kids, the federal program set to replace the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for children with autism and developmental delays. The scheme, scheduled for implementation from October 2025, will fully replace the NDIS for eligible children by January 2028, but the state's premier says he will not sign without further clarity.
Families face uncertainty as NDIS funding ends
Ali Kuylaars, a Queensland mother of two sons with autism, Isaac, 14, and Arlo, eight, is among thousands of parents concerned about the transition. She says her children could be removed from the NDIS by 2028, but without a signed agreement, there is no clarity on what supports will replace it.
“You can’t remove supports and not have some sort of alternative system in place. Does that mean that we have to have Thriving Kids? I don’t think so,” Kuylaars said. “The entire community are concerned about Thriving Kids. We don’t have enough clarity about what it looks like. We don’t have enough clarity about what types of supports will be accessible. We don’t at all understand how this is going to be implemented.”
Providers warn of service gaps for Queensland children
Deejay Egan, group chief executive officer of DCC Group, an NDIS provider serving about 700 Queensland children, primarily Indigenous, says families are anxious about a potential drop-off in services. “There is a lot of uncertainty across the board because if we don’t get an agreement, then, how do we service our participants?” Egan said. “How do we communicate that to our clients, caregivers, and parents to be able to navigate that when we ourselves don’t have that information?”
Egan warns that sudden removal of supports in January could see Queensland children fall behind peers in other states, increase financial pressure on parents, and reduce their ability to engage in education. “I think will have a huge impact on their health,” he said.
Premier demands answers before signing deal
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli told reporters on Thursday that he expects a deal but insists the state will take time to do things “the right way.” “I can’t be a deal that allows two levels of government to just say to vulnerable people: ‘Oh well, there’s been some cosy deal done, and we wash your hands of you’ … and that’s what will happen if we don’t get the deal right,” he said.
The state has asked how Thriving Kids will define mild to moderate autism and what will happen to children over the age of nine when they age out of the program. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said the definition would result from “collective work by all governments” and that a draft would be provided “within days” to all states and territories. “It is not commonwealth work. It is not a negotiation between the commonwealth and Queensland, in particular,” Butler said.
Concerns over rushed reform and state preparedness
Butler also noted that every other jurisdiction has been able to develop their programs and finalise implementation plans, adding, “They know how much money they’re getting from the Commonwealth to deliver their programs. It’s time that Queensland got on board too.”
However, Queensland’s preparation remains unclear. In parliamentary estimates last month, Belinda Drew, director-general of the department of families, seniors, disability and child services, said workforce targets, budgets, and governance arrangements for Thriving Kids were “still subject to government consideration.”
Associate Professor Kathy Ellen from the University of Queensland said the reform has been rushed and it is unclear what would happen if the program is implemented without Queensland signing up, causing stress for families. “I really do think that both the federal and the state governments have a responsibility to work together about this because, in the end, it’s the families and the young people are going to be struggling with all of it if they don’t,” she said.
The dispute remains unresolved as the October implementation date approaches, leaving Queensland families and providers in limbo over the future of disability supports.
