Australia Unveils $2 Billion Program to Divert Children with Autism from NDIS
The program, known as Thriving Kids, will be jointly funded by the federal government and state and territory jurisdictions.
According to Health Minister Mark Butler, the goal is to address the financial strain on the NDIS, which is currently supporting tens of thousands of children with mild to moderate developmental delay or autism.
Butler claims these children are being “over-serviced” and that their needs can be better met through alternative support programs.
Background and Concerns
The NDIS was initially designed to provide support for people with permanent disabilities.
However, an analysis by the Grattan Institute suggests that seven out of 10 new participants in the scheme have autism as their primary diagnosis.
This has led to concerns about the financial sustainability of the program, with some arguing that it is not equipped to meet the needs of children with mild to moderate developmental delays or autism.
Data from an incoming government brief obtained by Guardian Australia under freedom of information laws reveals that children under 15 make up 43% of the scheme’s 717,000 participants but receive only 13% of payments.
Furthermore, participants with autism or developmental delay as their primary disability account for half of the scheme’s participants but receive only 23% of payments.
New Support Program
The Thriving Kids program will provide “foundational supports” outside the NDIS for those with less severe impairments.
Butler stated that the program will offer a separate, jointly funded support stream for adults with severe and complex mental illness.
The health minister hopes to lower the current 8% growth target for the NDIS to 5 or 6% in the coming years, pending agreement from national cabinet.
While some have expressed concerns that the government is shifting away from foundational supports, Butler argues that programs like Thriving Kids give shape to the previously “generic term.”
The program is expected to be rolled out from July next year.