RACGP Calls for GP-Led Support in New Thriving Kids Program
21 Oct 2025
Speaking to the inquiry on Monday, RACGP President Dr Michael Wright and Specific Interests Child and Young Person’s Health Chair Dr Tim Jones emphasised that early GP involvement is key to helping families navigate support services and reduce long waitlists.
Thriving Kids, set to begin on 1 July 2026, is a $2 billion national program for children aged eight and under with mild to moderate developmental delay or autism and low to moderate support needs. The program will gradually replace parts of the NDIS for eligible children and aims to create a “seamless transition” through mainstream health and community services.
Dr Jones, who is on the Thriving Kids Advisory Group, said GPs are well positioned to support families because of their deep community connections and experience in coordinating care across multiple providers. “We know what communities need and how to make the most of limited resources,” he said.
The inquiry is examining gaps in workforce training and program delivery, with the goal of ensuring multidisciplinary care involving GPs, nurses, and allied health professionals. The government has also proposed a new Medicare item for bulk-billed three-year-old health checks, a move RACGP has long advocated for.
Dr Jones highlighted the urgency for reform, noting that in Tasmania alone, more than 3,000 children are currently waitlisted for NDIS assessments. “We have the ability to detect early developmental concerns, but the system has created a logjam in delivering timely support,” he said.
Committee Chair Dr Mike Freelander described the inquiry as a “significant initial step” to ensure families, professionals, and educators have input into the program’s design, helping children access foundational support for optimal growth, learning, and wellbeing.
Other stakeholders providing evidence to the inquiry include the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, the Australian Association of Psychologists, Occupational Therapy Australia, and the Disability Advocacy Network Australia.
Source: newsGP
