Minister of Health, Ageing and Disability Mark Butler has responded to concerns that he is limiting access to the NDIS, saying a new scheme will be put in place to support children with mild to moderate autism and developmental issues.

The new scheme, called Thriving Kids, will give children that are currently receiving support from the NDIS access to a more suited support network.

“Unfortunately the NDIS has been the only port in the storm for them,” Butler told Channel Nine.

Butler added that some kids with autism will require life-long assistance from the NDIS, but that others are in need of a different system.

“The NDIS is not the right fit for them. That is a scheme for permanent and significant disability.”

Butler acknowledged concerns from parents with kids relying on the NDIS for support, reassuring them that they won’t be left “high and dry”.

“We’re going to make sure that there is a scheme well designed that gives them confidence that we’re going to do everything we can to support their kids to thrive, and there’ll be no gap between the stools,” he said.

The $2 billion scheme will be operational by June next year with the cost being shared equally between federal and state governments.

Changes to access to the NDIS will start in mid-2027, once Thriving Kids has been fully rolled out.

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