Autism and developmental delay: support for children 8 and under

Support starts with noticing.

Every child develops differently. If you're concerned about your child's communication, learning, behaviour, movement or social skills, it's okay to ask for help.

Get the Thriving Kids in the NT factsheet PDF (452.8 KB).

Thriving Kids support scheme

Thriving Kids is a new national initiative that will help children and families access support earlier, when it can make the biggest difference.

Thriving Kids in the Northern Territory (NT) will provide support for children aged 8 and under who have:

• developmental delay
• autism with low to moderate support needs.

You don't need a diagnosis to start looking for support.

Thriving Kids and the NDIS

If your child receives support through the NDIS, nothing has changed. Thriving Kids does not replace the NDIS.

The NDIS will continue to support children with higher and more complex needs, including those with significant and lifelong disability.

Thriving Kids complements the NDIS by strengthening foundational and early supports outside the scheme.

When services start

The transition and implementation of Thriving Kids will start on 1 October 2026, with services being built and expanded across the NT over time.

Full implementation is expected by 1 January 2028, allowing time to build service capacity and ensure quality delivery. A phased approach will provide certainty for families.

What will Thriving Kids do

Thriving Kids will help children get the best start in life by improving early identification and response to developmental needs and supporting families with information, advice and connections to services.

Supports and services will include:

• information and advice about child development and autism
• parenting and family programs and supports
• peer support and community-based early intervention activities
• targeted developmental assistance when needed.

Thriving Kids is designed for the Territory and will deliver culturally responsive supports through a ‘no wrong door’ approach. This ensures families can access help wherever they first seek it.

Accessing Thriving Kids

You may seek support if you have concerns about your child’s speech, movement, behaviour, play, learning, communication or daily functioning.

If you have concerns about your child’s development, you can:

• speak with your child health nurse or family doctor (GP)
• talk with your child’s teacher, early childhood educator or childcare provider
• discuss your concerns with other professionals supporting your family, including allied health professionals, case managers or support workers.

You do not need a diagnosis before asking for help.

Support options include:

• Universal support: delivered nationally, providing advice and support through the Thriving Kids Information and Resources Hub and national phone lines.
• General support: information and advice about child development and autism, parenting and family programs, peer support and community-based early intervention activities.
• Targeted support: NT Health allied health teams will manage referrals, intake, triage and prioritisation.

If you need support now

You do not need to wait for Thriving Kids to seek support.

Support is already available if you have concerns about your child's development.

You can:

• speak with your child health nurse or family doctor (GP)
• talk with your child's teacher, early childhood educator or childcare provider
• discuss your concerns with other professionals supporting your family, including allied health professionals, case managers or support workers.

You can also:

• go to the Thriving Kids Information and Resources Hub
• call the Thriving Kids Autism Helpline on 1300 654 789, available from 8 am to 7 pm, Monday to Friday
• call the National phone line on 1800 882 436, available from 7 am to midnight, 7 days a week, including video calls.

Thriving Kids Autism Helpline

The Thriving Kids Autism Helpline is a national autism-specific helpline, with a supporting digital information and resource hub for families, carers and kin of children aged 0-8 years with autism, developmental concerns or suspected developmental differences, providing locally tailored information, advice, connections and resources.

National phone line

The National phone line provides information and advice to families of children aged 0 to 8 years with early developmental and behavioural concerns.

It also connects families with appropriate supports and services when additional needs are identified.