The service will be delivered by government organisations and non-profits – and providers can now submit expressions of interest.
Questions around how the much-anticipated Thriving Kids program will be delivered, in NSW at least, with the state government releasing details ahead of the rollout in October.
The NSW Department of Communities and Justice said Thriving Kids services would be delivered by NSW government agencies alongside non-government organisations, to be commissioned by the DCJ.
Two types of service will be commissioned: general supports, and targeted supports. Service providers can apply to provide either general supports, targeted supports, or both.
Procurement is now open for new services to start from October, the DCJ said.
“This will involve two stages, with an expression of interest (EOI) to be followed by a request for tender (RFT),” the DCJ said.
“Further procurement activities will occur for additional services to commence in 2027.”
The DCJ said it was only seeking to contract not-for-profit organisations to deliver Thriving Kids services.
“There may be limited circumstances in which DCJ engages private providers to deliver specialised or professional services that are not available from not-for-profit organisations,” the DCJ said.
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- Australia’s private health sector is fighting with itself
- NSW Health ‘deeply committed’ to combating antisemitism
- Richer residents preferred, unstaffable beds left empty: review
- Healthcare’s new weak link: the power bill
- Biggest investment in health in WA’s history
But Caitlin Breheny, managing director of Connect Paediatric Therapy Services in Karratha in north-west Western Australia, said that if the same model was used in other states, it would be “disastrous” for communities.
“Speaking as a remote (MMM6-7) provider, this model would be disastrous for our communities – further widening the gap for our First Nations people and impacting on already significantly behind health and wellbeing outcomes when compared to our metro counterparts,” she wrote on LinkedIn.
Allied health consultant Trystan Conway said that while the funding was there, workforce challenges remained.
“The challenge is that these organisations won’t be able to attract the requisite allied health workforce,” he said on LinkedIn.
“Most clinicians with expertise in early childhood intervention currently work in private practice or small provider settings.”
The $4 billion Thriving Kids program will provide services to children aged eight and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have low to moderate support needs, and their carers.
Children won’t need a formal diagnosis to get support through the service.
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Thriving Kids will be rolled out across states and territories by 1 October this year, providing general services such as inclusive supported playgroups, peer support and parenting groups, and group and individual early childhood intervention and allied health therapy for children.
Targeted supports will also be available for children who need additional help for a set period of time, such as individual or group allied health therapies; information, advice and referrals for families to get help early; and low-cost assistive technology to support development goals.
The federal government will provide half the funding – $2 billion over five years – while the states and territories will provide the other half, as well as being responsible for the program’s rollout.
The DCJ will run an online briefing session for prospective service providers during the EOI period (but providers don’t need to submit an EOI to attend).