NDIS autism supports are changing — what families need to know

Autistic people are now the largest single group in the NDIS and its fastest-growing cohort — 42% of the whole scheme, with most new access grants going to children under 14. That growth is a big part of why the NDIS is changing how autism support is assessed and funded over the next two years.

Right now, access still runs on the existing system: autism can be a primary disability that gives a person access to the NDIS, assessed against the current diagnosis-based rules. From 2028, new applicants will move to a standardised functional-capacity assessment instead — looking at how much day-to-day support a person actually needs, rather than diagnosis alone.

Alongside that, a new national program called Thriving Kids starts taking children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism (low-to-moderate needs) from October 2026, scaling up fully by January 2028. It is backed by $4 billion in joint federal and state funding and sits outside the NDIS — families of young children in this group will access support through Thriving Kids rather than an NDIS plan going forward.

Health Department documents reported by Guardian Australia in July 2026 estimate that, as the new assessment model rolls out, a large number of people currently accessing the NDIS with autism as their primary disability may not meet the new criteria by 2031 — reporting that has understandably worried a lot of families. What is confirmed: existing plans are not cancelled overnight when the new system starts, and reassessment happens under a transition process, not a sudden cut-off.

None of this changes what is funded under a current plan today. If autism support is part of your or your child’s NDIS plan, the most useful next step is a direct conversation with your support coordinator about how the 2026–2028 transition applies to your specific plan and renewal date — and having a registered provider on hand either way. Nurture N Revive is a registered NDIS provider (registration 4053413291) delivering autism-affirming daily living, community access, support work, and Supported Independent Living across Cranbourne and Melbourne’s south east.