Parents sound alarm on major change for autistic kids

A shake-up to support for autistic children risks repeating mistakes of the past and overlooking some kids with less-severe needs.

That's the verdict from leading advocates and parents at a parliamentary inquiry into the government's Thriving Kids program, which is being rolled out to shift some children with autism off the strained National Disability Insurance Scheme.

The program is meant to provide support and intervention through mainstream channels, such as general practitioners and schools, from mid-2026 amid broader concerns about the rising cost to taxpayers of the NDIS.

Jenny Karavolos, who has an autistic child and is the chief executive of Disability Advocacy and Complaints Service South Australia, said she was worried children with mild to moderate needs would be overlooked.

"The current proposal risks repeating history by diverting children into mainstream systems," she told the inquiry's first public hearing on Friday.

Ms Karavolos raised concerns about relying on those services, pointing to a three-fold increase in requests for support because of vilification and discrimination in schools in 12 months in her home state.

The federal government's announcement of the program in August surprised some state leaders and prompted concerns of inadequate consultation, creating uncertainty for families and children.

Committee chair and Labor MP Mike Freelander said he was aware of those concerns, adding the government wouldn't be able to design a "perfect system" but it would be reviewed in time.

He said the committee recognised the timeline was a "difficulty".

"We have created a lot of anxiety and we also don't actually have a scheme design at the present time," he said.

Professor Sharon Lawn, executive director of Lived Experience Australia and the mother of an autistic child, said too many young people faced assumptions or stereotypes when accessing support.

"Kids with mild to moderate concerns are the very ones that are the ones at greater risk of being missed, diagnosed, overlooked and bounced around the system and services," she said.

Prof Lawn called for a greater acknowledgement of parents' concerns, worried too many mums and dads were "banging their heads" against doors trying to get help for children.

Disability advocacy organisations from around Australia addressed the inquiry, many of them voicing strong concerns about the proposed changes and workforce capability.

Submissions described lengthy and invasive assessments to access support under current arrangements and fears the changes risk creating a "two tier" system.

"Thriving Kids must complement, not replace or reduce, the NDIS," they said.

"The NDIS is not a luxury - it is a lifeline."

Excluding autism from the NDIS was "ableist and discriminatory", according to a submission from independent support co-ordinator and mother of two autistic sons Ange McArthur.

She warned a "deeply harmful" narrative around the changes had demonised autistic people as a "burden".

Funding for Thriving Kids remains up in the air with federal and state governments yet to strike a deal over who will pay for what.

Federal ministers hope a deal will be struck by the end of 2025.

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