Disability minister says advisory group to meet next month as families call for detail on new kids’ scheme

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The federal government has moved to reassure the disability community that no one will be left behind under its plan to divert children with developmental delay or autism away from the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Families have been calling for more detail about the government's new Thriving Kids program since it was announced last week, but the NDIS minister says the program is yet to be designed and an advisory group will get to work next month.

Transcript

00:00As Perth mum Claire Mackay plays with her four-year-old son Clark, she reflects on how far he's come.

00:11He's got about, I'd tell you about 20 words now.

00:14We've got a little communication device that we use which he can use fluently.

00:19Clark is autistic.

00:22Since becoming a participant of the NDIS a year ago, Clark's developed new skills,

00:28thanks to speech therapy.

00:30But his mum worries the federal government's announcement to divert children with developmental delay or autism

00:36away from the scheme and into a new program called Thriving Kids threatens Clark's progress.

00:43It really felt like the rug had been pulled out from underneath us.

00:46Thriving Kids is just one way the government is attempting to rein in spending on the $48 billion NDIS.

00:53It's due to start in less than 12 months, but the program has not yet been designed

00:58and the absence of detail is fueling concern within the disability community.

01:04The Minister Mark Butler says the program will leverage off existing systems.

01:09And he's pointed to the Inklings program in Western Australia as a good example of a service successfully

01:15providing early intervention support, with children offered 10 sessions with an allied health professional.

01:22Best practice supports happens in those mainstream settings in which kids live, play, learn.

01:30And the NDIS model does not necessarily allow that in all circumstances.

01:34Independent advocate and autistic woman Claire Gibellini says she's worried thriving kids will see a move away

01:41from the individualised support autistic children need.

01:45Autism is incredibly diverse and people's needs are fluctuating.

01:51Individual supports, yeah it might front load the costs, but in the long term we know that it actually leads to better outcomes.

01:59The Minister Mark Butler has told the ABC an advisory group will meet next month to begin work with the community on the design of the program.

02:07He's reassuring parents he's determined to build a system to support children and their families.

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