The Federal Government has now released the Thriving Kids Advisory Group Final Report, alongside the No Child Left Behind parliamentary report released in December 2025. Together, these documents signal the direction the Government is taking as it shapes the final design of the Thriving Kids program.

The Government’s response raises serious concerns from a clinical and workforce perspective. It places early identification of developmental delay in the hands of a largely non-health, non-clinical workforce, which risks missed red flags, inconsistent assessments, and delayed referral to appropriately qualified professionals. But it does specifically name psychology as an included profession.

Psychologists play a critical role in early identification, assessment, and evidence-based intervention for developmental delay, autism, ADHD, and emerging mental health concerns. Our expertise is essential not only for accurate assessment, but for guiding families through what can be an overwhelming and emotionally demanding process.

The model also places significant responsibility onto parents, despite the reality that families have often already spent months or years advocating, researching, and attempting to access support before delays become formally recognised. Time-limited allied health interventions do not reflect the complexity of many children’s needs, nor the evidence around what effective early intervention actually requires.

We are also concerned that this model risks shifting additional responsibility onto schools and early learning settings, at a time when teachers and education staff are already under significant strain. Expecting overburdened teachers to take on more identification, monitoring, and coordination responsibilities, without corresponding resourcing or specialist support, is not sustainable and may undermine both educational and wellbeing outcomes.

A more effective approach would embed psychologists earlier in the pathway, ensure timely access to skilled, regulated health professionals, and allow interventions of sufficient duration to support meaningful developmental change. This would reduce pressure on families, support carers to remain engaged in the workforce, and improve long-term outcomes for children. This is what AAPi is fighting for.

Early childhood reform must strengthen, not dilute, access to psychological expertise. If we are genuinely committed to helping children thrive, we need a model that recognises the central role of psychologists in delivering safe, effective, and developmentally informed care.

Based on the reports and current government actions, here is what AAPi members need to know.

Program design will be decided by state governments

The Advisory Group’s final report outlined a national model for foundational supports delivered outside the NDIS, but the Government has since stated that the design will be up to state and territory governments to decide. AAPi will therefore need to work with all government departments, often across portfolios, as well as the federal government. 

The government has declared that they are prioritising continuity of care

The parliamentary committee emphasised that access to existing therapy must not be disrupted and recommended a slow, staged rollout with protections. This is particularly important for psychologists supporting children with complex developmental, behavioural, or learning needs, and it addresses one of AAPi’s key concerns: that early supports not be withdrawn before new systems are ready.  

Stronger recognition of psychologists is emerging

The government’s commissioned reports repeatedly acknowledge that psychology is essential, and reforms will not succeed without proper involvement from the sector. 

The report emphasised the need to explicitly embed psychologists across design, governance, workforce planning, and evaluation. The language echoed in the committee’s findings.  

AAPi’s own evidence was also cited, including:

• The need to address gaps in access to psychological services.
• Expanding workforce capacity, including provisional psychologists in rural/remote placements.
• Removing barriers to assessments and expanding rebates.  

Implications for psychologists’ inclusion in Thriving Kids

The final parliamentary recommendations emphasise using existing, regulated providers wherever possible and explicitly involve allied health and psychologists in system reviews and new child development pathways.  

The committee recommended a commissioned service model, drawing on existing providers. This creates opportunities for psychologists to participate in regional, community, and early childhood hubs as the model is rolled out.  

A stronger focus on culturally safe, neurodiversity-affirming practice is reflected in the final report, mirroring AAPi’s advocacy position.

At this stage, the Government has not announced the complete program model or funding structures. However:

• The implementation of Thriving Kids has already been delayed to October 2026, allowing time for states and territories to prepare and for additional input from peak bodies such as AAPi. 

AAPi will continue to advocate to ensure psychologists are centrally embedded in the design and delivery of foundational supports. We will continue direct engagement with all levels of government and push to ensure that psychologists are front and centre, that funding and workforce measures include sustainable funding and the use of provisional psychologists with proper supervision. AAPi is being proactive in this process.

We will provide further updates as the Government releases implementation details.

There has been widespread confusion around Better Access since the changes introduced late in 2025. AAPi has been actively liaising with the Department to improve the referral process, reduce red tape, and ease administrative burdens. While the Department has suggested these issues affect only a 'minority of cases', we know there is more to understand.

We are asking for your input into our Member Survey on Better Access referral issues, to help us clarify the types and scale of these issues. 

Your feedback will directly inform AAPi’s advocacy for:

• Reducing unnecessary administrative burden
• Preventing delays in client care
• Ensuring responsibility for referral accuracy sits with referrers
• Improve the education of referrers
• Making the system better for everyone and ensuring clients can access psychologists

Your experiences are crucial in helping us identify the real-world impact of these changes. Thank you in advance for taking the time to share your insights.

Victorian ADHD Reforms

AAPi Executive Director Tegan Carrison’s comments were featured in this Yahoo! News article on ADHD care reforms in Victoria, following similar policy changes in Queensland allowing GPs to diagnose and prescribe ADHD medication. She said AAPi welcomed reforms to improve access to care, as long as they do not sideline specialist psychological expertise. Tegan stated that the challenge with ADHD care "is not just access, but access to the right care", highlighting psychologists’ unique role in comprehensive assessment and evidence-based intervention for both children and adults.

Thriving Kids model raises concerns

AAPi's Chief Psychologist Amanda Curran spoke with ABC Radio Adelaide this week about the proposed Thriving Kids program and AAPi’s concerns about how it is designed to operate. She said the key risk is that early identification of developmental delay is being placed in the hands of a non-health, non-clinical workforce, without clear pathways to qualified assessment and intervention. AAPi has called for Medicare items to allow GPs to refer children to psychologists for assessment, warning that without access to appropriate diagnosis there is a real risk children will receive the wrong intervention at the wrong time, limiting the benefit of the program. Amanda was also featured in Heath Services Daily on the topic.

Highlights for January included AAPi Director Rachel Samson's opinion piece in The Australian on the "nurture gap" which led to a radio interview on ABC Perth and a secondary story on gender disappointment in The Adelaide Advertiser. 

AAPi President Sahra O'Doherty's opinion piece on the Medicare mental health check ran in the Herald Sun and two other News Corp newspapers. 

Sahra also appeared on Channel 7 News nationally with comments about a grandparent study and cognitive decline. 

AAPi Director Daniela McCann's advice on starting high school featured across 11 News Corp newspapers including the Courier Mail.

AAPi extends our deepest condolences to the survivors, the families of those who lost their lives, and all individuals and communities impacted by the devastating events at Westfield Bondi Junction. This tragedy has had far-reaching effects, and our thoughts remain with all those affected.

This week, the NSW State Coroner released the findings and recommendations of the Inquest into the deaths at Westfield Bondi Junction. The report makes clear that the circumstances surrounding this event cannot be separated from long-standing, systemic issues in mental health care, including fragmented services, unclear clinical pathways, and chronic underinvestment.

A central theme of the report is the need for new, clearly defined clinical guidelines, particularly for people living with severe and complex mental illness. The Coroner emphasised improved shared-care arrangements, including clearer responsibilities for monitoring relapse risk, escalation pathways, and continuity of care. 

Importantly, the Coroner explicitly recognised that guidelines alone are insufficient without adequate resourcing. The recommendations call for sustained and appropriate mental health funding to ensure services have the workforce capacity to provide proactive, coordinated and continuous care. Without investment in accessible community-based psychology services, early intervention, and ongoing support for people with complex needs, the gaps identified in the inquest will persist.

AAPi notes that these findings reinforce long-standing concerns raised by psychologists about workforce shortages, fragmented funding settings, and the consequences of a system that relies too heavily on crisis responses rather than sustained psychological care. Meaningful reform will require both clear clinical frameworks and funding models that allow for adequate mental health treatment and support.

We’re inviting members to complete a short, anonymous survey to identify current and future training and support needs specific to your practice area, Area of Practice Endorsement, and career stage.

Your insights are invaluable and will directly shape the development of future training and resources. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, and we sincerely thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.

The Victorian Government has announced reforms designed to make ADHD care easier and cheaper to access for both children and adults in the state. Under the changes, General Practitioners (GPs) will be able to undertake accredited training to expand their scope of practice so they can safely diagnose, treat and prescribe medication for ADHD. 

AAPi recognises the importance of timely, accessible and affordable care for people living with ADHD, particularly given evidence of growing demand for assessments and the significant impact of delays on educational, occupational and social outcomes. 

Our position remains that psychology and general practice should work in partnership. Psychologists are the experts in comprehensive assessment, diagnosis and treatment of neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions, including ADHD. While expanding the role of GPs can help improve access, it is crucial that reforms uphold clinical quality and ensure that psychologists continue to play a central role in multidisciplinary ADHD diagnosis and management.

We will continue to engage constructively with policymakers and stakeholders to support reforms that enhance system capacity without undermining specialist psychological expertise. Ensuring that psychologists are included as key partners in assessment, diagnosis and treatment pathways aligns with AAPi’s long-standing advocacy for integrated, evidence-based care.

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released a new fact sheet on disability advocacy, outlining how advocacy can support people with disability to promote, protect and defend their human rights.

Disability advocacy can help people understand and assert their rights, access services and supports, and resolve issues early before they escalate.

• Access the fact sheet here
• View the National Disability Advocacy Program resources here

Each month, AAPi members receive complimentary access to a reference book. This month’s title is 'Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder: Understanding, Assessment, and Treatment.'

This practical, clinician-focused text explores how to understand, assess, and treat compulsive sexual behaviours that cause distress. Drawing on current research and clinical expertise, it covers assessment, treatment approaches, and commonly overlooked considerations in practice.

Members can access the book for the month of February here.

Help shape Support at Home pricing advice

The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) is inviting in-home aged care providers to take part in the Support at Home cost collection. This year, both Support at Home and Commonwealth Home Support Program providers can participate. Your input will help inform government pricing advice for the new program, and participants will receive a benchmarking report with insights into their services. Expressions of interest close 30 June.

Help DVA clients find your services

The National Health Services Directory (NHSD) is searched more than 1.5 million times each month through Healthdirect’s Service Finder. Keeping your service listing accurate helps DVA clients and referrers quickly find the care they need. Providers are encouraged to review or register their NHSD listing, ensure contact details and services are up to date, and clearly note that they accept DVA clients. To learn more on how to register your health service with the NHSD click here.