Protect Autistic Kids – Don’t Cut Them Off the NDIS

The Albanese government has announced a $2 billion “Thriving Kids” program that will divert children with autism and developmental delays out of the NDIS by 2027. This would mean thousands of families could lose vital support services.

Families like mine rely on the NDIS for therapies, appointments, and daily living support. Without it, children will fall behind and parents will face unbearable strain.

The problem is not families. The real issue is dishonest providers and loopholes that allow rorting of the system. Billions are being lost to unethical operators, yet instead of cracking down on them, the government is targeting children.

Schools and GPs cannot pick up the slack. Teachers are already stretched to their limits, with many children forced into home-schooling because mainstream education cannot meet their needs. Families also face long delays just to see a GP or paediatrician. These services are already overwhelmed — they cannot replace the NDIS.

We demand that the government:

Keep children with autism and developmental delays eligible for the NDIS.

Mandate registration of all providers (from large organisations to individual workers) with mandatory training, oversight, and accountability.

Fix problems with self-managed funding, which leaves families and carers to navigate a system far too complex and open to misuse.

Crack down on provider rorting with strong audits and penalties.

The NDIS is a lifeline. Removing children from it will not fix the system — it will devastate families while allowing fraud to continue.

Please sign this petition to show the government that our children deserve protection, not cuts.

Samantha Thompson    Contact the author of the petition