GPs 'flying blind' on Thriving Kids involvement

The program is being created to provide support to children younger than nine showing signs of development delay in place of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). It is set to be delivered by state and territory governments, rather than federally.

The program was first announced in August last year as the federal government looked to reduce spending by funding by $37.8 billion throughout the next four years, but with an October 1 commencement date looming there is still little known about how the program will work.

Perth GP Dr Andrew Leech said GPs were keen for detail on how they may be involved.

“The role of GPs in the early intervention stage and our assessment process is still not clear,” he told Medical Forum.

WA’s May budget set aside $361 million over the next five years for the program. This week, the same day the federal Senate passed legislation which will pave the way for NDIS reform, the state government provided some insight on how that money will be spent - but not all of the funding.

It is not yet known what funding arrangements will be in place to help GPs and specialists, including psychiatrists and paediatricians, to support children in this cohort.

The WA government announced a $52 million pool of funding for a Thriving Kids Family and Children Support Program to fund eligible groups, such as community organisations, not-for-profits and local governments throughout the next two years, as part of the wider funding package.

Applications can be made for grants worth between $250,000 and $2 million, with submissions closing September 30, the day before Thriving Kids is set to begin.

Detail on the Department of Communities website states the grants are not for individual therapeutic responses, but instead for community-based projects and initiatives that work with families, carers and kin to strengthen their knowledge, skills and confidence to support their children.

It listed “group sessions” for children, individual family support, workshops and information sessions, or peer or group supports for parents and carers that align with Thriving Kids Service Principles as the types of initiatives that may be funded.

Medical Forum asked the Department of Communities where the remaining $309 million would be allocated, however the department did not provide a response.

Instead a spokesperson said services would be introduced progressively with the program becoming fully operational by January 2028.

“Further information will be shared in coming months,” they said.

While block funding is expected to be used by service providers selected to deliver therapeutic programs, they did not say how this would work in practice.

The Thriving Kids initiative includes a federally backed, Medicare-funded three-year-old health assessment designed to spot developmental concerns early, which will involve GPs.

Dr Leech said while incorporating changes into medical notes and software was one aspect that may have to be navigated if announcements are made about GP involvement, the bigger issue would be navigating how consults are booked and how GPs are remunerated, and whether additional training would be required.

“Some GPs may need that as they’re not as familiar with early developmental signs,” he said.

He said the three-year-old check up was part of a bigger picture which may include linking patients to early intervention and allied health but he was unsure how that might work.

Dr Leech said he was seeing families on a daily basis who also had questions, or were sharing information based on their experiences with the NDIS.

“We’re flying blind at the moment," he said.

“It’s been quite upsetting for a number of families who’ve been either accessing the NDIS for their child’s needs, or who are trying to access it. There have been some quite emotional consultations with families saying their funding has been cut or significantly reduced.

“About one person every day now is telling me they’ve got to a point where they’ve had to reduce their therapy down to or cut it altogether because funding has been reduced.

“Parents come to me asking what they should do, do they write a letter, but GPs have very little idea around how to navigate these changes. It’s a bit of a mess at the moment.

“Many of these parents are at their limit and some of them have had to stop work to support their kids and there is a sense of despair in their face about what they are going to do.”