News
Inquiry bolsters case for GP child development check item
RACGP calls for a new MBS item could soon be answered after a Parliamentary committee recommended its rollout.
Rolling out from 1 July this year, Thriving Kids will see eligible children diverted into the new program from the NDIS.
An MBS item number for child development checks should be made available for GPs to ensure all children have equal access to the incoming Thriving Kids initiative.
That is one of 16 recommendations from a Parliamentary Committee investigating the new program, handing down its final report late last year.
It also recommends a separate item number be made available to paediatricians to conduct a yearly review for their patients, with case conferencing with other health professionals and educators involved.
The inquiry was tasked with helping design the Federal Government’s incoming Thriving Kids program, which will see eligible children diverted into the program from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The $2 billion program will begin on 1 July this year and is intended as a national support system for children aged eight and under with mild-to-moderate developmental delay and autism, and low-to-moderate support needs.
Ahead of the program’s launch, the Parliamentary committee examined the effectiveness of current initiatives, identifying gaps in workforce support and training, and ways to create a ‘seamless transition’ through mainstream systems.
Dr Tim Jones, RACGP Specific Interests Child and Young Person’s Health Chair and member of the Thriving Kids Advisory Group, said the recommendation for a new MBS item ‘fits so well with what we see as GPs’.
‘What we’ve really been struggling to do is pick up the kids and families where the concerns are more subtle: the emotional and social development of a child, families that don’t have quite enough parenting backup to help them support their child,’ he told newsGP.
‘So, being able to spend a long period of time as a GP with a family, that’s going to be so good at making sure families feel supported, but also, we can get across all the issues that may be impacting the development and wellbeing of that child and then figure out the right sort of supports.
‘The elephant in the room is workforce, but I think if GPs are supported under Medicare to spend time with patients, we know that time is what will support those really honest, really healthy discussions, and the support that flows from that.’
The inquiry also recommends a Thriving Kids Advisory Council be established to advise federal, state and territory governments, and disability ministers, on the implementation of the initiative.
‘It’s really important that general practice and the RACGP have a seat if that happens,’ Dr Jones said.
‘If we’re going to be tasked with being some of the key implementers of Thriving Kids, we need that real-time feedback and evaluation to government to make sure that it does what it’s meant to do.’
As well as recommending a new GP MBS item, the committee also called for:
- inclusive co-design with families, carers, service providers, and advocacy groups
- phased implementation supported by an advisory council to guide progress and maintain transparency
- stronger protections for families and carers, including clear pathways for support and safeguards for children
- equity of access, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, culturally and linguistically diverse families, and those in regional and remote areas
- a review of Thriving Kids after 24 months to ensure it remains effective and responsive to community needs.
The
RACGP has long advocated for universal annual child health checks to be funded through Medicare covering the first 2000 days of a child’s life.
The introduction of Medicare-funded child health checks was
flagged by Federal Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler when he announced Thriving Kids in August 2025.
‘The [RACGP] has been calling for some years for a child development check like this to be re-established because they worked,’ he said.
‘Improved decision-making tools for health professionals and better workforce training on child development will help create a stronger system of supports for children and their parents.’
Parliamentary committee Chair and paediatrician Dr Mike Freelander said that while the ideals of the NDIS included ‘independence, choice, dignity, equity and inclusion’, faults have emerged.
‘The NDIS was rolled out with several structural flaws which continue to reduce the effectiveness of the scheme, both in terms of its budget efficiency and providing support, particularly for young children,’ he said.
‘We acknowledge that the announcement of the Thriving Kids initiative caused many families, carers, and providers concern.
‘The committee’s aim throughout this inquiry was to ensure that moving forward, every child who requires foundational supports is protected, included, and provided appropriate and quality services in the design of the Thriving Kids initiative.’
Thriving Kids will be implemented in phases and is due to start from 1 July 2026, with access changes to the NDIS from mid-2027.
Log in below to join the conversation.
MBS Medicare Benefits Schedule National Disability Insurance Scheme NDIS Thriving Kids
newsGP weekly poll
How supportive are you of private health insurers funding additional general practice services that are not currently covered by Medicare?