Committee Secretariat
PO Box 6021
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
2 October 2025
Dear Sir/Madam
Re: Wanslea’s submission addressing the Terms of Reference for the inquiry into the Thriving Kids initiative
About Wanslea
Wanslea have supported children and young people under 25 years of age within Western Australia for over 80 years. Our purpose is to support children and young people to grow and develop, safely. The range of support services offered by Wanslea to children and young people include our NDIS Early Childhood Approach service, early childhood education and care services, child and parenting programs, mental health programs and out of home care.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback regarding the Terms of Reference for the inquiry into the Thriving Kids initiative. Wanslea has conducted an internal consultation regarding the Terms of Reference and feedback is outlined below:
- With growing numbers of children presenting developmental concerns and families facing significant barriers to timely support, the Thriving Kids initiative represents a vital step towards achieving lasting change. As such, Wanslea welcomes the establishment of the national Thriving Kids initiative and scope of the current inquiry. The initiative’s emphasis on the early identification and support of children with mild to moderate developmental concerns is both timely and essential.
- We agree with the Terms of Reference, which reflects a clear approach to strengthening foundational supports for children and families across Australia. In particular, we support the emphasis on equity, community-based engagement, and a coordinated approach across mainstream systems.
We have identified three important inclusions for consideration:
- The Terms of Reference should include reference to the lived experience and voices of children with developmental delay and their families. Ensuring that the perspectives of those directly affected are embedded in the inquiry will strengthen the relevance, responsiveness, and long-term impact of the Thriving Kids initiative. This could include consultation with children where appropriate, as well as families and carers who navigate developmental supports in everyday contexts.
- Further clarification is needed regarding the intended outcomes of the inquiry, particularly whether it will result in a set of recommendations to guide the design, implementation, and evaluation of the Thriving Kids initiative. Additionally, it would be valuable to include transparent timelines, next steps, and implementation pathways.
- The Terms of Reference should adopt a holistic perspective, taking account of key findings from other relevant state and national inquiries, particularly within the disability and early years sectors. Insights into system redesign, workforce planning, quality and safeguarding mechanisms, consumer choice, and service integration will strengthen both the effectiveness and sustainability of the Thriving Kids initiative. Additionally, it is important to ensure that the diverse needs of children and families, as well as the complexity of the systems they must navigate, are given appropriate attention.
We believe these enhancements to the Terms of Reference will provide greater clarity, focus, and direction, ultimately strengthening the outcomes of the inquiry into the Thriving Kids initiative. We look forward to remaining actively engaged, sharing our expertise, and contributing meaningfully to ongoing consultations and future developments.
Kind regards
redacted
Jo Sadler
Chief Executive Officer
redacted