- Terms of Reference Examine the effectiveness of current (and previous) programs and initiatives that identify children with development delay, autism or both, with mild to moderate support needs and support them and their families. This should focus on community and mainstream engagement, and include child and maternal health, primary care, allied health playgroups, early childhood education and care and schools.
The program will be delivered by scaling and building on existing mainstream and community services that can better support families and children in settings they already are connected to. This includes child and maternal health, GPs, playgroups, early childhood education and care and schools, as well as digital and phone-based supports. https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-08/thriving-kids-fact-sheet.pdf
Antenatal education about labour, birth, breastfeeding, perinatal mental health, postnatal recovery, parenting and community resources (eg Child and Family Health Services) is recommended. Evidence based, accessible information should be opportunistically, regularly and routinely offered to every family throughout the antenatal period when motivation and health information seeking behavior is high. https://app.magicapp.org/#/guideline/jm83RE/section/LG6X2w
It is estimated that less than 50% of first time parents attend formal antenatal education programs. Antenatal education is often not accessed by populations who may benefit most from it. Some families prefer to delegate or share decision making with family members or health professionals. Informed decision making and health literacy begins with provision of unbiased evidence based information. Parents often believe they will receive all the information they need during clinical appointments. Midwives often report they do not have enough time to provide comprehensive antenatal education in addition to clinical care during an antenatal appointment. There is currently no standardised or endorsed Parent Education curriculum or qualification to be a Parent Educator in Australia. https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lcdocs/inquiries/2965/FINAL%20Birth%20Trauma%20Report%20-%2029%20April%202024.pdf
The First 2000 days research identifies strong evidence to support the family in the prenatal period. Antenatal education helps families to evaluate their own
parental skill set and needs. Antenatal education can help parents build health literacy and informed decision making skills, identify strengths, sources of support and reliable information. https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/kidsfamilies/programs/Factsheets/brighter beginnings.pdf https://www1.health.nsw.gov.au/pds/ActivePDSDocuments/PD2019_008.pdf
Objectives of Connecting, listening and responding: a Blueprint for Action Maternity Care in NSW include:
Information about how to optimise health before conception is evidence-based, easily accessible and understood. Women are connected to accessible preparation for pregnancy education. Women are connected to accessible antenatal education that includes psychological preparation for parenthood and breastfeeding. Women’s partners and/or support people are engaged early in the antenatal period to establish communication and promote partnership in the planning of care. Postnatal care is strengthened through co-design with women to ensure linkages into appropriate pathways to meet their long term health and wellbeing needs. Women have access to postnatal education that includes information about early parenting and breastfeeding. Parents have greater confidence in making evidence-based decisions about their child’s health and development. https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/kidsfamilies/MCFhealth/professionals/Publications/maternity-care-in-nsw.pdf
How do parents develop trust in health professionals and services, identify developmental concerns, navigate the health system, access available support and advocate for their children without information, coaching and practice? Streamlining referrals to quality parent education during pregnancy and strengthening the referral process from hospital maternity care to community Child and Family Health services will support all families to navigate and connect with available resources.
The Government will work with state and territory governments and experts to finalise the design and implementation arrangements for Thriving Kids. https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-08/thriving-kids-fact-sheet.pdf
- Terms of Reference: Examine evidence-based information and resources that could assist parents identify if their child has mild to moderate development delay and support parents to provide support to these children.
There are already many examples of evidence-based services that guide parents and help their kids thrive. The Government will work to leverage those existing systems, such as the infant and maternal health systems that states run, the primary care systems that the Commonwealth funds through Medicare and supports in community health centres. These supports will help children to thrive, right through the life course, from the time they’re born, into the time they get into formal schooling This would include supporting the parent or carers with routines and advice on things they can do at home and what their child may need in other everyday environments where they learn and play. https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-08/thriving-kids-fact-sheet.pdf
Autism is strongly genetic. There is a historical underdiagnosis of autism for females. Many autistic parents only learn they are autistic after they have children. Pregnancy and childbirth may be experienced differently by people with Autism. Maternity Care providers/educators are not currently trained in supporting people with neuro-affirming care. People with Autism have unique communication differences and sensory needs, requiring individualised strategies to improve outcomes. https://www.aspect.org.au/uploads/documents/Research/New-parents/Report-4-page.pdf Pregnancy, babies and parenthood can be a source of sensory overload. https://www.aspect.org.au/resources/research-unpacked-sensory-experiences-of-autistic-mothers Being autistic brings extra barriers to breastfeeding. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35411810/
There is a need to address the education needs of potentially neuro diverse families, including parents, throughout the lifespan, including pregnancy, birth and parenting. Increasingly, parenting education discusses not just practical baby care, but infant mental health and the role of the parent as co-regulator for the infant/child. There is a need to address the antenatal education needs of neurodiverse parents, as the perinatal period is a time of potential stress and distress for both parents.
Thriving Kids will focus on identifying developmental concerns earlier and establishing a national system of supports for children aged 8 and under with mild to moderate developmental delay and autism, and their families https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-08/thriving-kids-fact-sheet.pdf
Parent Educators discuss community services and sources of support that parents are often unaware of. While midwives refer all families to their local Child and family Health Service, not all hospital based midwives are aware of available local community resources. No data is collected about the number of families that attend the Child and Family Health Service on discharge from the hospital of birth. Private obstetric/hospital services may not link in with community services and supports.
Currently, age at diagnosis of Autism varies, with the mean age 4 years. Universal well child checkups through the Maternal Child and Family Health service provide milestone checks at regular periods of time for the whole family until the child goes to school. Families that are aware of expected growth and development milestones can raise their concerns with a known and trusted “navigator” of the health system, their child and family nurse. Early identification and diagnosis of Autism can improve outcomes for children and their families through earlier access to support and services. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2789926#google_vignette
Recommendations for action
Engage with a body of adult education facilitators who specialise in parenting and working with families. is an existing and willing professional body of expert practitioners. Existing antenatal education programs offered in pregnancy need oversight and governance. Education programs need to be evaluated and standardised. is an existing and willing professional body of expert practitioners experienced in working with families. Offer all families free/subsidised parent education. Provision of existing services/antenatal education programs needs to be more equitable to be accessed by all expectant families. This will require government funding for Parent Education services. Provide information about parenting during the pregnancy. Families need to be identified as the primary supportive environment for the pregnant woman and her child. Families need conflict resolution and relationship strategies in pregnancy and the early postnatal period. All families need to be aware of community resources and referral pathways during pregnancy. The first 2000 days begins at conception. Streamline referral of all families to community support on discharge from maternity hospital. Offer a universal home visit to all families by the local Child and Family Health Service.
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