Submission to the House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability
Submitted by: Amy Locke, Clinical Director, on behalf of Light Occupational Therapy
Date: 3 October 2025
Dear Committee Members,
| am writing to express my concerns regarding the proposed Thriving Kids initiative, as Clinical
Director of Light Occupational Therapy and as an Autistic adult and occupational therapist with lived experience and professional expertise in supporting neurodivergent children and their families.
Light Occupational Therapy works closely with families across Victoria, many of whom have children diagnosed Autistic, developmental delays, and other neurodevelopmental conditions. While we welcome the government’s intention to improve early intervention and streamline supports outside the NDIS, we are deeply concerned that the current framing of Thriving Kids risks excluding and underserving a significant portion of the population who require lifelong support, particularly Autistic individuals who are categorised as having “mild” or “lower level” support needs.
Autism Is Lifelong, Not a Temporary Developmental Delay
Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition. It does not “go away” with early intervention, nor does it cease to impact a person’s functioning simply because they do not meet the criteria for high support needs. The notion that children with “mild” autism can be diverted from the NDIS and instead supported through short-term or community-based services
fails to recognise the enduring nature of autism and the cumulative impact of unmet needs over time.
Many of our clients who are considered “Level 1” under the DSM-5 criteria still require consistent, tailored, and long-term support to navigate education, social relationships, sensory environments, and transitions into adolescence and adulthood. These needs are not adequately met by generic community services or time-limited programs.
The Danger of Misclassification and Under-Support
The proposed triaging of children into “lower” and “higher” support categories risks creating a false binary that overlooks the complexity of neurodivergence. Families of children with so called “mild” autism often face significant challenges accessing appropriate services, advocating within school systems, and managing co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, and sensory processing difficulties.
As an Autistic adult, I can personally attest to the long-term consequences of under-support in early childhood. The absence of sustained, specialised intervention can lead to burnout, mental health deterioration, and reduced participation in education and employment. These outcomes are preventable, but only if we acknowledge that support needs are dynamic and lifelong.
Concerns About Implementation and Equity
While Thriving Kids promises to deliver services through familiar settings such as GP clinics and childcare centres, our experience suggests that these environments are often ill-equipped to provide neurodiversity-affirming care. Without substantial investment in training, staffing, and infrastructure, these settings may inadvertently perpetuate stigma or fail to meet the nuanced needs of Autistic children.
Furthermore, families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, rural communities, and lower socioeconomic groups are disproportionately affected by service gaps. The shift away from NDIS access for children with developmental concerns may widen these inequities unless the new system is robust, inclusive, and accountable.
A number of our current clients are unable to access mainstream services or school directly due to their disability, despite being categorised as “mild” or “level 1”.
Recommendations
We urge the Committee to consider the following:
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Recognise autism as a lifelong condition and ensure that children with all levels of support needs retain access to long-term, specialised services.
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Avoid rigid categorisation based on perceived severity, and instead adopt a flexible, needs- based approach to support.
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Ensure continuity of care beyond early childhood, with clear pathways into adolescent and adult services.
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Invest in workforce development to equip mainstream settings with the skills and knowledge to support neurodivergent children effectively.
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Engage Autistic voices (including Autistic professionals) in the design, delivery, and evaluation of the Thriving Kids initiative.
This systemic under-support leads to decreased wellbeing, social isolation, and ultimately, burnout - a phenomenon already disproportionately affecting Autistic people due to the constant pressure to mask and adapt in settings that are not designed for them. By failing to provide sustained, specialised care, the initiative risks compounding disadvantage and undermining the long-term outcomes it seeks to improve.
In closing, I commend the Committee for seeking public input and urge you to centre lived experience and clinical insight in shaping a system that truly enables all children to thrive not just in early childhood, but across their lifespan.