Terms of reference

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability will inquire into and report on the Thriving Kids initiative with the aim to:

• 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.
• 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.
• Identify equity and intersectional issues, in particular, children who identify as First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse.
• Identify gaps in workforce support and training required to deliver Thriving Kids.
• Draw on domestic and international policy experience and best practice.
• Identify mechanisms that would allow a seamless transition through mainstream systems for all children with for children with mild to moderate support needs.