Children and Young People with Disability Australia
Promoting equal opportunity and full inclusion for children and young people with disability (0-25 years) across Australia.
New resources launched
Many children and young people with disability, and their families, have told us they often feel unprepared when facing big life transitions like starting school, finding work, or moving towards independence.
CYDA’s new Take Charge of Change resources are free, practical and accessible tools co-designed with young people and families. They’re here to help build confidence, knowledge and skills for life’s next steps.
Community concerns about Thriving Kids
The Australian Government’s new Thriving Kids program will offer an NDIS alternative for some children with developmental delay and autism under nine, launching in July 2026 with access changes to follow in mid-2027.
Following the announcement, CYDA surveyed 1,535 parents, caregivers and young people with disability to understand their views. Nearly four in five (79%) said the rollout feels too rushed and risks leaving children without support.
NDIS and Your Rights
In September 2025, CYDA hosted a community webinar exploring the impact of NDIS eligibility reassessments on children, young people and families.
The discussion brought together First Nations, Autistic, and advocacy voices, alongside legal experts, to unpack what these changes mean and what families can do next.
Watch the recording and access the webinar summary and resources in Easy Read, Word, and PDF.
DROs respond to Government Agreement on Disability Supports
CYDA has joined with Disability Representative Organisations across Australia to release a joint statement responding to the National Cabinet and other recent announcements on Thriving Kids and disability supports.
CYDA’s response to the Thriving Kids Inquiry report
On 22 December 2025, the House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability released a final report following its Inquiry into the Australian Government’s Thriving Kids initiative.
DROs call for transparency on ‘Computer-Generated NDIS Plans’
The Guardian’s recent reporting on proposals to introduce computer-generated NDIS plans appears to signal a substantial change in the way participant budgets may be determined.
An important part of the work we do at CYDA is making submissions to government and policy makers. In our submissions, we make recommendations for changes to uphold the rights, and improve the wellbeing, of children and young people with disability.
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The Platform is our newsletter for young people with disability, featuring interviews, opportunities and news on the issues that matter to you!
Since June 2023, we have ...
delivered
25
co-design sessions with young people with disability
made
11
submissions to government
welcomed
211
new participants in our projects and programs
partnered with
32
organisations on initiatives that benefit our community