On the 30th of September I brought together parents, carers, disability advocates, allied health professionals, educators, service providers, and New South Wales government representatives for a community roundtable on the new Thriving Kids program.

I also invited members of the Bradfield community to share their thoughts and questions through a survey. I heard from 78 people, including parents and carers, but also health professionals, educators, service providers and community organisations, and a further 66 people submitted questions or comments to policymakers.

I organised this event because since Thriving Kids was announced, many people have contacted my office to share their thoughts and concerns about the changes. So thank you to everyone who participated, particularly those who shared deeply personal experiences about the challenges facing their children.

Everyone I heard from wants the same thing from Thriving Kids: that children receive appropriate and effective support early, so they have every opportunity to learn, participate and thrive.

But the message from my community is also very clear: families and frontline professionals do not have enough information about how this major reform will operate.

Parents fear that children could fall through the cracks between the NDIS and the new system. They're worried about losing trusted therapists, established relationships and supports tailored to their children's individual needs. Families and healthcare professionals alike questioned whether group-based services will be suitable for children, particularly those with complex or co-occurring needs.

They also raised important questions about privacy, choice and control, safeguards, accountability, and how children's individual needs will be assessed. There is concern that programs will be rushed and implemented with inadequate data gathering and analysis.

Allied health professionals and small service providers told me they are also facing considerable uncertainty. They do not yet know what role they will have in the new system, how services will be commissioned, or whether their businesses will remain viable.

Thriving Kids must not simply shift responsibility from one overstretched system to another, nor should reform come at the cost of continuity of care or the trusted relationships that families have spent years building.

Participants understood that a reform of this scale will involve difficult implementation challenges, but they rightly expect governments to communicate changes clearly and well in advance, and to work closely with families and frontline professionals.

I will keep listening to my community as Thriving Kids is rolled out. I will continue pressing for clear, timely communication, strong safeguards and accountability, proper workforce planning, and genuine continuity of care.

I will push for the voices of children and families to remain at the centre of reform. No family should be left to navigate this transition alone.