NDIS Funding for Children's Mental Health: Eligibility, What's Covered & How to Apply (2026)
The NDIS can fund support for a child whose mental health condition causes a psychosocial disability that is likely to be permanent and significantly affects everyday life. It funds supports that build the child's day-to-day skills and independence, such as therapy, capacity building and help at home. It does not fund clinical treatment, crisis care or hospital services, which stay with the health system.
Key takeaways
- Who can get it: Children under 65 (so any child) who are Australian citizens or permanent residents, and whose mental health condition causes a psychosocial disability that is likely to be permanent.
- Diagnosis alone isn't enough: The NDIS looks at how much the condition affects the child's daily functioning, not only the diagnosis.
- Under 9? Start with the NDIS early childhood approach. You don't need a diagnosis to get help.
- New from 1 October 2026: Thriving Kids begins rolling out for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism and low-to-moderate support needs.
- What's funded: Capacity-building therapy (psychology, OT, speech), support coordination, daily-living and community-participation supports, and assistive technology.
- Not funded: Clinical diagnosis and treatment, psychiatric care, hospital and crisis services, and drug and alcohol treatment.
Does the NDIS cover children's mental health?
Yes, but only in specific circumstances. The NDIS doesn't fund mental health treatment. It funds disability supports. When a mental health condition causes long-term difficulties with daily life, the NDIS calls this a psychosocial disability.
For a child, a psychosocial disability might show up as difficulty:
- going to school or joining in class
- managing emotions, routines or self-care
- making and keeping friends
- communicating needs or coping with change
- taking part in family and community life
Many children also have co-occurring conditions such as autism, ADHD or intellectual disability. These can affect eligibility and the type of support that's funded. For answers to common questions, read our NDIS mental health support guide.
NDIS eligibility for children with mental health conditions
To become an NDIS participant, a child must meet the age and residence requirements and either the disability or the early intervention requirements.
| Requirement | What it means for a child |
|---|---|
| Age | Under 65 when applying, so every child meets it |
| Residence | Lives in Australia and is an Australian citizen, permanent visa holder or Protected Special Category Visa holder |
| Disability | The impairment is likely to be permanent (lifelong) and substantially reduces the child's ability to do everyday activities, compared with other children the same age |
| Early intervention | Getting support now is likely to reduce the child's future need for support. Children under 6 with developmental delay may qualify this way |
Conditions that more often lead to a psychosocial disability include severe anxiety disorders, major depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and early-onset psychosis. But the NDIS decides on the impact, not the label. Two children with the same diagnosis can get different outcomes.
Children under 9: the early childhood approach and Thriving Kids
If your child is under 9, start with the NDIS early childhood approach (formerly called ECEI, Early Childhood Early Intervention). An early childhood partner can:
- give you information and connect you to local supports, without a diagnosis
- provide short-term early supports
- help you apply to the NDIS if your child is likely to need longer-term support
What's changing: From 1 October 2026, Thriving Kids begins rolling out. It supports children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have low-to-moderate support needs, and their families. It is expected to be fully in place by 1 January 2028. From that date, those children will generally be supported through Thriving Kids instead of the NDIS. Children already in the NDIS before 1 January 2028 will be reassessed under the current rules.
What NDIS funding covers for children's mental health
Most NDIS plans group funding into three budgets:
| Budget | What it's for | Examples for a child |
|---|---|---|
| Core supports | Everyday activities and taking part in the community | Support workers for routines, exercise equipment for disabled children and daily-living help, social and recreational programs, consumables |
| Capacity building | Building skills and independence | Psychology, occupational therapy and speech pathology aimed at daily functioning; behaviour support; support coordination; parent and carer training |
| Capital supports | Larger one-off items | Assistive technology (such as sensory or communication devices) and home modifications |
Is psychology funded? It can be. The NDIS funds therapy, including psychology, when its goal is to build the child's functional skills (for example, coping strategies for attending school), not to diagnose or treat the illness itself.
What the NDIS won't cover for children's mental health
The NDIS doesn't fund supports that another system is responsible for. For children's mental health, that usually means:
- Diagnosis and clinical treatment of a mental illness (for example, psychiatrist appointments and medication)
- Hospital, inpatient and crisis mental health care
- Acute or short-term recovery and rehabilitation through the health system
- Alcohol and other drug treatment
- Educational supports that schools are responsible for
- Everyday costs that all parents pay, such as general devices, school fees and food
These supports are available through Medicare, state health services, schools and community programs (see support if your child isn't eligible).
How to apply for NDIS mental health support for your child
- Gather evidence. Get recent reports from your child's GP, paediatrician, psychiatrist, psychologist or OT. Reports should describe the condition, treatments tried, and how it affects daily life (school, self-care, social, communication, behaviour).
- Contact the NDIS or an early childhood partner. Call the NDIS or submit an access request. Children under 9 can start with an early childhood partner.
- Complete the access request. Include your child's details and the supporting evidence. A treating professional can complete the supporting evidence section.
- Wait for the access decision. The NDIA may ask for more information. If your child is found ineligible, you can ask for an internal review.
- Plan your child's goals. If your child is eligible, you'll meet with a planner. Write down your child's goals, a typical week, and where extra support is needed.
- Put the plan into action. Choose providers, set up service agreements, and decide how you'll manage the funds.
Tip: Describe your child's hardest days, not their best days. The NDIS needs to understand the full impact of the condition.
Support if your child isn't eligible for the NDIS
- Medicare mental health plans: Your GP can refer your child for Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions.
- headspace: Free or low-cost mental health support for young people aged 12–25.
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS): Specialist public mental health services in WA.
- Kids Helpline: Free, confidential counselling 24/7 on 1800 55 1800.
- School support: School psychologists, wellbeing staff and learning adjustments.
- Thriving Kids: For children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism, from October 2026.
If your child is in immediate danger, call 000.
NDIS funding for children's mental health: FAQs
Can a child get NDIS funding for anxiety?
Only if the anxiety causes a psychosocial disability that is likely to be permanent and substantially reduces the child's ability to do everyday activities. Mild or moderate anxiety is usually supported through Medicare, schools and community services.
Does the NDIS pay for a child psychologist?
It can, when the therapy is a capacity-building support aimed at daily functioning and your child's plan goals. The NDIS doesn't fund psychology for diagnosis or clinical treatment of a mental illness.
Does my child need a diagnosis to get NDIS support?
Not always. Children under 9 can get help through the early childhood approach without a diagnosis. For full NDIS access, you'll need evidence of the condition and how it affects daily life.
Can a child get NDIS for ADHD?
ADHD on its own rarely meets NDIS eligibility. Children with ADHD alongside other conditions that cause significant functional impact may be eligible. Each application is assessed on functional impact.
What is Thriving Kids and does it replace the NDIS?
Thriving Kids is a new program, rolling out from 1 October 2026, for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay and/or autism who have low-to-moderate support needs. It doesn't replace the NDIS for children with permanent and significant disability.
How long does NDIS access take for a child?
The NDIA generally makes an access decision within 21 days of receiving a complete application, or asks for more information. Applying with complete evidence avoids delays.
Can I appeal if my child is found ineligible?
Yes. You can ask the NDIA for an internal review within 3 months of the decision. If you're still unhappy, you can apply for an external review.
Final takeaway
Children with mental health conditions have the same right to support as everyone else. The NDIS won't treat a mental illness, but it can fund long-term support that builds your child's skills, confidence and independence when a psychosocial disability is likely to be permanent. For younger children, the early childhood approach and Thriving Kids offer support without the full NDIS process.
Contact Access Foundation to talk through your child's needs and how our NDIS mental health service can help.