Bendigo to Melton, Victoria's First 6 Thriving Kids Allied Health Areas Are Getting Ready

Quick answer: which six locations are first?

The first six locations named by the Victorian Government are Bendigo, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Loddon, Maribyrnong and Melton. These areas form the first stage of Victoria's targeted allied health rollout.

Families in the initial locations will also gain access to two new developmental checks, one as children start kinder and another as they start school.

• Bendigo
• Hobsons Bay
• Hume
• Loddon
• Maribyrnong
• Melton

What does this mean for families?

Thriving Kids is being introduced to provide earlier support around children with developmental delay and autism who have low to moderate support needs.

In Victoria, targeted allied health support is intended to help children build everyday skills and independence while helping families understand how to support their child's development. The amount and duration of support will depend on the child's needs.

One thing to keep in mind: being in one of these areas doesn't automatically make a private clinic part of the government program. We're still waiting for more detailed rollout information.

In the meantime, families can continue using existing health, early childhood, community and disability pathways. The Australian Government says there are no changes to NDIS access until 1 January 2028.

What does this mean for GPs, nurses, educators and other referrers?

Victoria's professional guidance identifies a broad network around children. These professionals can play an important role in recognising developmental concerns, giving families information and helping connect them with appropriate support.

When a referrer is looking for a speech pathologist, occupational therapist, psychologist, physiotherapist, developmental service or early intervention provider, they need to know quickly whether the service supports children, which ages are accepted, where the provider works, whether referrals are open, what support is offered and how to make contact.

That's where our independent directory can help: making local service information easier for families and professionals to find.

• General practitioners and paediatricians
• Maternal and child health nurses
• Allied health and early intervention practitioners
• Schools and early childhood educators

Thriving Kids Bendigo

Bendigo is one of the first six Victorian locations named for targeted allied health. Families and referrers may be searching for speech pathology, occupational therapy, psychology, physiotherapy, developmental support, early intervention or multidisciplinary services.

If your practice serves Bendigo, help families see the ages you support and how they can enquire or refer.

Thriving Kids Hobsons Bay

Hobsons Bay is included in the first stage of Victoria's targeted allied health rollout. Accurate service-area information is especially important if support is delivered across multiple suburbs, through mobile services or in settings where children already spend time.

Looking for help in Hobsons Bay? Check whether the practice is based there or travels into the area, so you know what to expect.

Thriving Kids Hume

Hume is another initial Victorian location. Child development providers serving Hume can prepare by improving the way their website and provider profile explain paediatric services, referral options and current availability.

Make it easy for referrers to see that you serve Hume, without having to search through several pages.

Thriving Kids Loddon

Loddon is among the first six locations and highlights the importance of regional provider information. Families outside major metropolitan areas may need to know whether a service offers outreach, mobile visits, telehealth, community delivery or appointments in nearby centres.

If you offer outreach, list the places you genuinely visit and keep travel details up to date. That can make a real difference for regional families.

Thriving Kids Maribyrnong

Maribyrnong is part of the initial rollout. Families and professional referrers in Melbourne's west may search by both discipline and location, including child occupational therapy, speech pathology, child psychology and broader Thriving Kids queries.

A clear profile helps turn those searches into useful information about your practice.

Thriving Kids Melton

Melton is also one of Victoria's first six named locations. As awareness of Thriving Kids grows, families and professionals may increasingly search for local child development options and information about the new system.

Serve Melton? Make that clear, explain the types of support you offer and keep your referral steps easy to follow.

What kinds of child development services may families look for?

The Australian Government's national model says targeted supports can include allied health such as speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology.

Families may also need developmental assessment, multidisciplinary child development clinics, early childhood intervention, family capacity-building programs, community-based support and parent or caregiver supports.

Not every service listed on an independent directory is part of government-funded Thriving Kids delivery. Always confirm a provider's current service status directly and use Victorian Government information for official access arrangements.

Developmental checks are also beginning in the first six areas

Victoria says families in the initial delivery locations will have access to two new developmental checks, one as a child starts kinder and one as a child starts school. The checks will be undertaken by allied health professionals and trained clinicians.

The aim is to notice developmental needs earlier and connect families with suitable help. For local practices, it's another reason to keep referral information clear.

For providers, local visibility is part of readiness

Being easy to find online doesn't make a practice part of the government program. It does help families and referrers understand the services already available nearby.

Providers in Bendigo, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Loddon, Maribyrnong and Melton should review their service descriptions, age ranges, locations, referral process, availability and delivery settings.

Clear, up-to-date details help people decide who to contact and help search systems understand your service.

• Explain what your team does in plain language
• Show whether you support babies, toddlers, preschool or school-aged children
• Name only the areas you genuinely serve
• Explain whether families can self-enquire and how professionals can refer
• Keep accepting, waitlist or closed availability current
• Clarify clinic, home, community, childcare, kindergarten, telehealth or outreach delivery

Free for families and referrers

Looking for support? You can browse and enquire for free as a family member, carer or referrer. Business listings support provider visibility, but they don't change free access for people looking for help.