05/02/2026
Thanks to Bianca Knight and Matthew Hotchkis for representing APodA at Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA)'s panel discussion on the Thriving Kids Initiative yesterday in Canberra.
The Thriving Kids Initiative provides targeted wraparound supports to children aged 8 and under with developmental delays outside of the NDIS.
Early podiatry intervention plays a critical role in supporting childrenโs development and mobility, ensuring they can thrive without limitations.
As podiatrists, we work closely with exercise physiologists and the broader allied health workforce to support children to move, participate, and thrive with confidence.
Collaboration across allied health is vital to achieving best possible outcomes children and their families, carers and kin. From co-design through to funded service delivery, we are keen to see allied health professions like ours be embedded throughout the Thriving Kids Initiative to ensure the program meets its intent and is sustainable in the long term.
Thank you to ESSA for leading such an important and timely discussion on what has the potential to become an invaluable model for supporting childrenโs development and wellbeing.
๐ Read our submission to the Thriving Kids inquiry: https://www.podiatry.org.au/documents/item/3624
The APodA looks forward to working with the Commonwealth Government, our allied health colleagues and families on access to timely and appropriate care.
๐ธ ๐ค๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ช๐ต: ๐๐ช๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ข ๐๐ฏ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต / ๐๐ข๐ต๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ธ ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ค๐ฉ๐ฌ๐ช๐ด
