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Helping Children with Autism
The federal government announced its Helping Children with Autism (HCWA) package in October 2007. Three federal government departments share responsibility for implementation of the package.
FaHCSIA
- Early Intervention
- Autism Advisors
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Playgroup Program
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Early Days Workshops
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Website
The early intervention funding under the Helping Children with Autism package is aimed at providing increased access to early intervention for children aged zero to six with an ASD. The funding supports the delivery of multidisciplinary evidence based early intervention to facilitate improved cognitive, emotional and social development prior to a child starting school.
Families will use this funding package to access service providers on the Early Intervention Service Provider Panel.
Following diagnosis, families are able to contact an Autism Advisor in their state and territory to access local information, advice and practical help.
The Autism Spectrum Disorder Playgroup Program target children aged zero to six with ASDs or ASD like symptoms. Children will not require a formal diagnosis of an ASD to attend a playgroup.
The Early Days Workshops are aimed at equipping parents and carers of children with ASDs or ASD like symptoms to more effectively manage the pressures they face in raising their children at home. These workshops will be delivered locally in each state and territory.
The Raising Children Network - Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) website provides information, online resources and interactive functions to support parents, families, carers and professionals. The ASD website was launched by the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, Bill Shorten.
DEEWR
DEEWR is responsible for delivering two initiatives under the package which aim to foster productive partnerships between schools and families to improve the educational outcomes of children with an ASD. The initiatives provide:
- Professional development for teachers, school leaders and other school staff to build their understanding, skills and expertise in working with children with an ASD.
- Workshops and information sessions for parents and carers to assist them to work with their child’s teachers, school leaders and other staff.
The Australian Autism Education and Training Consortium (AAETC) will run the professional development, workshops and information sessions across Australia on behalf of DEEWR.
The AAETC has named these initiatives Positive Partnerships: supporting school aged students on the autism spectrum. For more information, visit the AAETC website at www.autismtraining.com.au.
DoHA
From 1 July 2008 the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) implemented new Medicare items for diagnosis and early intervention treatment for children with autism or any other pervasive developmental disorder.
Medicare items were introduced for:
- consultant physicians (paediatricians and psychiatrists) to diagnose and develop a treatment plan for children aged under 13 years on referral from a GP
- Psychologists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists to provide up to four services in total per child per lifetime to collaborate with the psychiatrist or paediatrician on the assessment where required
- Psychologists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists to provide early intervention treatment following diagnosis for the child’s particular condition and consistent with the treatment and management plan prepared by the referring practitioner. Twenty services in total per lifetime may be provided for a child aged under 15 years, who was under 13 years at the time of receiving the PDD treatment and management plan.
FaHCSIA
- Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres
- People with a disability (more ...)
- Extra Support for Children with Disability Program Outside School Hours Care
- National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy
- Respite & Support and Future Planning. more ...
Six Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres are being established. They will provide early learning programs and specific support for children with ASDs. The centres will be accredited long day child care centres and will provide services based on best practice principles for working with children with ASDs.
None of these centres is located in the ACT.
This program assists children and teenagers with disability and their families by funding services to deliver appropriate and flexible outside school hours and vacation care. A particular focus of this program is to increase access for children and teenagers with disability aged 12 to 18 years.
The Australian Government has committed $23.6 million to this initiative over five years (from 2007 to 2012).
As part of the Social Inclusion Agenda, the Australian Government is developing a National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy (the Strategy). The Strategy is being developed in close consultation with consumers, peak bodies, employers, state and territory governments and experts.
The Strategy aims to address the barriers that are faced by people with a disability and/or mental illness that make it harder for them to gain and keep work.
Health and Ageing
has a publications page with autism-related publications in the Health and Ageing website including Early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders: Guidelines for best practice (Best Practice brochure) and A review of the research to identify the most effective models of practice in early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders (Roberts & Prior report).