What support is available
The Australian Government has committed $190 million for the four years up to June 2012 to deliver the Helping Children with Autism package. The package will help address the need for support and services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).
All initiatives include support for parents, families, carers and children from diverse cultural, linguistic and Indigenous backgrounds and those living in rural and remote areas.
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What does the package include?
The package includes:
- Autism Advisors
- Funding for early intervention services
- PlayConnect Playgroups*
- Early Days family workshops
- An ASD website
* Access to PlayConnect Playgroups is also available to children with ASD like symptoms.
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How do I access funding?
Following diagnosis, families contact an Autism Advisor in their state or territory who will provide information regarding eligibility, available funding and early intervention and other support services. The Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) has made new Medicare items available for children aged under 13 years (for diagnosis and treatment planning).
If you live in an outer regional or remote area you may be eligible to receive an additional one off payment of $2,000 (paid directly to families) to assist with travel, accommodation, training, respite or resource costs associated with early intervention.
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How can I contact an Autism Advisor?
The Autism Advisors can be contacted through the lead agency associations listed below:
Early intervention assistance funding package
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.
Early Intervention Service Providers and Eligibility
Eligible families can access service providers from the panel of Early Intervention Service Providers. To apply to be on the panel of service providers see New Applications for Membership of the Early Intervention Service Provider Panel.
The Australian Government has revised the eligibility criteria for children accessing the early intervention funding via the Early Intervention Service Provider Panel. This change is effective from 19 October 2009.
The eligibility criterion for children accessing the early intervention funding through the HCWA package is as follows:
- To be eligible for the early intervention funding package a child must have been seen by an Autism Advisor and deemed eligible to access the program before their sixth birthday. The $12,000 in funding under the early intervention component can be used until the child’s seventh birthday to a maximum of $6,000 per financial year.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Website
The Raising Children Network (RCN) ASD website provides information, online resources and interactive functions to support parents, families, carers and professionals. The RCN ASD website builds on the existing Raising Children Network (RCN) website. The RCN is an Australian Government funded site providing information to parents of children from birth to school age. The RCN ASD website provides:
- Impartial and evidence based information about ASDs and early intervention approaches
- Information on diagnosis and assessment
- A guide to navigating the service system
- Locations and contact details of the advisory services and approved early intervention services
- Links to other websites and information
- Film clips
- A 'My Neighbourhood' mapping tool that will identify services in the local neighbourhood
- Parent forums.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Playgroup Program
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.
Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres
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.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Early Days Workshops
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.
Support for older children with an ASD
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) is delivering two initiatives:
- professional development for teachers and other school staff to support school students with ASDs to achieve better educational outcomes, and
- funding for parents and carers of school students with ASDs to attend workshops and information sessions and to access online workshops and information.
This support will help improve the educational outcomes for school aged children with ASDs.
The Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) has made new Medicare items available for children aged under 13 years (for diagnosis and treatment planning) and under 15 years (for treatment).
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More Information
Relevant website addresses:
For more information about the Helping Children with Autism package:
To access a 1800 FaHCSIA number:
- TTY users - phone 1800 555 677 then ask for the 1800 toll-free number you wish to contact
- Speak and Listen (speech-to-speech relay) users - phone 1800 555 727 then ask for the 1800 toll-free number you wish to contact
- Internet relay users - visit the National Relay Service website and ask for the 1800 toll-free number you wish to contact.
For more information visit the National Relay Service website.
Translating and interpreting service
If you do not speak English well and you wish to speak to a counsellor, call the Translating and Interpreting Service 13 14 50 and ask them to contact the Helpline for you.
- Chinese
- Croatian
- Greek
- Italian
- Korean
- Polish
- Macedonian
- Russian
- Serbian
- Spanish
- Turkish
- Vietnamese