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Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services Bill Shorten have announced a new Autism Spectrum Disorder initiative – the Helping Children with Autism package. The package will be supported by the Australian Autism Education and Training Consortium.
The Helping Children with Autism package
A national professional development program, for teachers and other staff who work with students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and workshops and information sessions for parents will be central to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations' Helping Children with Autism initiative.
The professional development program will be implemented by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations through the Australian Autism Education and Training Consortium.
The Federal Government has also committed to building six autism-specific centres to support the program.
Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care Maxine McKew welcomed the announcement:
'Families of children with ASD need as much help as we can give. I'm delighted this initiative will provide them with more information and assistance to better understand and manage their child's special needs.'
Read the 'McKew welcomes announcement on supporting children with autism' media release.
Visit the 'Helping children with autism' section of the
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations website.
Autism Spectrum Disorder parliamentary breakfast
Members of the autism spectrum community – including representatives of the Australian Advisory Board on Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Autism and Aspergers Advocacy Australia – met 60 parliamentary representatives for a parliamentary breakfast on 26 May 2008, triggered by the government's Helping Children with Autism package.
The Chair of the Australian Advisory Board on Autism Spectrum
Disorders, Adrian Ford, commented on the parliamentary breakfast:
'130,000 Australians of all ages are affected by this lifelong disorder for which there is no cure.
'We need a national approach to give them and their families the support they need.
'I hope this is the start of many more regular opportunities to meet as a community and have a national voice which is heard.'
Visit the Australian Advisory Board on Autism Spectrum Disorders website.
Further reading
View these related news items on the Early Childhood Australia
website:
View these related articles and papers on the Early Childhood Australia website:
- 'Including children with autism in early childhood settings', Dr Chris Kilham, University of Canberra
Every Child magazine, vol. 12 no. 3, 2006, pp. 14–15.
- Editorial – Dr Chris Kilham, Edith Cowan University (PDF)
Australian Journal of Early Childhood, vol. 29 no. 3, September 2004, p. ii.
- 'Transcript: Meeting the needs of children with autistic spectrum disorders in the early years', Rita Jordan, University of Birmingham, UK (PDF)
Australian Journal of Early Childhood, vol. 29 no. 3, September 2004, pp. 1–7.
- 'Book Reviews: A parent's guide to Asperger Syndrome', Lena Hoffman-Raap, University of Canberra (PDF)
Australian Journal of Early Childhood, vol. 29 no. 3, September 2004, pp. 57–58.
View these related resources on the Early Childhood Australia website:
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