Page 3952 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 30 October 2013
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In collaboration with the Education and Training Directorate, Therapy ACT provides a range of professional learning to educators in Canberra. These programs assist teachers to support children with autism in the classroom and employ best practice strategies. ETD have developed a range of interactive online modules which can be accessed by teachers to increase their understanding of autism interventions in the classroom, and that is something that I think needs to be applied. I would encourage all teachers in the mainstream settings to be aware of the needs of autism students within their class.
Staff of Therapy ACT’s autism service have partnered with ETD staff and a non-government consortium to provide parent and teacher training through the federal government positive partnership initiative. Young children with autism in the ACT are also able to access specialised playgroups. Play connect playgroups help families with children with an ASD, or with ASD-like symptoms. Children up to six years of age can attend, siblings are welcome and groups are free. The government contributed to the placement of a play therapist in child and family centres to facilitate these groups.
The government also allocated $400,000 in the 2011 budget for after-school and vacation care programs for children and young people with complex needs associated with disability, including autism. These programs commenced in February last year. Also we have provided funding for four years to Autism Asperger to fund a family support worker position to support families who have members with autism.
With reference to the amendment that has been circulated, we are stating we recognise that the University of Canberra had preliminary discussions but that no formal proposal has yet been received. We note that the AEIOU has written to a number of MLAs talking about its model. The amendment also notes that representatives of the Ricky Stewart Foundation have recently sought a meeting with the minister for education and disability—that would be me—and that we will meet with them.
It calls on the Assembly to recognise the importance of providing early intervention services for children with autism spectrum disorders and the significant support already provided by the ACT government to people with autism. It also calls on the Assembly to recognise the government’s willingness to explore new and innovative ways of supporting people with a disability and to engage with non-government providers to explore such opportunities.
Whilst there is clearly an amendment to your motion, Mr Doszpot, I think that last point, which says, “Let’s explore new and innovative ways of supporting people with a disability, including non-government providers,” should indeed capture the essence of what you are aiming to do. Again I say to those families with children with autism that whilst we have good programs on offer I have no doubt that at a personal level they would be seeking more as parents, as all parents do. They would be seeking more opportunity for their children. As parents, it is right and proper that they do so.
I say to them that we will continue to improve and expand our range of services, but the challenges and opportunities ahead of us with the NDIS and the changes that will
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