Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2009 Week 2 Hansard (12 February)

Children-autistic(Question No 8)

Ms Hunter asked the Minister for Education and Training, upon notice, on 10 December 2008:

(1) What is the ACT Government doing to establish a training program in the ACT in specialist areas needed for autistic children, such as speech therapy.

(2) What professional training is there for specialists and teachers to ensure that professionals are being kept up-to-date.

Mr Barr: The answer to the member's question is as follows:

(1) An interagency group with representation from Autism Asperger ACT, Therapy ACT, the University of Canberra, and the Department of Education and Training was established in 2008 to develop a set of best practice guidelines and a resource kit/handbook to support staff working with students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in ACT public schools. Once completed the introduction of the guidelines will be supported with a professional learning program in 2009. A range of other opportunities are available for staff to enhance their skills and knowledge about autism. See response to (2).

(2) The Department of Education and Training provides a range of opportunities for staff to enhance their skills and expertise in teaching children with Autism. These opportunities include workshops conducted by experienced staff or visiting experts and supported attendance at conferences and seminars. Teachers are supported to participate in a Graduate Diploma in Disability Studies (Autism) offered by the University of Canberra and assistants are supported to enrol in the certificate and diploma courses in disability work offered by the Canberra Institute of Technology.

(Question No 9)

Ms Bresnan asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 10 December 2008 (redirected to the Minister for Community Services):

(1) Given the low availability of speech therapists and other appropriate specialists for children in the autistic/asperger's spectrum, what funding is available to help families, particularly with low incomes, access privately-organised programs.

(2) Why are the specialist home visits such as psychologist, speech therapist and occupational therapist, confined to those under five only.

(3) What lobbying is the ACT Government doing to gain extra Federal funding for this underserviced area.

Ms Gallagher: The answer to the member's question is as follows:

(1) The ACT Government provides free services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, including Aspergers syndrome through Therapy ACT and the Department of Education and Training. There are no ACT Government programs to assist families to access private programs. This assistance is provided by the Commonwealth Government through its Autism Initiatives, which includes funding of up to $12,000 per child and access to medicare rebates. The Commonwealth will also fund autism advisers in each State and Territory to provide advice to families on the availability of services, including those provided by State and Territory Governments.

(2) Therapy ACT currently provides services to 213 school aged children (aged between 5 and 16) with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. These children may be visited at home for specialist intervention services particularly in relation to behaviour modification (psychology), sensory disorder (occupational therapy) or communication (speech pathology). Visits may be at school rather than at home, as parents often identify that their child needs more support in the school environment.

(3) The ACT Government represents the needs of all people with a disability in its negotiations with the Commonwealth Government for growth funding for disability services.

(Question No 10)

Ms Bresnan asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 10 December 2008 (redirected to the Minister for Community Services):

(1) How many ACT Government services are there at present for children under five with autism/aspergers.

(2) What programs are there for school aged children.

(3) What is the ACT Government doing to identify the needs of autistic adults.

(4) What training is made available to parents of autistic children to ensure that they are able to support their children appropriately.

(5) What coordination is there between the Federal and ACT health services on the issue.

Ms Gallagher: The answer to the member's question is as follows:

(1) There are seven key services provided by the ACT Government for children under five with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and those with suspected diagnoses. These services are:

* Access to Child Health Medical Officers and Community Paediatricians at ACT Health who can examine the child's development, refer for assessment services and, on the basis of assessments, make a diagnosis of ASD;

* Therapy ACT provides a comprehensive multi disciplinary assessment service to assist paediatricians in the diagnostic process through its Autism Assessment and Family Support Service;

* This team also provides a six week Family Support program for those families with a child (of any age) diagnosed with ASD;

* Therapy ACT Early Childhood Teams provide intervention services to children with a diagnosis of ASD, and to those with signs of autism who have not yet been diagnosed. The service delivery model utilised will depend on the needs of the individual child and could include, one or more individual therapy, group therapy (both with a parent education focus), a program within the education setting (including collaboration with the teacher), and home visits using the Early Play Program;

* The Department of Education provides early intervention playgroups for children aged two to three years with significant needs in communication and social development. Children are able to attend two sessions per week in a small group of up to six children with a teacher and two Learning Support Assistants;

* For children aged three to five years with a diagnosis of ASD, the Department of Education provides two, four-hour sessions per week at an Autism Intervention Unit (AIU). There are four children per group, staffed by a teacher and Learning # Support Assistant. Preschool children may also be supported through the Early Childhood Centres, a special preschool group program; and

# Respite services for the families of children with ASD are provided by Disability ACT and by community agencies funded by the ACT Government.

(2) The same range of services is available for school aged children as there are for pre school children, but with a greater emphasis on school based activities. School aged children have access to:

o Medical and diagnostic services through ACT Health;

o Multidisciplinary assessment services through Therapy ACT;

o Family Support programs through Therapy ACT and with additional Family Information workshops funded by the Commonwealth Government and provided in the school setting;

o Therapy ACT provides intervention through its school aged teams. The service delivery model will depend on the needs of the individual child and could include one or more of- individual therapy, group therapy (both with a parent education focus), programs within the education setting (including collaboration with the teacher), and home visits. However, in the school aged population, especially towards middle primary, many of the issues which are raised by parents involve the school setting, therefore intervention is often based in this setting;

o The Department of Education provides education support. Depending on the level of need of the child and the preference of families this support may be to provide additional support in a mainstream classroom, attendance at a Learning Support Unit, or at a special school; and

o Respite services for the families of schools aged children are provided by Disability ACT and by community agencies funded by the ACT Government.

(3) Adults with suspected ASD can self refer or be referred to Therapy ACT for assessment and support. Disability ACT provides a range of services to adults with disabilities, including ASD. These services include:

o Community Access support;

o Accommodation support;

o Respite services for families and carers; and

o Information and Planning services.

(4) Parent Support and Education is provided through the Therapy ACT Autism Assessment and Family Support service and through the aged based teams providing intervention. The Commonwealth Government is funding two parent/carer workshops in the ACT in 2009. These workshops will be provided by the Australian Autism Education and Training Consortium

(5) The ACT has an established an interdepartmental working group on autism services. Both Territory and Commonwealth Departments attend these meetings to exchange information on services and the progress of implementing the new initiatives.