Children—autism (Question No 1839)

Mrs Burke asked the Minister for Disability and Community Services, upon notice, on 12 February 2008:

What is the current number of children, by age and gender, diagnosed with autism in the ACT.

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

(1) I cannot provide a complete answer to this question as the ACT does not hold a register of all people with this diagnosis. Residents of the ACT may be diagnosed by public or private paediatricians, psychiatrists or psychologists in the ACT, or through interstate services.

Therapy ACT is the primary government agency for assessment, diagnosis and intervention for children with Autism and related disorders. These disorders include Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). Clients of Therapy ACT with any of these disorders are all recorded under the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Therapy ACT has provided data as at 13/02/2008 for the children they service who have a recorded diagnosis of ASD. They are divided into early childhood and school aged groups:

http://www.hansard.act.gov.au/hansard/2008/week03/1020.htm