Autism Advisor Program
The Autism Advisor Program is a component of the Helping Children with Autism (HCWA) package funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
The Autism Association in every state and territory is funded to provide an Autism Advisor Program, in both urban and regional areas.
Autism Advisors provide a link between the clinical diagnosis and access to Early Intervention programs and support services.
They also assist eligible families to access the Australian Government funding for Early Intervention services and grants to support families from rural and remote areas.
In Queensland this program is delivered by Autism Queensland.
It is a state-wide program with Advisors based on the north and south sides of Brisbane, Rockhampton and Cairns.
Key Functions
The key functions of the Autism Advisor Program are to:
- provide support and information about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to families and carers;
- provide information about all services that a family / carer could access;
- organise payment of the HCWA Early Intervention funding and (where applicable) the rural and remote payment.
Eligibility
An Autism Advisor is able to assist you if your child is:
- 0 – 6 years of age;
- diagnosed, by a paediatrician or child psychiatrist, with an ASD (ie., Autistic Disorder, Asperger Syndrome, Rett’s Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder or Pervasive Development Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)),
- an Australian resident.
To access the Autism Advisor Program, you need to send to us (by mail, email or fax):
- A copy of your child’s birth certificate;
- A copy of your child’s letter of diagnosis from a paediatrician or psychiatrist (diagnoses from psychologists are not eligible);
- Your child’s Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN) (eg from their Health Care Card);
- A copy of a recent rates notice or utilities bill to confirm your residential address;
- A signed Client Consent Form. If you do not have internet access, ring the Autism Advisor Program (number below) so that a copy be mailed or faxed to you;
- A brief cover note with your name and contact details.
Send these documents to:
Mail: Autism Advisor Program
c/- Autism Queensland
PO Box 354
SUNNYBANK Qld 4109
Email: aap@autismqld.com.au
Fax: (07) 3272 4399
Once we have received all these documents, we will ring you to make an appointment for a consultation with an Autism Advisor.
More Information:
Contact: Autism Advisors
Telephone: 1800 428 847 or (07) 3273 0000
Email: aap@autismqld.com.au
