AUTISM ADVISOR PROGRAM
Funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs under the Helping Children with Autism Package
Autism Queensland is pleased to announce that the Autism Advisor Program is now available.
The Autism Advisor Program is a component of the Helping Children with Autism (HCWA) package (which also includes early intervention, playgroups and education and support for families and carers). The Program is managed by the Department of Family, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA), with the aim of ensuring that eligible families and carers have access to impartial, evidence based information and financial support.
The Program is being delivered in each State and Territory by suitably qualified organisations with experience in providing information and support services to families and carers of children aged 0-6 years with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In Queensland, the Program is being delivered by Autism Queensland (AQ).
The Queensland Autism Advisor Program is made up of three Autism Advisors (AAs) and a co-ordinator. It is a state-wide program, with currently two of the AAs based in Brisbane (covering the area north to 75 kms above Rockhampton and west to the state border) and one in Cairns (covering the rest of the state). In May 2009, it is envisaged that the team will be increased to include another AA based in Brisbane and one based in Rockhampton.
The key functions of the Autism Advisor Program are:
- To provide support and information about ASD to families / carers
- To provide information about all services that a family / carer could access
- To organise payment of the HCWA Early Intervention funding and the
- Regional and Remote funding (where eligible)
Support and information about ASD
A key role of the Autism Advisor Program is supporting the family / carer to gain a clear understanding of ASD as it relates to their child, through discussion and written information. The Advisors will also refer the family / carer to useful websites, books, journals and other resources.
Early Intervention funding
One of the most significant aspects of the assistance that the Autism Advisor Program provides to families / carers is access to the Early Intervention funding that is available through the HCWA package.
This funding is $6000 per financial year for a maximum of 2 years and can only be used to pay for services from members of the Early Intervention Service Provider Panel – these are services that have been assessed and approved by FaHCSIA as meeting certain desirable criteria for effective early intervention for children with autism.
The Autism Advisors provide the only gateway to this funding, and do so by checking the child’s eligibility for funding, entering the family’s / carer’s information onto the FaHCSIA database and then supplying the family or carer with the documentation they require. The family / carer take this documentation to the Early Intervention Service Provider Panel member of their choice and the fees for that service provider are then paid in part or fully by FaHCSIA up to a maximum of $6000 over a year for up to two years.
Regional and Remote Payment
In addition, the Autism Advisor Program also facilitates the payment of the Regional and Remote Grant to eligible families. This is a one-off payment of $2000 that goes to families living in areas of Queensland that qualify as Regional and Remote according to FaHCSIA criteria. Again, the Advisors provide the only portal to this funding, through entering the necessary data onto the FaHCSIA database and organising the payment to the families. This grant is to assist families to access services, eg., for them to put towards travel to a service, home internet connection, books, computers, etc.
Information about other services
The role of the Advisors is to also provide comprehensive information about other services, which are not on the Early Intervention Service Provider Panel, that are also available in the family’s / carer’s area. Information will be supplied that is not only about autism-specific or disability-specific services, but also broader services that may assist the whole family (eg., respite care, holiday programs, interest groups, parent support groups, etc.)
The medium for achieving these outcomes is a Consultation between an Autism Advisor and the parent/s or carer/s:
- This will take place at a central, community-based location (eg., an AQ centre, a community centre, a school, a community agency office, etc.) or by telephone.
- During this Consultation, the AA will gain relevant information about the child and the family and then provide them with appropriate information about helpful services, support and resources.
- This information will be discussed at the Consultation and provided in written form.
- After the Consultation, the Advisor will enter the family’s data onto the FaHCSIA online system which will verify the child’s eligibility.
- The Advisor will then supply an official printout which will be forwarded to the family.
- The family take this printout (known as a ‘Letter of Introduction’) to the Panel service provider of their choice.
To access the Autism Advisor Program, the child must be:
- 0 – 6 years
- Not yet at formal school (ie., is not yet in Year One)
- Diagnosed, by a paediatrician, psychiatrist or multi-disciplinary assessment team, with one of the following:
- Autism
- Autistic disorder
- Asperger syndrome
- Rett syndrome
- Childhood disintegrative disorder
- Pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS)
- An Australian resident
To verify the child’s eligibility for accessing the Autism Advisor Program and consequently, the Early Intervention funding, the Advisors need to be provided with:
- A copy of the child’s birth certificate
- A copy of the letter of diagnosis / diagnostic form / diagnostic statement
- The child’s Centrelink number
- A copy of a rates notice or utilities bill to confirm the residential address
- A copy of any parenting plan or court order
These documents can be brought to a face-to-face Consultation, but will need to be received prior to a telephone Consultation.
The contact number for the Autism Advisor Programme is 3273 0000.
The email address is daniellel@autismqld.com.au
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.
For further information about other Helping Children with Autism Initiatives please follow this link.
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