NEWS
Click on the links below to skip to the news items of interest:
Victorian Autism Conference in the Media
Autism Victoria's Strategic Plan
Whole of Life Position Paper: Call to Political Parties
National Position Paper on Autism Spectrum Disorders in Australia
A Fair Go for All Letter Writing Campaign
Autism Victoria Service Directory
Kokoda Trail Fundraiser
Do you have a sense of adventure? Do you like a personal challenge? Do you want to participate in something to help raise awareness of ASDs in the community? Autism Victoria is launching a major fundraising effort for adventurers to walk the Kokoda Trail in October 2011. For more information, or to register your interest, click here.
The Victorian Autism Conference Media Coverage
The Victorian Autism Conference is gaining momentum across the state! See our gallery of press below.
Wimmera Mail-Times: 9th July, 2010
Mildura Independent: 10th July, 2010
Shepparton News: 13th July, 2010
Horsham Advertiser: 15th July, 2010
Autism Victoria's Strategic Plan
Please click here for an overview of Autism Victoria's Strategic Plan for 2010 - 2011
Whole of Life Position Paper: Call to Political Parties
Leading into the State Election, Autism Victoria has drafted a position paper on a whole of life approach to supporting individuals with ASDs. The document can be viewed here. Please note this is still in draft form, and a hard copy will be sent to all our members in the coming weeks.
National Position Paper on Autism Spectrum Disorders in Australia
The Australian Advisory Board on Autism Spectrum Disorders (AAB ASD) will be launching a Position Paper on “ Education and Autism Spectrum Disorders in Australia”.
The National Launch of the Position Paper will be officially presented by Mr Jon Martin (Chairperson AAB ASD), Dr Trevor Clarke (Director Education and Research, Autism Spectrum Australia) and Meredith Ward (Parent &President, Autistic Family Support Association Victoria) onThursday 29th April, 12:00noon at the Leonda by the Yarra, Hawthorn, Vic
The AAB ASD paper calls for the provision of appropriate educational services for school-age students with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Australia. The complete paper presents in detail 8 key principles aimed at achieving an increase in appropriately allocated resources, collaboration between key stake holder groups and improving the capacity of the educational services and service providers.
Jon Martin stated: “Across Australia, the development of appropriate educational services is a critical priority. Demographic data tells us that most people with an ASD diagnosis in Australia are of school age – and this number is growing. ASD prevalence more than doubles every 5 years. As such, there is a significant increase in the number of students diagnosed with ASD that will require specialised support. Currently, there are high rates on suspensions, exclusions and part time schooling that impacts on ensuring the best opportunities and educational outcomes for students with an ASD”
The position paper release is appropriately timed at the conclusion of Autism Awareness Month. Across Australia fund raising events and educational activities will be conducted as part of Autism Awareness Month.
A full copy of the position paper is available here.
A Fair Go For All Letter-Writing Campaign
1st March 2010
Help increase funding for disability support services in Victoria
A letter writing campaign has taken off to support the state-wide campaign A Fair Go For All. The letters aim to raise political awareness of the urgent need to increase funding of disability support services.
With the State Budget (May) and 2010 State election (November) just around the corner, every letter sent will make a difference. We are calling on our members, support people, friends and professionals to ‘Sign and Send’ letters to help support better outcomes for people with a disability. Letters to Community Services Minister Lisa Neville and Premier John Brumby aim to increase pressure on the current government to act on the findings of the Price Review: Out-of-Home Disability Services and address the ‘true cost’ of providing support services. It also aims to apply pressure to respond to the recommendations of the Parliamentary inquiry into supported accommodation for people with a disability and/or mental illness.
Now is the time to show your support. Current media attention on disability and the government’s own data help the case for increased funding. Your letter, along with the hundreds of others from across Victoria, will make the difference.
You can download example letters at the links below:
Letter to Premier Brumby calling for A Fair Go For All
Letter to Minister Neville calling for A Fair Go For All
The Autism Victoria Service Directory
3rd April 2009
The Autism Victoria Service Directory is in desperate need of both updating and expanding!
The service directory is one of the few central information sources in Victoria that families, individuals and professionals can utilise to discover or share ASD services that range from ASD specific counsellors and therapists to hairdressers or naturopaths who have experience with ASD children.
The service directory has evolved from parents, carers and individuals wanting to share a helpful service or professional with the wider Victorian ASD community.
Over the years the service directory has become a very useful tool for many people, as it can take the leg work out of navigating through the ‘service maze’ that is not ASD specific. As awareness of ASD grows and more services designed to benefit those on the spectrum become available, it is important that Autism Victoria’s service directory grows also, as we are often the first port of call for parents or individuals with a recent diagnosis. More than half of the 300 odd calls a week that come through Autism Victoria’s info-line concern accessing our service directory.
So if you are already on our service directory, we would greatly appreciate it if you could fill out a service directory application form. If you do not want to fill out the whole form just simply list your contacts and service offered on page 3, but we have tried to make the form as brief and simple as possible!
If you know of anyone that you think should be on the service directory please either pass the application form onto them or ask them to contact the infoline on 1300 308 699 or email.