L4L have been selected to join the panel of service providers to deliver services as part of the Federal Government’s Helping Children with Autism Package.

L4L supports the 1000 Hours Campaign for further government funding and promotes Autism Awareness
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Helping Children with Autism Package

In September 2008, the Australian Government commenced the delivery of the Helping Children with Autism Package as part of their commitment to improving the quality of life for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD's) and their families and carers; and recognising the value of early intervention for children aged 0 - 7 years diagnosed with ASDs.  The package is being delivered through the Departments of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA), Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) and Health and Ageing (DoHA).

The FaHCSIA initiatives of the package total $146 million and are grouped under two key areas:

  • Increased access to early intervention services for children aged 0-6 years; and

  • Education and support for families and carers of children with ASDs.

 

The DoHA and DEEWR initiatives of the package include:

  • New Medicare items for diagnosis and early intervention treatment for children with ASDs;

  • Professional development for teachers and other school staff to support school students with ASDs; and

  • Parent and carer workshops and information sessions for supporting school aged children with ASDs.

Learning for Life Autism Centre was selected to be on the panel of Service Providers for the FaHCSIA component of the package.  We act as the lead agency for a consortium of early intervention partners, including:

  • Victorian ABA Providers (Vic ABA);

  • Spectrum Speech Pathology; and

  • Autism Behavioural Intervention Association (ABIA).

The funding package, of the early intervention component of the Helping Children with Autism package, provides up to $12,000 per child over 2 years of service (up to $6,000 per child per financial year), to enable families to access service providers on the Panel.

FaHCSIA makes payments to Panel members on behalf of families for services delivered. 

Eligibility and priority of access

Children eligible for the early intervention component of the package are those aged 0-7 years who have been diagnosed with an ASD and who have not yet started formal (i.e. compulsory) school.  This includes children in rural and remote areas and children from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

Priority of access must be given to eligible children in the year immediately prior to starting formal school.  The second priority is eligible children in the two years prior to starting formal school.

Pathway of access

Children require a diagnosis of an ASD to be eligible to access services through the early intervention component of the package.  Following diagnosis, the child’s medical practitioner and/or diagnosing clinician will direct the family to their local Autism Advisor.  Autism Advisors can be accessed in a number of ways, including face-to-face, phone and email contact.

Autism Advisors provide families and carers with information and advice on all aspects of the package, including information about early intervention services, including services on the panel.  

Families receive a letter of introduction from the Autism Advisor to be presented to the Learning for Life Autism Centre consortium of service providers.

The following diagram outlines the pathway families use to access early intervention services on the panel:

Further information about the Helping Children with Autism package is available from www.fahcsia.gov.au, www.health.gov.au/autism and www.dest.gov.au/schools/autism. 

You can also call the Helping Children with Autism Inquiry Line on 1800 289 177 or TTY 1800 260 402.