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The report launched today is the result of a five week independent
community consultation commissioned by the Autism Association
of NSW in early 2004 to identify unmet need and service gaps
for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their
families in the region bounded by Lismore, Ballina and Tweed
Heads - one of the fastest growing populations regions of
Australia.
12 months ago the Association was approached by a group of
parents and service providers in Ballina who wanted to establish
a Far North Coast autism centre. Prevalence rates of ASDs
on the Far North Coast have risen dramatically in the last
four years with numbers in some services doubling.
The Association had already been providing some itinerant
services and training in the area, having identified the lack
of services in regional and rural areas of NSW as a major
issue. In July 2003 the Association committed to increase
services in one or two regional areas over the next three
years.
The consultation process provided an opportunity for input
from many individuals and organisations in the region with
the goal of achieving better outcomes for children with autism
and their families
The Association appreciates the commitment demonstrated by
the local community and by government in recognising the difficulties
faced by these families, and thanks the Minister for Children
and Youth Affairs, the Hon. Larry Anthony and the Department
of Family & Community Services for the funding initiative
announced today through the Invest to Grow program.
Autism Association of NSW Chief Executive Officer, Adrian
Ford, said he was delighted with the Government’s support.
“The need for autism-specific services on the Far North
Coast is pressing,” Mr Ford said today, “ and
this funding will enable us to provide early intervention
programs for 120 children and their families over a four year
period. It will also fund a resource centre for families with
children with Autism Spectrum Disorders; behaviour intervention
training and support for families and their service providers;
a parent-to-parent support program; and a limited diagnostic
assessment service.”
Mr Ford went on to say that he hoped that the Association
could provide similar services in one or two other regional
centres of the State over the next few years.
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