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The “Someone to turn to…”™
Parent Support Network provides emotional and practical support
for parents who, for example, have a child with a recent diagnosis
of autism, and would like supportive contact with a volunteer
parent who has had similar experiences. There are no fees
involved.
The co-ordinator of the “Someone
to turn to…”™ program closely links
parents seeking support with volunteer parents, using factors
such as diagnosis and age of the child. This ensures that
the support can be as relevant as possible.
Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) provides initial and follow-up
training for volunteers as well as ongoing support for both
parents and volunteers. Contact between parent and volunteer
usually occurs every 1-2 weeks; in some instances it is possible
for the volunteer and parent to meet in person. We recognise
that everyone leads busy lives, therefore volunteers are usually
linked with one family at a time.
Urgently needed: volunteer parents and carers
Our service is currently seeking more volunteer mentors.
This is to meet the requests of many parents/carers who are
asking for the kind of empathic help that “Someone
to turn to…”™ provides. They may
be going through a new diagnosis or some other time of particular
concern, and are possibly undergoing similar experiences to
your own as a parent/carer.
The role of a volunteer mentor is not a time-consuming one
- probably a phone call every 2 weeks. Volunteers are trained
and in turn supported by Aspect. Weekend workshops for new parents and carers are held throughout the year and are announced on the home page of this website, as well as on the training page.
Can you help? For more information, please call Pauline,
the “Someone to turn to…”™ Coordinator
on 8977 8335 or contact
her via e-mail.
Multilingual support
“Someone to turn to…”™ now
provides multilingual support. We have volunteers who can
offer support in Japanese, Tagalog, Arabic, Greek, Spanish,
Cantonese and Mandarin, as well as English. This multilingual
service is readily available from Aspect if you are in need
of assistance.
Support for the Far North Coast
“Someone to turn to…”™ was launched in the Far North Coast region of NSW in early 2006. If you think this service could assist you, would like more information about it or are interested in volunteering,
please contact the Aspect Far North Coast Centre for Autism in Alstonville by calling Dr Jo Longman on 02 66283660 or mobile 0439 047432, or sending an e-mail.
Fathers, Grandfathers & Uncles
Autism Spectrum Australia provides specialised support for fathers, grandfathers and uncles of children with autism spectrum disorders. “Someone to turn to…”™ can link you with a father or grandfather who is in a similar situation to you and can give you advice on how best to manage.
“Someone to turn to…”™ also offers ‘Father’s Nights’ giving dad’s, uncles and grandfathers a chance to get together in an informal setting.
Please click on the links below for further information.
Download our Father's Workshop - September 2008 (500Kb PDF)
Download our Support for Fathers
brochure (610Kb PDF)
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Download our 
