ID Intellectual Disability IFP Individually Funded Package ILC Information, Linkages and Capacity Building program IQ Intelligence Quotient ISP Individual Support Package MAV Municipal Association of Victoria MBS Medicare Benefits Schedule MCH Maternal and Child Health NICE National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK) NDIA National Disability Insurance Agency NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme OCD Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OT Occupational Therapist OTARC Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (La Trobe University) PBS Positive Behaviour Support PDD-NOS Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified PEDS Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status PSD Program for Students with Disabilities RACGP Royal Australian College of General Practitioners RACP Royal Australasian College of Physicians RANZCP Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists RCH Royal Children’s Hospital RCN Raising Children Network RTO Registered Training Organisation SAC Social Attention and Communication study (La Trobe University) SDS Special Development School VASELCC Victorian Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre
Summary of recommendations Chapter 1 – Living with Autism Number Recommendation 1.1 In the development of policies, programs, services and supports for people with ASD, or impacting on people with ASD, the Victorian Government, local governments, all service providers and professionals must consult and engage with people with ASD, their families and advocates. 1.2 The Victorian Government through the updated State Autism Plan ensure that families living with ASD are provided proper supports, including ongoing, viable and affordable respite care available across the state. 1.3 The Victorian Government through the updated State Autism Plan ensure that in the development of government-funded programs, services and policies that impact on families living with ASD, both by governments and by service providers, families living with ASD must be engaged and consulted. 1.4 The Victorian Government use its role on the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Disability Reform Council to ensure the Australian Bureau of Statistics (in collaboration with the National Disability Insurance Agency) adopts a consistent and comprehensive approach to the national collection of data on people with ASD, including the prevalence of ASD and the prevalence of co-occurring conditions, and that this data be disaggregated to state and territory levels. 1.5 The Victorian Government develop and fund a process for the consistent and comprehensive collection of data on all people diagnosed with ASD, to enable the analysis of the prevalence of ASD and the prevalence of co-occurring conditions in the Victorian community. 1.6 In its collection of data on the prevalence of ASD in Victoria, the Victorian Government ensure that data on prevalence rates within CALD communities is also collected. 1.7 The Victorian Government in consultation with CALD communities support the development of a targeted information strategy for those communities to assist individuals and families in understanding ASD and the services available. 1.8 The Victorian Government fund enhanced training for all service providers engaging with people with ASD to develop cultural understanding on the specific needs of people with ASD from CALD backgrounds. Develop specific training to build cultural awareness around assessment and diagnosis. 1.9 In its collection of data on the prevalence of ASD in Victoria, the Victorian Government ensure that data on prevalence rates within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is also collected.
The School Years AT A GLANCE Background One of the key issues of this Inquiry has been the experience of students with ASD in the Victorian school system. Parents raised the following issues: a lack of information and guidance on establishing the best school for the enrolment of their child; schools that refuse to enrol their child with ASD; the limitations of the Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD); a lack of understanding and knowledge in the school sector of ASD; a lack of appropriate learning environments, including appropriate sensory spaces; poor or nonexistent training of teachers in ASD; and a lack of opportunity for academic achievement. Chapter overview Currently mainstream schools are not commonly providing an inclusive model of education that would encourage parents of children with ASD to enrol their child. The Committee is aware that many parents are choosing special or specialist schools or home schooling for their child over mainstream school enrolment. This chapter examines the school experiences of students with ASD and families living with ASD, the Program for Students with Disabilities and its Review, the Special Needs Plan and other programs that support inclusion, the issue of schools denying ASD students entry, and how to build a more inclusive school culture for students with ASD. This chapter relates primarily to the following terms of reference: (b) the availability and adequacy of services provided by the Commonwealth, State and local governments across health, education, disability, housing, sport and employment services; and (c) the adequacy of services to be provided under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). One of the central issues raised by families living with ASD and people with ASD in this Inquiry has been their experiences of the Victorian school system. Many parents reported to the Committee their struggles in attempting to find appropriate schooling for their child, and their often negative experiences of the school system. While the criticism of schools was broad in scope, much of the commentary rested on failures within the mainstream Victorian state school system.
Appendix 2 Public hearings The Committee held the following Public Hearings: Date Venue 29 August 2016 Melbourne 12 September 2016 Melbourne 19 September 2016 Geelong 10 October 2016 Melbourne 17 October 2016 Bendigo 7 November 2016 Melbourne 15 November 2016 Shepparton 21 November 2016 Melbourne 5 December 2016 Morwell 14 February 2017 Swan Hill 6 March 2017 Melbourne 29 August 2016, Melbourne Organisation Name Position Amaze Ms Fiona Sharkie Chief Executive Officer Mr Braedan Hogan Policy and Advocacy Manager Mindful - Centre for Training and Research in Developmental Health Dr Sandra Radovini Director, Mindful, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne Ms Frances Saunders Statewide Autism Spectrum Disorder Coordinator Ms Liz Morkham Autism Spectrum Disorder Coordinator, Austin Child and Mental Health Service Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University Professor Cheryl Dissanayake Founder and Director Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne Associate Professor Jill Sewell Deputy Director, Centre for Community Child Health Ms Charmaine Bernie Senior Occupational Therapist Individual Ms Narelle McCaffrey Individual Mr James Tucker Individual Ms Susan Pearce Individual Ms Dianna Lane
Yellow Ladybugs Ms Katie Koullas Founder 12 September 2016, Melbourne Organisation Name Position Aspergers Victoria Ms Tamsin Jowett President Ms Bronwyn Carter Volunteer Consultant to the Board Individuals Ms Cathy Talia-Parker Mr Liam Parker Autism Family Support Association Ms Catrina Mulderry President Mr Michael Tucker Vice President Ms Tracey Hayes Committee Member Mr Phil Lipshut Committee Member I CAN Network Mr Chris Varney Chief Enabling Officer & Founder Ms Gabrielle Breheny Chair Mr Will Rosewarne Stakeholders Director Ms Jenna Gephart Marymede Catholic College Mr Bryce Pace Brauer College Speech Pathology Australia Ms Christine Lyons Acting Chief Executive Officer Ms Robyn Stephen Acting President Autism Behavioural Intervention Association (ABIA) Ms Susan Pavey General Manager Dr Amanda Sampson Individuals Ms Rosemary Doherty Mr Chris Doherty Individuals Ms Florence McIver Mr Mike McIver Individual Mr Ryan Kennedy Individual Mr Christopher Reid 19 September 2016, Geelong Organisation Name Position National Disability Insurance Agency Ms Louise Glanville Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Stakeholder Relations and Organisational Capability Ms Chris Faulkner Regional Manager, Victoria West Mr Peter De Natris Strategic Adviser
City of Greater Geelong Mr Geoff Barber Acting Coordinator, Care Services, Aged and Disability Individual Ms Jules Haddock Treehouse Ms Lisa Hamling Facilitator Ms Michelle Anderson Facilitator, Pink Musketeers Individual Mr Stephen Williams Individual Mr Gordon Portway Individual Ms Leah Thomson Individual Ms Sarah Hayden Individual Ms Deirdre Wirth Individual Ms Nicole Stephenson Individual Ms Stacey Smith 10 October 2016, Melbourne Organisation Name Position ABA Parent Support Network Ms Sarah Wilson Convenor Specialisterne Australia Mr John Craven Chair Mr Jason White Employment Services Manager Individual Dr Anna Middleton Individual Ms Susan Rees Individual Mr Steve Ager Individuals Mr Dom Williams Mr Stephen Williams Individual Ms Karen Burgess Department of Education and Training Ms Katy Haire Acting Secretary Dr David Howes Assistant Deputy Secretary, Early Childhood and School Education Group Mr Alan Wilson Acting Director, Inclusion, Access and Participation, Wellbeing, Health and Engagement Division 17 October 2016, Bendigo Organisation Name Position Distinctive Options Mr Murray Dawson-Smith Chief Executive Officer Individuals Ms Susanna Flanagan
Mr Martin Flanagan Bendigo Autistic Advocacy and Support Service Ms Rebecca Kelly Ms Susanna Flanagan Individual Ms Chloe Fitton Macedon Ranges Autism Network Ms Shantelle Grant 7 November 2016, Melbourne Organisation Name Position Department of Health and Human Services Ms Amanda Cattermole Deputy Secretary, Community Services Programs and Design Division Mr James MacIsaac Acting NDIS Project Director Dr Neil Coventry Chief Psychiatrist Kalianna School Mr Peter Bush Principal Ms Britt Holmberg Autism Connect and Inclusion Coordinator 15 November 2016, Shepparton Organisation Name Position FamilyCare Mr David Tennant Chief Executive Officer Ms Karen Goodger Practice Manager, Disability Support Services Individual Mr Ben Snow Individuals Ms Meaghan O'Brien Ms Michaela O'Brien Individual Ms Sally Smith Individuals Ms De'arne Treacy Ms Trudy Gribben Individual Ms Carole Trotter 21 November 2016, Melbourne Organisation Name Position Autism Teaching Institute Ms Mary Thomson Principal, Western Autistic School, and Chief Executive Officer, Autism Teaching Institute
Murray Human Services Mr Scott Alexander Chief Executive Officer Ms Nicole Doolan Services Manager Creating Connections Australia Ms Sherri Cincotta Director and Program Facilitator Ms Elissa Plumridge Director and Program Facilitator Echuca Regional Health and Kyabram District Health Services Mrs Leah Williams Occupational Therapist, Echuca Regional Health Ms Denise Liddell Manager of Campaspe Early Childhood Intervention Service, Kyabram District Health Services Swan Hill Specialist School Mr Graeme Scoberg Former Principal Individual Mr Scott Morrison 6 March 2017, Melbourne Organisation Name Position Occupational Therapy Australia Ms Kim Mestroni Victorian Division Manager, Occupational Therapy Australia Ms Lisa Vale Paediatric Occupational Therapist and Clinical Services Manager, Splash Occupational Therapy Ms Johanna Rouse Senior Occupational Therapist and Autism Spectrum Disorders Coordinator, Orygen Youth Health Deakin University Child Study Centre Professor Nicole Rinehart Director, Deakin Child Study Centre, Deakin University Associate Professor David Austin Mr Logan Whittaker Inclusion (All Abilities) Manager, AFL Individual Mr Shane Pendergast The Brainary Mr Hugh Kingsley Educationalist Mr Sam Kinglsey NAO Robot Operator NAO Robot Monash University Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology Emeritus Professor Bruce Tonge Dr Avril Brereton
Appendix 3 Briefings and site visits Briefings Date Organisation Name 6 June 2016 Centre for Developmental Disability Health Victoria (CDDHV) Dr Jane Tracey, Director Dr Jean Graham, Director of Mental Health Services 20 June 2016 Amaze Ms Fiona Sharkie, CEO Mr Braedan Hogan, Policy Manager Site visits Date Site 19 September 2016 Gateways Support Services, Geelong Whittington Primary School, Geelong 17 October 2016 Kalianna School, Bendigo Bendigo Special Development School, Bendigo 24 October 2016 Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Bundoora Moomba Park Primary School, Fawkner Northern School for Autism (Reservoir Campus), Reservoir 14 November 2016 Mansfield Autism Statewide Services (MASS), Mansfield EdSpace Education and Training Centre, Benalla 15 November 2016 Dookie Secondary College – Mansfield Autism Statewide Services (MASS), Dookie 29 November 2016 Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane Secret Agent Society Social Skills and Emotional Regulation Training Program, Brisbane Autism Queensland Studio G Program, Brisbane Autism Hub, Brisbane