Victorian Autism Conference Registration Now Open!
Registration for the Victorian Autism Conference (VAC), to be held on the 5th and 6th August, is now open. The Conference will attract 2000 participants; 500 in metropolitan Melbourne and 1500 across regional Victoria. In a first of its kind, this two day event will be streamed live across the state to a number of ‘satellite’ centres to facilitate the participation of these regional delegates. Targeted at families, individuals and professionals with an interest in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), the conference aims to provide practical strategies and information to enhance the quality of life of families and individuals affected by ASD.
With limited places available at both the metropolitan and regional venues, families and professionals are encouraged to register now to avoid disappointment. Early Bird rates apply for delegates who register by Friday 4th June, and all delegates who register by this date will go into the draw to win one of two weekend packages for two in regional Victoria each valued at $500. Special thanks goes to Quality Resort All Seasons Bendigo and the Quality Inn Latrobe Convention Centre, Traralgon for their kind donations.
There are a limited number of Exhibition Stalls available for service providers to advertise their service and/or sell goods at the Victorian Autism Conference. Contact Kate Byrne kate.byrne@autismvictoria.org.au or visit the Conference Website for more information and to obtain an application form. Visit our Conference Website for all details about the conference, including the preliminary program and keynote speakers, regional locations, and registration information. You will also find information on how to Become a Sponsor of the Conference.
Back to top 2010/2011 State Budget Review The State government has released the Budget papers for the 2010/11 financial year and after reviewing the opportunities for improved services for people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder there is little joy for the Autism Community in this budget. The major areas of funding and their commitments are: Department of Human Services
Funding specific to Autism Spectrum Disorders is focused on enhancing the quality of DHS Case Management staff by improving care co-ordination and referral services and although it is pleasing to see staff who work with families and individuals with an ASD will have enhanced understanding of the issues and needs confronting families and individuals, this does not in itself ensure the services required are in fact available. More generally, DHS is investing funding in 20 additional shared supported accommodation places; increasing funding to the not-for-profit organisations providing support to families; injecting $8.3 million over four years for aids and equipment; providing funding to allow an additional 15 facility-based respite places for people with high and complex needs; and an additional 330 episodes of respite to be funded through the National Disability Agreement. Does this meet the needs of the ASD community? Does the Budget address the issues of adults and their need for appropriate housing, education opportunities, work options, recreation needs or social interaction opportunities? It could be well argued that the budget does not address any of these needs in a cohesive or co-ordinated manner and for this reason the response to the DHS Budget does not go far enough in addressing the concerns of the ASD community. Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
The DEECD have not allocated resources specifically to meeting the needs of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder however they have committed resources to a range of initiatives that will potentially benefit families and individual students.These commitments include $38.1 million to support growth in the Program for Students with Disabilities; $38.4 million to increase the intensity of early intervention services; $18.5 million to expand the Students with Disabilities Transport program; and $4.4 million to improve education for provision of students with disabilities through the establishment of satellite units and inclusion support programs in schools. DEECD have also committed $9.2 million to establish and operate the Victorian Deaf Education Institute and a further $1.7 million to help close the gap in education outcomes for Indigenous students. Overall the DEECD budget does provide a number of potential positives for families and students with an ASD and the Department should be congratulated for expanding these programs. There are, of course, continuing needs and we would argue for the need to support the targeting of funds to ensuring all schools are able to meet the needs of students with an ASD. We would also like to see funding invested in brokering services that support families when addressing support needs at the school. The major challenge leading into the future will be to convince Government of the need to invest in the specialist supports necessary for individuals with ASD to achieve the quality of life many of us take for granted. This will require targeted and specific investments in services and supports and this will be the aim of Autism Victoria over the next 12 months. Back to top ASD Information Sessions
Autism Victoria runs regular information sessions for families. The next information sessions are coming up on the 4th June (Autism Spectrum Disorders and Associated Core Strategies) and the 27th July (Anxiety and ASDs) from 10am to 12pm. The sessions are free for members. To register please contact counsellor2@autismvictoria.org.au or call (03) 9657 1616. Back to top 2010 ASD Research Forum
The date has been set for Autism Victoria's 9th Annual ASD Research Forum. The forum provides an excellent opportunity to hear about Autism Spectrum Disorder research currently being undertaken by Victorian research teams, including that undertaken by undergraduate and postgraduate students. This year, the forum will be held on Thursday 4th November at Darebin Arts Centre, Bell Street, Preston. Save the date in your diaries, and keep an eye out for the Call for Papers and Registration information in the coming months. Back to top Drawtism - Play Pictionary for Autism
May is Drawtism Month. Drawtism is a charity fundraising event managed by Alpha Autism, a not-for-profit organisation that assists adults with ASDs. Fundraisers play a game of Pictionary to raise money and awareness for Autism. If you have not yet registered your game, you can do on the Drawtism Website. So sharpen your pencils and get behind this great cause! Back to top Call for Research Participants
In Victoria, there is a lot of research being done by students and clinicians interested in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Autism Victoria encourages and supports this valuable work in a number of ways. Researchers are able to include details of their research in our Current Research Projects listing, a page devoted to summaries of current research being conducted in Victoria.
Autism Victoria also maintains a Research Participant Register, where individuals with ASDs (and/or their families) can register their interest in being involved in research projects that are currently being undertaken in Victoria. The register is kept securely by Autism Victoria and is not issued to any other organisation. A researcher will be able to request a list of participants who fit their recruitment criteria (e.g. based on the age of the individual with ASD, their specific ASD diagnosis, gender etc.), and the individual's email address will be made available to researchers. Researchers may then contact individuals directly to explain the purpose of the study, and ascertain if the family/individual is interested in participating. In addition, the following research projects are currently recruiting participants:
Children's sleep patterns and psychological wellbeing
Teaching emotion recognition in young children with autism
Growth in boys with autism Back to top Upcoming Events
For a summary of Events coming up, visit our Events Calendar, or click the name of the event below for more detailed information.
Ongoing
Early Days Workshops - Introductory Workshops
Early Days Workshops - Skills Workshops
Become an ABA Therapist
Social Skills Training Groups for Children with ASDs
Aspinauts Children's Choir
12th May
Public Lecture: Biochemical Treatment of Mental Illness and Autism
Autism: A Life Beyond Treatment and Programs
14th - 28th May
Making it Work: A Program for Teachers and Integration Aides
17th May - August
Creative Moves - Performing Arts Group for Young Teens with an ASD 21st May
Rock Musical - Footsteps of a Nobody 1st June
Information Evening: Complexities of ASD Diagnoses 4th June
Autism Spectrum Disorders and Core Strategies 5th June
Autism Angels Dinner Dance 7th June - 9th June
Become an ABA Therapist 19th June
ABA Information Session
ABA Therapy Workshop: Becoming an ABA Therapist
Social Skills Workshop 14th July - 16th July
Become an ABA Therapist 27th July
Information Session: Anxiety and ASDs 14th August
ABA Information Session 18th August
Behaviour Management: Practical Strategies for Children with ASD Back to top |
