Early Days launched

Today 2 April 2009 marks the launch of Early Days – a national workshops program for Australian mothers, fathers and other family carers of children on the Autism Spectrum.

With Government funding totalling $6.6 million over two years as part of the $190 million Helping Children with Autism package, Early Days workshops will be held in every state and territory.

Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children Services Bill Shorten MP said these workshops aim to connect families and carers with each other and help them manage the many pressures involved with bringing up children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

“They offer opportunities for families to create links within their local ASD community, and provide relevant, evidence-based research and information about ASD that will assist them to access early intervention and other services,” Mr Shorten said.

The launch coincides with the announcement of the successful applicants for the first of six new Autism-specific early learning and care centres to be funded in Australia.

Over four years $9.7 million will be provided to establish first three centres in:

• Liverpool, South West Sydney, NSW: KU Children’s Services
• Bundoora, Melbourne, Victoria: consortium led by La Trobe University
• Prospect, Adelaide: Angliccare SA

Three more centres will soon be announced as part of this federal government funding. The Victorian Government contributed $500,000 towards building the La Trobe Centre.

Celebrating World Autism Awareness Day, Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA), said that the centres will draw together child care centres, universities and hospitals to develop best practice models of learning and intervention.

World Autism Awareness Day is an international event promoting public understanding of autism. Read more here or visit the World Autism Awareness Day website.

For more information about government initiatives under the Helping Children with Autism package, see the FaHCSIA website.

   Published 2 April 2009