Autism Victoria InfoLine

Autism Victoria was recently successful in securing recurrent funding from the Victorian Department of Human Services to provide the specialist Autism Spectrum Disorder Information Service in Victoria.  A complex series of decisions dating back several years meant that this funding was held by another agency that was not delivering an accessible, broad based information service.  In the meantime, Autism Victoria was providing a reasonable level of service using funds raised from a variety of sources.  The recent decision will enable Autism Victoria to make significant improvements to the quality and range of information materials and most importantly improve access to this information.

Some of the new initiatives that will be implemented in the next few months include:

Introduction of the Autism Victoria InfoLine, staffed by a full time Information Support Officer

• A local call access number for regional Victorians – 1300 308 699

• Updated information materials, including materials available in other languages

• Improved facilities for staff and visitors to the Autism Victoria office in Glen Iris

• An improved telephone reception and message system

• An easy to use query form on the Autism Victoria website

The Autism Victoria staff – Amanda, Carol, Kirsty and Julia – have developed a service plan and an implementation schedule.  The new staff position – the Information Support Officer – has been widely advertised.  Details of the position, duties and selection criteria are in the attached document.  This is a full time position to commence in October.  Closing date for applications is the 18th August.

In order to improve the Autism Victoria office facility, Autism Victoria will be closed whilst the building is repainted and new carpet installed.  This work will commence on Monday 7th August and will reopen on Wednesday 16th August.  Staff will not be able to process any Library Loans during this time, but will be able to take phone calls and email queries.  The inconvenience will be worth it when Autism Victoria reopens with a brighter look and more functional layout!

As part of the process of upgrading the Information Service, the Autism Victoria Committee are conducting a survey seeking consumer opinion about current services.  This survey was included in the Winter 2006 issue of The Spectrum recently sent to Autism Victoria members.  If you are a non-member and would like to complete the survey, please download the questionnaire here, complete and forward to the Autism Victoria office, no later than Friday 25th August.

More News from Autism Victoria

Annual General Meeting

This meeting is an opportunity for the committee and staff to meet with members and other interested persons and share our activities and achievements of the past year.  The 2006 AGM will be held on Monday 9th October in the Western Autistic School Multi Purpose Room.  The Association’s Annual Report will be presented, as will the 2006 Autism Victoria Award for Excellence.  If you would like to nominate a professional or service provider for these awards, please download the attached pdf file.  Nominations close on the 15th September.

Autism Victoria Lobbying & Public Relations

Meredith Ward has been contracted by the Autism Victoria State Council to develop a public relations and media strategy for the association.  Her brief also includes liaising with state government on issues specific to Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The first issue Meredith is addressing is the implementation of the government’s Early Childhood Intervention Services Flexible Support Packages (ECIS-FSP).  Readers will recall the details of these packages in the May 2006 issue of eSpectrum.  Meredith has discovered that despite these packages being announced in May 2005, they only started to become available from about April this year.  Furthermore, it appears that the application process is placing an additional burden on families.  What has been your experience?

Parents and carers residing in Victoria with children in the 0-6 age group are encouraged to read and complete the attached survey.  Your responses to the ECIS-FSP survey will enable Autism Victoria to effectively inform the government about your concerns with this process.  Completed surveys should be returned no later than Wednesday 30th August to the Autism Victoria office (see details on the survey form).

Meredith has also sourced a comprehensive list of ECIS Flexible Support Packages for each region, including the contact numbers and the number of packages available.  If you wish to speak with Meredith directly about this or any other issue relating to government policy and practice, you can contact her by email to liaison@autismvictoria.org.au or by phone on 0400 226 408 (leave a message).

Professional Panel

The recently formed Autism Victoria Professional Panel is seeking Expressions of Interest to fill several additional positions.  If you are a professional working in the Autism Spectrum Disorder field and would like to participate in the activities of this panel, please download the attached document.  Expressions of Interest should be forwarded to the Autism Victoria Executive Officer, Amanda Golding, and can be accepted at any time.

Research Forum

The 5th Autism Victoria Research Forum will be held on Friday 17th November at the Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre, Preston.  Guest Speaker will be Dr Susan Leekam who is a Reader in Developmental Pyschology at the University of Durham in the UK.  The object of the Research Forum is to provide an opportunity for local researchers to share their research, as well as common interests and concerns.  Full details and the Call for Papers to present at the Research Forum are in the attached pdf document.  Closing date for proposals is Friday 29th September.

Other News and Information

2007 Biennial Australian Conference on Autism Spectrum Disorders - “Creative Futures”

This conference will be held from 14th to the 16th March 2007 at the Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast, Queensland.  It is convened by Autism Queensland under the auspice of the Autism Council of Australia.  The theme for the conference is the Future – what does the future hold for children and adults on the spectrum and their families?  For full details, visit the conference website at www.astmanagement.com.au/autism7/

Death of Eric Schopler

An internationally recognized pioneer in the modern approach to managing autism, Professor Eric Schopler, died in the US recently, aged 79.  Forty one years ago as a young psychologist at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Schopler founded a program that recognized autism as a brain disorder, and absolutely not attributable to negligent parenting as was widely believed at the time.  He observed that people living with autism did not learn in traditional ways but were capable of learning, especially with customized interventions from therapists, family and teachers.  Those insights led to the development of Division TEACCH – Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication-Handicapped Children.

TEACCH programs have inspired autism therapy programs in countries throughout the world, including most funded specialist programs offered in Australia.  “He influenced tens of thousands of people,” said Dr Catherine Lord, a psychologist who worked with Schopler early in her career.  “Not only did he develop treatment, he had this understanding about what autism is and how it could be treated in the family and broader context of the community and in the schools.”  Professor Gary Mesibov, who took over as executive direction at TEACCH after Schopler retired in 1993 said “..it was very courageous of him.  He came as an assistant professor and took on the whole establishment in his department as well as the whole country.”

Schopler and Mesibov visited Australia in 1988 and their books and TEACCH training courses continue to be an integral part of the field of autism.

Movie “Mozart and the Whale”

Autism Victoria has been tracking the progress of this movie for a couple of years - the writer has used the 'story' of Americans Jerry and Mary Newport to create the script, and almost all the characters in the movie have Asperger Syndrome.  The film had limited release in the US, and did not get cinema release in Australia at all, even though Radha Mitchell, an Aussie actress, has a lead role.  However, it was recently released on DVD and several of the video chains have a limited number of copies.

"Mozart and the Whale" is well worth watching.  It is a fairly simple story line, tagged 'romantic comedy-drama' with an M rating.  The characterisations are intriguing, respectful and very realistic.  Josh Hartnett in the lead role is excellent.  He has captured the many nuances of Asperger Syndrome in a sincere and sympathetic way.  There will be debate about whether some of the movie's characters have aspergers or autism, but what struck this viewer is that each character is treated as an individual, and when viewed collectively, illustrates very well the breadth of the spectrum.   The extra "Behind the Scenes" story on the DVD is very informative and features commentary from Jerry Newport, who was advisor to the director and cast.

New Book “What About Me?”

Wantirna Heights School in Melbourne has recently launched a new book written by staff members Athanasia Koutsis and Gerda de Clerq.  Titled What About Me?  This beautiful book is for the junior primary aged reader who has a brother or sister, or perhaps a cousin or friend with autism.  The text is beautifully laid out and illustrated by the acclaimed illustrator Richard Galbraith.  The writers have gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure their young readers feel valued and empowered.  The message is simple – we are all different in our own ways, and we are all entitled to respect and understanding.  The 32 page hard cover book costs just $24.95 and is available directly from Wantirna Heights.  Contact details and an order form is attached here.  Visitors to the Autism Victoria office are also able to purchase a copy.

Alpha Autism – new Head Office location

Alpha Autism, an organizational member of Autism Victoria providing a range of adult services have relocated to a new, much bigger and more accessible Head Office.  As of 1st August 2006 they will be located at 1939 Malvern Road Malvern East.  The office is about 200 metres from Darling Station (Glen Waverley line).  Their new phone number is 9885 2777 and their fax number is 9885 2566.

Alpha Autism are also holding an Art Exhibition at Gasworks Art Park, 21 Graham Street, Albert Park from 11th to 27th August.  Titled “Images of life through autism”, all works are for sale, with proceeds supporting Alpha Autism Services.

Victorian Education Excellence Award

Ms Val Gill, Principal of Western Autistic School was recently awarded a 2006 Victorian Education Excellence Award in the category of Outstanding School Leadership.  This is a prestigious and most deserved award, acknowledging the importance of the specialist autism schools in Victoria.  Congratulations Val.

Research Study – Social Information Processing

Dr Amanda Richdale (RMIT University) and Dr Cheryl Dissanayake (La Trobe University) are currently recruiting subjects for this important research project.  They need boys aged 6 – 12 years – both typically developing and those with high functioning autism or Asperger’s syndrome.  They will be comparing the stories that the two groups tell them about a series of computer animations.  If you would like more information, please contact Amanda Richdale on 03 9925 7366 or email amanda.richdale@rmit.edu.au.

Relationship Development Intervention session in Sydney

Melanie Smith and Maisie Soetantyo will be presenting a four-day parent training workshop about this relatively new, American based intervention program.  It will be in Sydney from the 5th – 8th September 2006.  See the attached pdf file for details.  The program is expensive and we are not aware of any funding that could be accessed to assist parents to attend this training.  However, we are aware of at least one RDI practitioner in training based in Melbourne.  Renee Meyer can be contacted via email if you are interested in this program.

Research for a new book by Jeanette Purkis

Jeanette Purkis, author of Finding a Different Kind of Normal: Misadventures with Asperger Syndrome, is researching her second book and is asking for help from members of the Autism Spectrum Disorder community.  The proposed book will be a collection of the stories of people on the autism spectrum (diagnosed or undiagnosed) who have had issues with substance abuse, as well those of their parents and people who work with them.  Jeanette feels strongly about this ‘hidden’ issue and wants to fill a missing link in the literature.  If you have any experiences in this area please consider contacting Jeanette by email.  Jeanette will interview selected subjects, with each story becoming a chapter in the proposed book.  Your anonymity and confidentiality is assured.  Jeanette can also be contacted on 0423 624 070.

SBS program Insight features Autism

The SBS program Insight will feature a discussion about Autism in the edition to be televised on Tuesday 8th August at 7:30 pm.  Audience members represent a cross section of parents, people with autism and professionals from around Australia.

Circles and Squares Social Skills Program

This is an eight-week program for primary aged children on the spectrum.  It is run on a Saturday morning from 9:30 am to 11:30 am and costs $12 per session.  The facilitator is Lesley Matthews who is a Social Worker with the Karinya Counselling Centre in the Melbourne suburb of Glen Waverley.  All queries should be directed to Karinya on 9802 2886.

ARMS Global Autism Conference

This conference is being organized by Autism Behavioural Intervention Queensland (ABIQ) and will be held in Brisbane on the 6th and 7th October 2006.  For full details abut the program, topics and speakers, go to www.abiq.org or ring the ABIQ o (07) 3881 1868.

About eSpectrum

eSpectrum is compiled and distributed by Autism Victoria Inc.  All information is included in good faith, and is current at time of release.  Any views expressed in eSpectrum are not necessarily those of Autism Victoria Inc, the State Council, Executive Committee or its member agencies.  The publication of a product or program in eSpectrum should not be taken as an endorsement of the service or the product(s).  Autism Victoria has included details of products and services for the information of readers in good faith.  Readers should take care to evaluate them for their suitability to their particular needs.  Queries, items for inclusion and comments should be directed to Amanda Golding, Executive Officer, Autism Victoria at admin@autismvictoria.org.au

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