RELEVANT GOVERNMENT POLICIES
What is Autism Victoria's Policy Role?
There are many areas of government legislation, regulation and policy that impact on services used by people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and their carers. Most of these are the responsibility of the Victorian state government. From time to time Autism Victoria members prepare a submission to government in response to a particular policy document or issue.
In its 2006 pre election policy Addressing Disadvantage, the Victorian Government committed to developing an Autism State Plan in partnership with Autism Victoria. This is a significant project, and work commenced in February 2007.
About the Autism State Plan
- Background information
- Consultation Phase One Summary
- Personal Perspectives - now closed
- Updates
- Links
In its 2006 pre-election policy Addressing Disadvantage, the Victorian Government committed to developing an Autism State Plan in partnership with Autism Victoria. The aim of the plan is to build new and better approaches across government for meeting the growing and complex needs of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The Plan will evaluate the current demand on services, develop strategies for improving the effectiveness of the service system, identify the service gaps and evaluate the findings of the Autism Secondary Consultation and Training Strategy (ACT-NOW) in relation to the specialist knowledge, skill and expertise needed by professionals across the sector.
It will cover all age groups and be informed by national and overseas evidence based practice and frameworks.
The Department of Human Services is progressing work on the Plan with representatives from Autism Victoria, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
A draft Autism State Plan is anticipated to be submitted to Government later next year (2008).
To inform the Plan, consultation with a range of external stakeholders will occur including individuals with an ASD and the families, carers, service providers and academics and professionals with particular expertise in this area.
To make sure that the Autism State Plan reflects the views and experiences of people with an ASD, their families and carers, people and organisations that provide services, doctors teachers and adcademics and others, there will be a consultation process to seek views.
The consultation has two stages, the first stage is now complete. A second stage of consultation will be undertaken during 2008 before the draft Autism State Plan is submitted for government consideration later in 2008.
Consultation Summary
This paper presents an overview of the key outcomes of the consultation process and reflects on the main themes that emerged from the forums and the written submissions. You can view the consultation paper below:
Autism State Plan consultation summary here
PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES - CASE STORIES - Now closed.
The Autism State Plan is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of people with an ASD and the contribution they make to society. Thank you for submitting your contriubtions. The Autism State Plan working group are now reviewing all contributions for their possible inclusion in the draft Autism State Plan.
Regular updates will be placed on the website of the Department of Human Services Strategic Projects Branch, and updates from Autism Victoria will be posted here.
Autism State Plan
http://autismstateplan.dhs.vic.gov.au
Department of Human Services
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/wellbeing/disabil/
Autism Victoria
Relevant email addresses:
autismstateplan@dhs.vic.gov.au - if you have any questions about the Autism State Plan, to register to attend a forum and to return electronic copies of the Consultation response form
admin@autismvictoria.org.au - to return electronic copies of the Personal Perspectives Case Stories
liaison@autismvictoria.org.au - for any queries about Autism Victoria’s participation in the project
Recent Submissions
Detailed below are the important features of recent submissions made by Autism Victoria.
| Purpose | Submission Name | Download | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| The priorities for the Victorian Governmnet to address in the lead up to the 2006 Victorian State election. | Election Priorities 2006 for Victorian State Government |
[134kb] |
September 2006 |
| Victorian Disability Bill Exposure Draft | Joint Response from Autism Victoria and the Autistic Family Support Association | AutismPolicy03.pdf - [55kb] | February 2006 |
| Proposed changes to the Victorian Disability Legislation | Review of Disability Legislation | AutismPolicy01.pdf - [75kb] | August 2003 |
| Comments to the Department of Education and Training | Better Services Better Outcomes | AutismPolicy02.pdf - [67kb] | February 2002 |
Background - Disability Services, Victoria
These services are provided under the terms of the Intellectually Disabled Persons Services Act (1986) and the Disability Services Act (1991). Funding decisions are made by the State Government under the terms of the Commonwealth States and Territories Disability Agreement (CSTDA) that is negotiated on a triennial basis.
The Bracks Labor government Disability Policy is detailed in the document called the State Disability Plan 2002-2012. This plan has five Priority Strategies:
Reorientation of Disability Supports
Development of Strong Foundations for Disability Supports
Promotion and Protection of People's Rights
Strengthening of Local Communities
Making Public Services Accessible
Details of the State Disability Plan and the Implementation program can be found at www.dhs.vic.gov.au/disability.
An important component of the plan was the review and revision of the disability legislation. Autism Victoria made a detailed submission in 2002, with a focus on the issue of access to services for people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Below is the Executive Summary of our submission. In October 2005, the Minister released the Disability Bill Exposure Draft, and responses were invited. A joint response was prepared by Autism Victoria and the Autistic Family Support Association - see the table above. The Disability Act was passed by State Parliament in 2006, and the Disability Division, Department of Human Services have been preparing for the implementation of this Act on July 1, 2007. This process is detailed on the department website including draft policy documents and regulatory impact statements.
Equitable Access for those with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Autism Victoria represents individuals diagnosed, or at risk of diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder - Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder or Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. The criteria used for a diagnosis of these disorders can be found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Text Revised, pp. 69 - 86. Autism Victoria also represents the primary carers of these individuals - parents, spouses, extended family, direct care staff, and professionals engaged in providing therapy, education and training, disability and family support, health care and similar.
The Autism Victoria Executive Officer, Mrs Amanda Golding, has prepared this submission after extensive consultation with representatives of the above groups. We also support the submissions made by other key disability groups, particularly those representing service providers and advocacy groups. Our submission does not cover every aspect of the discussion paper. Rather, it focuses on issues of concern to our constituency because they are not adequately addressed by the existing legislation, or necessarily articulated in the submissions of others.
Autism Victoria applauds government and the department for undertaking to review the existing Disability Legislation with a view to drafting a single act that is more enabling and, we trust, more inclusive.
The existing disability legislation has a negative impact on a significant number of individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. These disorders do not fit neatly into any particular category of disability articulated in the existing legislation. This means that individuals severely affected by an autistic disorder will not qualify for disability supports mandated by the existing legislation unless they also have an intellectual disability, mental illness or other physical or sensory disability.
It is incongruous that these same individuals are acknowledged by Centrelink and other federal offices and are eligible for services and resources, but are deemed 'not disabled' by state legislation.
The existing legislation disenfranchises a significant group of people who are not able to access much needed disability supports. The current incidence for Autism Spectrum Disorder is conservatively estimated to be between 20 and 40 per 10,000.
Autism Victoria strongly recommends that the new Disability Legislation enable access to a range of disability supports based on functional need and not on arbitrary cut off points.
Finally, Autism Victoria calls on the government and the department to acknowledge that part of the process of rebuilding the disability support system in the context of new legislation will require additional resources to ensure previously excluded individuals receive the supports that they are entitled to.
For a copy of the full submission, go to the attached pdf document "Disability Legislation Submission"
Background - Education Services in Victoria
Educational services in Victoria for people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder are largely determined by a student's eligibility for the Program for Students with a Disability. This program is funded by complex eligibility criteria and an inadequate assessment of educational needs. It meets the needs of some Autism Spectrum Disorder students some of the time. But the process of enrolment, funding applications and Program Support Groups is protracted and daunting for families and schools alike.
In 2001, the Bracks Labor Government and the Department of Education and Training issued a policy document entitled Better Services Better Outcomes and invited community feedback.
For a copy of the full Autism Victoria submission, go to the attached pdf document "Better Services Better Outcomes"
2007 Update: The Department of Education is currently undertaking a review of the Educational Needs Questionnaire and the Eligibility Criteria for the Program for Students with a Disability. As details are made public, they will be added to our website.