Autism Victoria

SERVICES

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a complex disorder, which is probably why the system of services to help you is also complex. This section has been designed to guide you through the Victorian service maze. If you live in other Australian states or other countries we suggest you contact your local autism society or association for service guidance.

In the difficult time when your child is diagnosed, you will probably be in information overload. The best thing you can do is buy a special folder and keep every piece of paper you are given, and write down every visit and phone call you make.

Later, when you feel able, go through the folder. Hopefully you will find it starts to make more sense. And don't be afraid to ask questions. You will no doubt find there are one or two professionals that you feel most comfortable with, and are able to give you the guidance and reassurance you need.

The information in the next pages is a guide only - it is almost impossible to include every service option. Specialist services will be very important, but don't forget to consider community services as well. The local neighbourhood house, community health centre, recreation centre or hobby groups may have just the thing to suit your needs.

Autism Victoria's Directory of Services

Autism Spectrum Disorder Case Consultant Practitioners

Autism Victoria's Directory of Services

Autism Victoria's Directory of Services has been substantially updated over the past few months, and we are continuing to update and add to it.

Our Directory of Services is one of the few central information sources in Victoria that families, individuals and professionals can utilise to discover or share ASD services, ranging from ASD-specific counsellors and therapists to hairdressers or naturopaths who have experience with children with an ASD. More than half the calls to Autism Victoria’s Infoline each week are to access the Directory of Services.

The Directory of Services has evolved from parents, carers and individuals wanting to share a helpful service or professional with the wider Victorian ASD community. Over the years the service directory has become a very useful tool for many people, as it can take the legwork out of navigating through the ‘service maze’ that is not ASD specific. As awareness of ASD grows and more services designed to benefit those on the spectrum become available, it is important that Autism Victoria’s Directory of Services grows also, as we are often the first port of call for parents or individuals with a recent diagnosis.

The Directory of Services contains details on a wide range of professionals catering to people with an ASD, as well as listings for general services where staff are supportive of people with an ASD. Thousands of families and professionals call each year to ask for help to find relevant services – those listed on the Directory are supplied to callers.

Accessing the Directory of Services

If you want to find a service provider in your area, just call the Infoline on 1300 308 699 and a member of our Information team will assist you.

Who can be listed?

The Directory of Services is available to all businesses and organisations in Victoria, ranging from hairdressers to therapists, medical professionals to disability service providers.

All we ask is that you have awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorders and are able to provide understanding and appropriate service to those people with an ASD and to their families, and you provide details of someone to act as your referee.

If you are a service provider with an awareness of ASDs and are not already on our Directory of Services, please fill out a Directory of Services Application Form.

If you know of anyone that you think should be on the Directory of Services please either pass the Application Form on to them or ask them to contact the Infoline on 1300 308 699 or email us.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Case Consultant Practitioners

As part of the implementation of the Autism State Plan, the Department of Human Services (DHS) has funded the employment of Autism Spectrum Disorder

(ASD) Case Consultation Practitioners in each DHS region across Victoria.

These practitioners are responsible for:

Providing secondary consultation to disability case managers, so they can better support people with ASD, their families and carers
Developing or building on existing local networks across service sectors, to enhance linkages and pathways
Creating communities of practice to provide a means of continual learning and development for disability services staff.

Details of your regional ASD Case Consultation Practitioner can be found below. If your region does not appear yet, contact Autism Victoria's AdviceLine on 1300 308 699 for more information.