National Autism Workshops

Sign up for email notification of the launch of the new autism workshops website
 
The four-year $12m national workshops program is a critical Australian government initiative for families and carers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The program is part of the Federal Government’s $190 million Helping Children with Autism package announced last June.
 
The Honourable Mr Bill Shorten MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, issued an official statement today announcing the appointment of the Parenting Research Centre to run the program.
 
The workshop program is currently being developed, with the first workshops scheduled for February 2009.  A national consultation process involving parents, professionals and key stakeholders will ensure the content of the workshops effectively meet the needs of parents of young children aged up to six years who are coming to terms with a diagnosis of Autism. The workshops will be based on the best available Australian and international scientific evidence.
 
The program aims to equip families and carers with the information and skills required to undertake effective early intervention activities in the home, and create the best possible learning environment. They will cover topics such as promoting children’s development and learning, developing language and communication, managing behaviour, sleeping, promoting self-esteem and wellbeing, and family issues like coping with stress.
 
Workshops will be delivered through local early childhood intervention services by qualified professionals with expertise and experience in ASD. These will be conducted across Australia in small groups to provide quality learning experiences and create opportunities for parents to connect with each other in their local communities.
 
Participants will be able to register their interest and find out more about the workshop program on a website that will be launched later this year. As part of the program, an online interactive learning environment will also be developed in later stages.

Read the media release from the office of The Hon Mr Bill Shorten MP.

Partners
The workshop program is being developed and coordinated nationally by the Parenting Research Centre (PRC).  The Centre is Australia’s only national independent, non-profit organisation with a single focus on parenting. The PRC has considerable expertise in developing parenting education and support programs. For more than 10 years the PRC has been involved in supporting parents of young children with developmental disabilities, including children with ASD.
 
The PRC will work in partnership with local service providers and Australian and international Autism experts. The senior consultant to the project is Amanda Golding, who has extensive knowledge of the Australian Autism community and the many challenges faced by parents and professionals. Our partners include:

• Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University
• School of Health Sciences, RMIT
• School of Education, Monash University
• Autism Victoria
  

In order to ensure the program caters to Australia’s diverse cultural and social community, the PRC will also work with the following specialist partners:

• SNAICC – Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care
• ADEC (Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities)
• Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle

Read more about ASD 
 
Sign up for email notification of the launch of the new autism workshops website
Please fill out the form below if you would like to express further interest. By sending us your email address, you will be notified of the launch of the new national workshops program website later this year. The website will have further details of the program and an opportunity to register.