Submission
No 27
INQUIRY INTO SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM
DISORDER
Name: Dr Deborah Morawetz
Date Received: 10 March 2016
Submission S027 Received 10/03/2016 Family and Community Development Committee
This is a function of needing to wait until older children transition to school before new intake can accur, which is often delayed for children with developmental concerns. This also reflects the high level of need in the area.
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The reported wait time for a public multidisciplinary assessment for ASD (the gold standard diagnostic assessment which includes an ADOS assessment) is anywhere between 12-18 months, which is unacceptably long. For a child presenting age 4 % years this means that many miss out on intensive early intervention, and some may miss the 6 year oid ‘cut-off for accessing FaHCSIA funding.
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It is costly for vulnerable families to access private diagnostic ADOS assessments even using a Helping Children With Autism (HCWA) rebate — a minimum of $700, which is out of reach for many of these families.
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These families are at times required to either access a public assessment service, pay private fees, or use some of their valuable funding planned for intervention for a private ADOS assessment even after they have had their diagnosis confirmed, due to the Department of
Education requirement that a child complete an ADOS assessment if their school wishes to apply for funding for the child.
There needs to be improved, timely and equitable access to ECIS services and bulk billing ASD diagnostic services across the country, according to need. This is particularly relevant to the
Western region of Melbourne. | also have worked for almost 2 years in rural NSW (Wagga Wagga)
and was amazed to discover that the children there had better access to diagnostic services and therapy than children living in outer metropolitan Melbourne — a 3-5 months wait for a public comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment, including a cognitive assessment {not usually available in Victoria), psychiatric assessment screening for co-morbidities, and speech and occupational therapy through the Royal Far West service or ASPECT, as well as immediate access to ECIS though locai Kurrajong Early Intervention Services (KE1S) upon a referral being made.
Improved access to diagnostic services will likely need to be external to NDIS funding, which is primarily geared towards therapy. This will be critical as the NDIS funding model requires a more specific diagnosis that just global developmental delay, meaning that NDIS will not remove barriers to accessing earlier therapy, and will only assist those with a diagnasis.
Please feel free to contact me if | can assist further in any way
Yours Sincere|
( {¢z MBBS (Hons) FRACP
orah Morawet Dr. Deborah Morawe |
™ * Paediatrician. ISIS Primary Care
) iatrici 447-127 Warringa Cres.
Consultant Paediatrician Hleoparg Crossing 2029
MBBS (HONS) FRACP Phone: 8734 1506 Fax: 8734 1411