Submission No 99

INQUIRY INTO SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Organisation: Darebin City Council

Date Received: 23 April 2016

Submission S099 Received 22/04/2016 Family and Community Development Committee

Inquiry into services for people with autism spectrum disorder
Family and Community Development Committee
Parliament of Victoria

Submission by the Darebin City Council

Preamble

The City of Darebin is a vibrant and diverse area of Melbourne’s north, with an estimated population of 150,880 residents (id profile, 2015). Iri 2011, 38 % of residents spoke a language other than English at home, and 33 per cent were born overseas. In 2011, 5.9 0/0 of the population of Darebin required assistance with core activities due to disability, which is a greater proportion of the population than in the greater area of Melbourne (4.5%) (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011). There is no specific data regarding the number of people living in Darebin who have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and this lack of data is reflected at a state and national level.

The Darebin City Council provides a range of direct service supports to residents of the local area including; home care services, family counselling, maternal and child health services, and toy library access. Indirect supports are provided to the community through library programs, community development activities, and preschool support services.

This submission has been compiled with input from the Darebin City Council departments of Aged and Disability, Children, Families and Community, Libraries Learning and Youth, and Leisure and Public Realm, by staff able to contribute to the topics noted below.

Reference was also made to data sourced through the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Ageing Carers and Disability Survey (2012) and population census. The City of Darebin Community Survey 2014 also provided additional demographic data.

This submission responds primarily to the following terms of reference as relevant to local government;

b) the availability and adequacy of services provided by the Commonwealth, State and local governments across health, education, disability, housing, sport and employment services;

Availability and adequacy of services provided by the local government related to:

Health

The Maternal and Child Health Service is jointly funded by local and state government, and provides a service to all families of children with a child aged 0-6 years. This service functions to provide health and developmental screening, parental support, and education. It is noted that the current schedule of maternal and child health visits has children routinely seen at 2 years, and then not again until 3 and a half years, which is a critical period for children with ASD, and often the key time of diagnosis. Additionally waiting lists for diagnosis can be extensive, and this may impact on a family’s access to additional supports and funding.

Education

The Darebin City Council delivers a Preschool Field Officer program, with funding through the Department of Education and Training. This program provides support to children with additional needs, attending a government-funded kindergarten program. Preschool field officers are qualified early childhood education professionals with experience in special

education. The role primarily supports early childhood educators and support staff to meet the needs of children entering early educational settings.

It was reported by the Preschool Field Officers that there are significant workforce considerations associated with meeting the needs of children in the community with ASD. Early Childhood Educators have a variety of qualifications, skills and Knowledge in early childhood education and care, from Certificate 3 to Bachelor Degrees. This has a direct impact on the service provided to children with ASD. There are a range of programs, services, resources and supports available to this workforce to strengthen the education and care provided to children with ASD however it is crucial for the workforce to be aware of these supports and how to access them.

Supports, resources and training need to be tailored to the different needs of children with ASD but additionally to the variety of service settings, staffing roles and local area need. Supports, resources and training need to be delivered on a regular basis and reflect the fluidity of the workforce, and changing enrolments of children with ASD. The Early Childhood workforce is often time poor and isolated, highlighting the need for cost effective, flexible and accessible strategies.

Disability

The Darebin City Council Aged and Disability Department provides support services (respite, home and personal care) currently through the Home and Community Care (HACC) program. At present there are approximately 150 people in Darebin receiving this service, who have a diagnosis of ASD. The majority of these clients are under 18 years of age, indicating that primarily access to the HACC program by families is for respite services.

It is notable that there is a lack of data pertaining to the number of people accessing council services who have ASD and thus it is difficult to accurately represent the needs and service usage of this population. Data from the National Survey. of Disability, Carers, and Ageing (2012), highlights the broad profile of people living with a disability in the community, it does not provide information regarding the specific diagnosis or need of groups within this population. This reflects the broader issue of accurate data collection regarding disability and mainstream services.

Sports and Leisure

Council has a part time role of Community Recreation Facilitator that is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Disability Services and it serves to connect people with a disability to community based sports and recreation opportunities. It is notable that historically council was able to provide greater support to recreational clubs to engage individuals with disabilities in activities; however with changes in funding structures council now plays a less active role in this area.

In July, 2013 the Victorian Government ceased funding the Access All Abilities (AAA) program to local councils, instead directing this funding to State Sports Associations (SSAs), Regional Sports Assemblies (RSAs) and other organisations. Funding through council supported a local response to the inclusion of people with disabilities in local sporting organisations, including the appointment of a council officer responsible for this portfolio. This funding supported many initiatives at a local level, including a pre-sport engagement

program for children with ASD to develop basic ball skills and knowledge of rules prior to entering mainstream sporting clubs. The experience of staff involved in this program was that it was confidence building for children, enabling them then to participate in mainstream sports programs and respond to the demands and challenges of group sports activities.

It is understood that the AAA initiative regarding accessible sport are now supported at a SSA level, potentially making it more difficult to respond to specific local needs as they arise. The benefits of participation in physical activity are widely known and as such it is important that this is a continued area of development for children and adults who live with ASD.

There in an increased awareness across council of the need to adapt community events to cater to the needs of people with ASD, and this has been evidenced by th.e ‘sensory story time’ initiative of Darebin libraries, and measures at local festivals to improve accessibility. The upcoming Children’s Day Festival incorporates a space for quiet time in recognition of the overwhelming nature of these festivals for some children with ASD, and Darebin City Council note the example set by City of 8anyule in the recent ‘Arty Farty Sensory Friendly Festival’ initiative.

The varied experience of people with ASD cannot be overlooked when planning and adapting services, and this is reflected in the comments below from the parent of a young adult with ASD in Darebin. (Adapted to ensure privacy)

It is perceived that there is an invisible but unmet need for support for families and carers of children who may have developmental delays, but no specific diagnosis. Additionally, these children and families may not be ready to discuss issues in the context of disability, and as such may not access targeted supports that are available including formal services or peer supports. An example of a council lead program is the ‘supported playgroups’ which offer the ‘Small Talk’ program of parent support and education. In Darebin this program connects with approximately 40 families (8 members, across 5 groups) annually, however as previously noted does not collect data on specific diagnosis (if available).

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

The City of Darebin was announced as one of five municipalities for the NDIS rollout in the North East Metropolitan Area (NEMA), in October of 2015. Since this announcement there has been much internal work undertaken to understand the impact the NDIS will have on community members and service providers across the region, and the implications for disability service provision by council.

Through this work, it has been noted that there is a significant role for local councils in local area coordination, encompassing capacity building activities and linkages within the community for people who live with a disability.

The “Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence-based/evidence-informed good practice for supports provided to preschool children, their families and carers.” Report (February, 2016) highlights the importance of all professionals working with children being skilled in supporting inclusive participation in educational and leisure settings. The introduction of the NDIS . provides individuals and families with greater self-determination, and choice about how they access supports. This has implications for the role of council in supporting professionals in the community setting (such as early childhood educators), and developing the capacity of the broader community to respond to the needs of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the community.

Conclusion

There has been a significant improvement in the awareness of ASD in the wider community, and greater funding supports for children and adults through federally and state funded programs. The introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme offers individuals and families an opportunity to further shape the ways in which they access supports, and is likely to benefit people living with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the community.

It is evident that improved data collection would assist with the planning and provision of services to people with ASD in the community. This is particularly relevant where programs have been funded to meet the specific needs of this diagnostic group. Improved data regarding the prevalence of ASD in the community will also assist mainstream services to plan for and promote the inclusion of people with additional needs.

The Darebin City Council looks forward to the outcomes of this inquiry and recognises the important role that local governments play in service provision and supporting the development of inclusive and accessible communities for all.

Supporting Documents

City of Darebin: Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2015 -2019

Roberts, J.M.A & K.Wiliiams. 2016. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence-based/evidence-informed good practice for supports provided to preschool children, their families and carers. Retrieved March 24th 2016 at, http://www.ndis.gov.au/about-uslinformation-publications-and-reports

City of Darebin: population highlights. Accessed April ih, 2016 at http://profile.id.com.au/darebin/home

Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011. Census of Population and Housing. Accessed April ih 2016 at http://profile.id.com.au/darebin/assistance