Q MOS 3.
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Mansfield Autism Statewide Services Submission to Inquiry into the Thriving Kids Initiative
Overview
Mansfield Autism believes the Thriving Kids initiative presents a significant opportunity to improve how we collectively support children with mild to moderate developmental delays, including many autistic children.
We note several unintended consequences of the introduction of the NDIS that Thriving Kids could help address:
- The dismantling of mainstream disability support
- Reduced community-based support
- A shift toward purchasing individual services rather than building parent and community capacity
- Reduced collaboration across the disability sector
- Incentivising diagnosis to access funding
The type of support proposed by Thriving Kids - early intervention delivered through mainstream services - is essential for a cohesive disability support system. Without this, the NDIS remains the only option and will continue to face unsustainable pressure.
With this in mind, we offer the following key recommendations.
Key Recommendations
1. Clarity around assessment
- Define what constitutes “mild to moderate support needs.”
- Specify which assessments will be used, who will conduct them, and the eligibility criteria for Thriving Kids versus the NDIS.
- Learn from the NDIS experience to ensure equitable assessment and access, and avoid a deficit-based model.
2. Clarify language
- The term “mild to moderate autism” is not a formal diagnosis, and autism is lifelong.
- Developmental delay, however, can be mild or moderate and is not necessarily lifelong.
- A clearer message would explain that Thriving Kids is for children with developmental delay, which includes many (but not all) autistic children.
3. Build family capacity
- Ensure supports build the capacity of parents and caregivers within their family context.
- Deliver services in natural settings (home, childcare, kindergarten, community), not clinical environments.
- Provide families with evidence-based resources on topics such as screen time, self-regulation, exercise, healthy diet, and sleep routines.
4. Rebuild the workforce
- The mainstream support workforce has been inadvertently dismantled by the NDIS and needs rebuilding.
- Many mainstream services (schools, early learning centres, playgroups) are currently ill-equipped to support autistic children and their families.
- Prioritise transdisciplinary practice and the key worker model.
5. Consider intersections
- Address the complex intersections between the NDIS, education, justice, and healthcare sectors.
- School refusal and limited attendance are particularly high among autistic children, which could impact Thriving Kids unless cross-sector collaboration is prioritised.
- Regional and rural areas face additional challenges due to service scarcity and limited expertise.
6. Ensure equitable pricing
- Many professionals can access higher rates through the NDIS.
- Thriving Kids must address this by creating pricing equity and investing in workforce development.
7. Recognise changing needs
- Autism is a fluid spectrum; support needs can change over time.
- Effective early intervention with wraparound, integrated support can significantly reduce lifetime support requirements.
8. Partner with existing providers
- Collaborate with established disability service providers already delivering high- quality, specialised early intervention.
9. Invest in training
- Incorporate autism and developmental delay training into relevant undergraduate degrees, certificates, and professional development for teachers and allied health professionals.
10. Embed evaluation
- Invest in socio-economic analysis to measure the effectiveness and cost savings of early intervention.
- Include a robust evaluation framework from the outset.
Who we are
Mansfield Autism Statewide Services (MASS) is a not for profit organisation that has supported predominantly Victorian families living with autism for over 50 years. Bursting at the seams and with hundreds of families on our waitlists, we embarked in 2020 on an expansion to create a Therapeutic Care Farm.
We opened services on our new farm in 2025 with a new school building, 6 houses to sleep up to 27 clients per night, 12 retreat cabins to sleep 72 per night and an activity centre with commercial kitchen, dining room, meeting and training spaces. Recognised as a project of state significance, both the Victorian and Australian governments have contributed financially via grants, toward what is to date a $36m+ investment.
Current services include skill building stays, intensive family training, respite, outreach, crisis and full-time care, family camps, carer retreats, in-home autism practitioners, independent living programs and a specialist school.
We are unique in that we provide a ‘wraparound’ and individualised service aiming to keep families together while building the capacity of the parents. Our programs are based on the key principles of exercise, healthy eating and active engagement. Our strategies reduce anxiety; enabling brains to learn and increasing positive behaviours.
We are a key contributor to the regional economy, employing 140 staff in stable jobs and a net attractor of families for work and access to services.
Our model of service provision is one that works and transforms lives.
Find out more at https://autismmansfield.org.au/
We would be delighted to expand further on the ideas contained within our submission.
Thank you for your efforts to ensure Thriving Kids delivers on its promise. This work is critical to building a stronger, more inclusive support system for children.
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Simone Reeves Chief Executive Officer Mansfield Autism Statewide Services