Today marks the ninth World Autism Awareness Day – a day to promote awareness and inclusion as well as an opportunity to celebrate the many contributions people with autism make to our community.
The Tasmanian Government is committed to improving the lives of Tasmanians with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
We are also committed to implementing best practice autism care in Tasmania, and this extends to our support for students in our Government schools.
Following a successful trial of the Autism Class Support Program at Lindisfarne North Primary School, a new secondary school program was established at Rose Bay High School at the start of the 2017 school year and additional primary school programs in the North and North-West are scheduled to commence from mid-2017.
In 2017, there are six FTE students enrolled in the Autism class at Lindisfarne North Primary School from Years 3 to 6; with three enrolled in the Rose Bay High School Autism Class.
Feedback received on the program has indicated there has been a positive impact on the students participating in the program, including significant improvements in school attendance.
A trial of the American-based Rethink Autism Program has been implemented across the state. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has contracted the University of Tasmania to undertake an evaluation of the Rethink Autism Program, which will be available during 2017.
Supporting our commitment to students with disability is the establishment of the Inclusion Advisory Panel to provide practical advice on the opportunities and barriers to implementing the recommendations of the Ministerial Taskforce report into Education for Students with Disabilities.
On World Autism Awareness Day, I would like to thank all of those who are working to help put Tasmania at the forefront of autism support nationally.
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