Speak out on autism

THE accessibility of services across health, education, disability, housing, sport and employment available to people living with autism will be examined by a parliamentary inquiry, The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region Melina Bath announced recently.

Ms Bath said the inquiry would enable local families, teachers and community groups to have their say on important issues that affected the lives of those living with autism spectrum disorders.

“The Parliament’s Family and Community Development Committee will consider the adequacy of existing services as well as those that will be provided through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS),” Ms Bath said.

“The committee also wants to find out the projected demand for services across a range of areas.”

Ms Bath said once the committee has completed the inquiry, its report would provide the parliament with up to date information in a range of areas, including:

prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in Victoria;

the availability and adequacy of services provided by the commonwealth, state and local governments across health, education, disability, housing, sport and employment services;

the adequacy of services to be provided under the National Disability Insurance Scheme;

evidence of the social and economic cost of failing to provide adequate services; and

the projected demand for services in Victoria.

The Nationals’ Gippsland South MLA Danny O’Brien urged Gippslanders to take part and make submissions to the inquiry.

“It’s important the committee hears a wide range of views through public hearings and submissions, to gain an in-depth understanding of the issues and how services could be improved,” he said.

“The committee will hold public hearings in Melbourne and across regional Victoria, with a schedule to be finalised shortly.”

Mr O’Brien said all submissions would be treated as public documents unless confidentiality was requested and granted, and could be made up until March 18, 2016, online via http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/fcdc/article/2846.

Significant issue: Eastern Victoria Region MLC Melina Bath (front, left) discusses educational needs of students with autism with members of the South Gippsland Autism Action Group. Back row, from left, Lindsay Wearne, Tona O’Connor, Michelle Hackett and Kris Vallay, with Jacinta Cooke, front right.

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Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Dec 30 2015. Filed under Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry