Early Intervention Parent Newsletter

Issue3,November2013

Early Intervention Parent Newsletter

WelcometotheParentNewsletter,forfamilies accessingtheHelpingChildrenwith Autism

(HCWA) packageor the Better Startfor ChildrenwithDisability(Better Start) initiative.

ThenewDepartment of SocialServices (DSS) was createdwitheffectfrom

18September 2013.This newdepartmentwill nowhaveresponsibilityfor boththeHCWA

andBetter Start programmes.

DSSis pleasedtohave assistedover 30,000childrenthroughHCWA andnearly7,500 childrenthroughBetter Start,sinceboth programmes commenced.

Thisnewsletter is an opportunityfor DSStosharestories,news andupdateswith parents andcarers.Wehopeyoufindthis newsletteruseful.

Information forParents

Newonlineresource

In2012,DSSprovidedfundingtoAmaze(formerlyAutism Victoria) in Victoriatodevelopa resourcethatwould assist parents andcarers ofchildrenwith AutismSpectrumDisorder (ASD) tounderstandwhatis involvedinearly intervention–thatis,whatto expectwhenyou start accessingservices for your child.This work has resultedintheTherapyConnectwebsite.

TheTherapyConnectwebsite provides a useful tool tohelpfamiliesnavigatethetherapy pathwayfor their childwith ASD. Itcanbehelpfulforparents justbeginningtheir therapy journey, as well asforfamilies who arealittlefurtherdownthepath.Withawiderangeof informationas well as videos from parents and alliedhealth professionals,itis certainly worthavisit.

Raising ChildrenNetwork

DSSfunds theRaisingChildrenNetwork (RCN) to providefamilieswithinformationabout theHCWA andBetterStart programmes.TheRCNwebsite helpsfamilies andcarers tofind services,resources andinformationto assistthemwith all parentingissues.Thewebsite includesa“MyNeighbourhood” sectionwhich allows youtosearchfor HCWAor Better Startservice providers inyour area.

NationalDisabilityInsuranceScheme(NDIS)

FromJuly2013,thefirststageoftheNationalDisabilityInsuranceScheme(NDIS) (previouslyknown as DisabilityCare Australia) beganin SouthAustralia,Tasmania (for youngpeopleaged15-24),theBarwon area of VictoriaandtheHunter areainNewSouth Wales.TheAustralianCapitalTerritory,theBarklyregion oftheNorthernTerritory, andthe PerthHills area ofWesternAustralia areduetocommencefromJuly2014.

HCWAandBetter Start areCommonwealthGovernment disabilityprogrammes thatare transitioningtotheNDIS. Childreninrelevantlaunchsites who areaccessingassistance fromtheHCWA andBetter Start programmes have beengraduallyenteringtheNDIS schemesince1July2013.Childrenwho arecurrentlyreceivingassistancefrom theHCWA andBetter Start programmes will be abletocontinuetodosountil theyenter theNDIS scheme(or until theyexitHCWAor Better Start because oftheir ageor iftheyhave expendedtheirfunding).

IfyouliveintheBarwon,Hunter (withinthe Local GovernmentArea (LGA) ofNewcastle) or SouthAustralianlaunchsitesandhaven'talreadyreceived aninformationpackfromthe National DisabilityInsurance Agency(NDIA),pleasephone1800800 110torequestan Access RequestForm.HCWA andBetter Startwillgraduallyclosetonewclients inlaunch sites as theNDISis rolledoutinaccordance withagreed phasingarrangements,asfollows:

SouthAustralia

1July2013HCWAandBetter Startclosedtochildren0-2 (uptoage 3)

1October 2013HCWAandBetter Startclosedtochildren0-3 (uptoage 4)

1January2014HCWAandBetter Startclosedtochildren0-4 (uptoage 5)

1 April 2014HCWAandBetter Startclosedtochildren0-5 (uptoage 6)

1July2014HCWAandBetter Startclosedtochildren0-6 (uptoage 7)

Victoria(Barwon)

1July2013HCWAandBetter Startclosedtoall newclients

NewSouth Wales (Hunter)

1July2013HCWAandBetter Startclosedtoresidents inNewcastleCityCouncilLGA

30June2014HCWAandBetter Startclosedtoresidents inLakeMacquarieCityLGA

1July2015HCWAandBetter Startclosedtoresidents in MaitlandCityLGA

Oncean Access RequestForm hasbeensubmitted,theNDIAwill contactyoutoarrange anappointmentduringwhichitwill be determinedifyour childmeetstheaccess requirements. Ifyour childmeetsthe relevant requirementsfortheNDIS,the planner will workwithyou andyour childtodevelopanindividualised planthatmaycontainfunded supports.

Oncetheplanis approvedyour childwill havea PlanApproval Daterecordedonthe FaHCSIAOnlineFunding ManagementSystem(FOFMS) andwill be exitedfromtheHCWA or Better Start programme.TheEarlyInterventionHelpdeskwill notify youinwritingwhen your child’s access toHCWAor BetterStarthas ended.PleasenotethatHCWAandBetter Startwill not payfor services providedafter thechild’s PlanApproval Date.However,they will process claimsforservices provided prior tothis date.

Ifyour childdoesnotmeetthe access requirementsfor thescheme,theycancontinueto receivefunding undertheHCWAor BetterStart programme,until theyexitthe programme or have expendedthefunding.

Pleasenotewe areencouragingour HCWAandBetter Startservice providers toregister withtheNDISsothatcontinuityofsupportisnot affectedbythetransitiontotheNDIS.

For moreinformationpleasevisittheNDISwebsite.For specific questions or informationyoucanphone1800800110for thecost ofalocal call (please notethatcallsfrom mobile phonesmayincur additional costs).

BetterStartEvaluation

An evaluation ofBetterStartis currentlybeingconducted byACILAllenConsulting (formerlythe AllenConsultingGroup) to assess theextenttowhichthis programmeis meeting, or is ontracktomeet,its objectives;toidentifypossibleimprovementstoBetter Start;andtoassesstheeffectivenessofthecurrentmodel indeliveringdesiredoutcomes.

The evaluationhas completedthefirstoftworoundsof datacollection,andwewouldliketo thankall parentsandcarers who havecontributed.Theevaluationis expectedtobe completedinDecember 2013.

Ifyou haveanyqueries regardingthe evaluation, please email

EarlyInterventionSurvey–HCWAandBetterStart

DSS hasalsoengagedACIL AllenConsultingtoconductanEarlyIntervention Survey designedtomeasuretheoutcomesofchildrenwho have accessedearlyintervention services fundedthrough boththeHCWA andBetterStartprogrammes.Theviews that parentsandcarers shareinthis survey will helptheDepartmenttofurther developand improvethetwo programmes inthefuture.

Thefirstround ofthesurveyhas nowclosed.Ifyoucompletedthesurvey,thank youvery muchfor takingthetimetoshareyouropinions with us.

Youwill receiveaseparateinvitationfor thesecondround ofthesurveyinMarch or April 2014.Byparticipatingasecondtimeyouwill allowtheresearchers todetectany progress your childmayhavemadesincethefirstroundofthesurvey.

Ifyou haveanyqueries regardingthesurvey, pleaseemail .

Important noticetoparents/carersofchildrenwhoareregisteredforeither Better Startor
HCWAbuthavenot receivedanyservicesyet:
Yourinput isparticularlyvaluableasitwill allow us toestablisha“baseline” tousetomeasurethe progressofchildrenaccessingearly interventionservicesunderHCWAandBetter Start.For this groupofparticipantsonly,thesurvey will remainopenoverthecoming months, with thequestions specificallydesignedfor thiscircumstance.Ifyouhavenotyet completedthesurvey,wewarmly welcomeyou todosoassoonaspossiblebyvisiting the Early Intervention Study survey website, or bycopyingor typing thefollowing addressintotheaddressbar ofyourbrowser:

BetterStartEarlyDaysWorkshops

Carers AustraliaandtheFirst Step Allianceconsortiumhavebeenengaged byDSSto deliver Better StartEarlyDaysWorkshopsacross Australia.

Carers Australiaisdeliveringthe“MovingForward”workshop.Thisworkshopis designed tosupportfamilies ofchildren eligibleforBetter Startfundingbyprovidinginformationand strategies tonavigatethe disabilitylandscapeas well as developsocial supports with other families.

The primaryfocus oftheworkshopis toprovidestrategiesandinformationonhealth, educationandfinancialsupporttofamilies inthestageoftransition;either enteringschool or theconclusion oftheir Better Startfunding.

Theworkshopis holisticallydesigned anddelivered. Itisflexible,relaxed andfamily orientated,takingintoconsiderationwork,schoolandcaringcommitments.Ifyouare interestedinattendingaworkshop, pleasecontactyour local CarersAssociationfor more information.YoucanfindthemontheCarersAustraliawebsite.

TheFirst Step Allianceconsortium,ledbyCerebral PalsyAustralia,will also bedelivering workshops tofamiliesacross Australia. Details ontheseworkshops,which are dueto commencein2014,will be providedinfuturenewsletters.

DiagnosticcriteriaforAutismSpectrumDisorder

DSS hasconductedanumberofconsultations to discuss theimplicationsofthenew diagnostic criteriafor autismspectrum disorder,introducedintheDiagnostic andStatistical ManualofMental Disorders,FifthEdition(DSM-5). Theseconsultations have beenwell attendedwithmanydifferentperspectives sharedbetweenawiderangeofstakeholders. DSSis nowinthe process ofconsideringthefeedbackfrom theseconsultationsandthe implications,if any, ontheeligibilitycriteriafortheHCWA package.

However, duetothetiming oftheintroductionoftheDSM-5,inMay2013theDepartment introducedaninterim policyresponsewhichremoves referencetotheDSM-IV.This interim policystates:

Diagnosis-TheAutismAdvisor mustsightawrittenconclusive diagnosis madeinAustralia byor throughanyone ofthefollowing:

astate/territorygovernment orequivalentmultidisciplinaryassessmentservice; or a privatemultidisciplinaryteam;or

Paediatrician;or

Psychiatrist;

Amultidisciplinaryassessmentteam mustconsistofa psychologistandspeechpathologist butmayalsoinclude an occupational therapist.

An acceptablediagnosis is one ofthefollowingconditions,asdiagnosed byoneofthe professionals listedabove:

Autism;

Autism SpectrumDisorder; Autistic Disorder;

Asperger’s Disorder/Syndrome; Rett’s Disorder;

ChildhoodDisintegrativeDisorder; or

PervasiveDevelopmental Disorder–NotOtherwise Specified(PDD-NOS).

Thispolicybaseseligibilityon expert advicefromprofessionals who are usingeither the DSM-IV or theDSM-5,thereby,maintainingin principlethecurrentscope ofthe programme.This interimpolicyshouldcontinuetobe used byservice providers involvedin assessingachild’seligibilitytotheHCWApackage.

Basedontheconsultations we have providedadvicetotheMinisterontheimpactofthe DSM-5 andthepolicyresponse around eligibilityfor HCWA.Onceadecisionismadethe guidelines will be amended accordingly.

iTunesvouchers–changeinBetterStartpolicy

DSSreceivedaquery regardingthe‘ownership’ ofiTunes vouchers when purchasedas a BetterStartresource.The existingBetterStart policystates thatService Providers are responsibleforpurchasingandloading appsontoiPads,notparents/carers. Followingthis query,the policyhas beenreviewed and amended. Fromnowon,incases whereService Providers have determinedthataniPadappis integral toachild’s therapy,theparent/carer will be abletoretainpurchasediTunes vouchers andselecttheappropriateeducational appsthemselves.Thispolicychangewas effectivefrom 27June2013andbrings Better Startintolinewith existingHCWApolicy.

Auslan

TheNational AuslanInterpreterBooking andPaymentService(NABS) is anational service fundedbyDSS. NABS provides interpreterstoanyonewho uses signlanguageto communicateandneeds aninterpreterfor privatemedical appointments.

Bookingsfor interpretingservices can bemadefor peoplewithhearingimpairments, includingsituations wherethereis anadultwithahearingimpairment andachildwith normal hearingattendinga privatemedical consultation.Youcanmakeabookingby callingNABS on1800246945.

Medical services covered byNABSincludeappointments withGPs,Aboriginal Health Workers, Psychologists,Mental HealthWorkers,OccupationalTherapists,Speech Pathologists, andPaediatricians. Moreinformationcanbefoundon the NABS website.

Translatingand Interpreting Service(TIS)

Ifyou needtranslatingor interpretingtheserviceis availableon1314 50tohelpyou communicatewithyour AutismAdvisor,RISOfficer andearlyinterventionService Providers.

FromourParents

TheEarlyInterventionHelpdesk is continuingtohear greatthings aboutthe difference

BetterStartandHCWA aremakingtofamilies aroundAustralia.

A parent ofaBetter StartchildwhorecentlyturnedsevenemailedtheBetterStartinboxto saythank youto everyoneinvolved. Her sonhadreceivedtwoyears ofphysiotherapy under theBetter Startinitiative,was startingtowalk andwas muchmoreactive. She advisedthatthis would nothavebeenpossiblewithoutBetterStartfunding.

Welovehearing goodnews stories likethisoneandknowingthatour programmesare makingadifferencetofamilies.

Fromthe Helpdesk

Monitoringyour child’s EarlyInterventionspending

Wewouldliketoremind parentsand/or carers thatitis your responsibilitytomonitor your child’s HCWAorBetter Startspending.

DSSgenerates a monthlyFamilyActivityStatement(FAS)for eachchildwho hashada claimprocessedduringthe previousmonth.Details includethebalance ofremainingfunds.

Sometimes theremaybeadelayintheservice provider lodgingtheclaim,whichmeans thatthebalances shown ontheFAS maynotbe accurate. Please ensurethatyoukeep your own expenditurerecords.

EarlyIntervention funding and pets

Followingseveral recentrequests,wewishtospecifythatearlyinterventionfundingcannot be usedtoreimbursecosts associatedwithpets or animals,includingcompaniondogs.

Issues andcomplaints

Ifyou haveanyissuesaboutyour child’s therapy, pleasetalk withyour service provider. DSSrequires all service providers tohaveacomplaintspolicyin placetohelpyouresolve anyissues thatmayarise.

Iftheissuewas notresolvedtoyour satisfactionandyoucontinuetohaveconcerns,please email thyour child’s details andan outline ofyour concerns alongwithyour consentfor DSStocontactyour service provider anddiscloseyour name andchild’sdetails.

Doyou have anyfeedback?

YoucanwritetotheEarlyInterventionHelpdesk aboutyour child’ssuccess with early interventions,anyquestions aboutBetterStart or HCWA,orfuturearticlesuggestions.

Important Note
Youhaveaccesstoamaximumof$4,200topurchase resources.Theamount can’t exceed$2,100 inafinancial year (from1Julyto30June). Funding for resourcescomesoutofyour child’s totalfundingamountandisnot aseparateamount. Yourchild’s therapist mustdeterminethat theresourceis integraltoyourchild’s Individual Plan,and supportstheir therapy.

EarlyIntervention Helpdesk
TheEarlyInterventionHelpdeskcanbecontactedon
1800778581 (tollfree)orbyemailing .
Staffareavailablebetween9:30am– 12:30pm and
1:30pm–5:00pm AEST. Voicemail isavailable24hoursaday, 7daysaweek. Pleaseleaveyourfull phonenumberincluding theareacode.

FriendlyReminder
Email isamorereliableandquicker methodof receivingyourFamily Activity Statement. AskyourAutismAdvisor orRegistrationandInformationService (RIS)Officer toupdate youre-mail address.