cruel NDIS policy targets the most autistic and vulnerable NDIS participants

By convenor |
NDIS logo - broken into two bits

NDIS policy (AAT Case Management Guide Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) - see below) fails some of the youngest and most severely autistic NDIS participants. Clinicians advise that some children with severe/profound or classic autism need intensive early intervention for their autism. NDIS policy (see below) says funding for the required early intervention depends on families winning a case against the government in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).

Mosman Park suspected double murder-suicide prompts calls for greater support for families with high-needs children

By bobb |
Maiwenna Goasdoue (left) and Jarrod Clune (right) facing the camera and smiling

Rhiannon Shine

In short:

Teenage brothers Leon and Otis, who lived with disabilities, were found dead in their Perth home along with their parents Jarrod and Maiwenna.

The incident, which police have described as a suspected double murder-suicide, is still being investigated.

What's next?

A disability advocate says the tragedy highlights the need for more support for families with high-needs children.

Labor offers to delay NDIS autism changes if states agree to hospital and disability funding deal

By bobb |
Albo and Butler walking down stairs

The $2bn Thriving Kids scheme, due to start on 1 July, would instead start in October, after states said they were not ready yet.

The Albanese government has offered to delay the start of a new program for early intervention autism services and provide budget top-ups for smaller states, part of efforts to secure an overdue deal on hospitals and disability funding.

Westmead's One Stop Shop responses from governments

By bobbux |

In relation to A4's advocacy for improving essential hospital services for profoundly autistic Australians (see https://a4.org.au/node/2758), A4 received the following responses from governments and Ministers that were contacted initially. 

  • NSW response
  • federal response 

The NSW response is positive. We are keep to see how this develops ... both at Westmead hospital (inner-western Sydney) and in other NSW hospitals.

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