Disability in New Zealand

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Autism Spectrum Disorder work programme - Cross-agency work programme

1. Providing cross-agency governance and leadership

Senior Officials Group
Intersectoral Advisory Group
NZ ASD Guideline

Senior Officials Group
The ASD Officials Group was established in June 2004 to provide strategic direction across government agencies. It is made up of representatives from the Ministries of Health, Education and Social Development.

The ASD Officials Group will oversee the completion of the three key ASD developments. The first is the development of an evidence-based Guideline for ASD; secondly, an impact analysis based on the draft ASD Guideline, and finally a Cross Agency Service Development plan that will describe commitments made for 2006-2008 that are either already underway or planned by the Ministries of Health, Education and/or Social Development (Child Youth and Family Services).

Intersectoral Advisory Group
The ASD Intersectoral Advisory Group provides advice and commentary to government officials. The group has cross-government representation in addition to representation from non-government organisations, parent and advocacy groups, education facilitates and support services. Members include people with ASD, family and whanau members, support services, as well as people working within health and education, such as in paediatrics or special education. The ASD Intersectoral Advisory Group membership reflects a range of perspectives: from early intervention to adulthood, direct service provision to policy, in addition to cultural perspectives and location (urban and rural).

2. Strengthening the workforce

Parent education
Workforce development

Parent Education
EarlyBird
The Ministries of Health and Education jointly fund Autism NZ to provide the EarlyBird parent education programme through to 30 June 2009. EarlyBird is a programme for parents whose child has a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including autism and Asperger Syndrome, and who has not yet started school. The EarlyBird programme gives parents information about ASD, and the skills to support their child’s development.

An evaluation study of the EarlyBird programme found that it works well for parents of children with ASD. The findings from the EarlyBird evaluation study will be used to improve the EarlyBird programme and other services for the families of young children with ASD. The Ministries of Health and Education are looking at ways to ensure that parent education programmes are available to more parents of children with ASD. For more information, please go to www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/earlybirdeval

HELP
The Ministry of Health is funding HELP till 30 June 2009. The HELP programme, mainly for families whose children who are too old to access ‘Early Bird’, includes training for families of children and adults with ASD. The programme aims to address the initial post diagnostic needs of all parents, no matter what the age of their family member.

SPELL
The Ministry of Health is providing funding for the SPELL programme run by Autism NZ through to 30 September 2008. SPELL training gives carers the opportunity to further develop their understanding of ASD, providing them with a knowledge framework that enables them to provide appropriate support to a person with ASD in the context of daily living and social environments.

Autlink Foundation INC.
The Ministry of Health’s Disability Services has a contract with Autlink, to provide training and support for both adults and children living and working in the community with ASD. Autlink is Christchurch based and aims to provide specifically tailored training and support to agencies, individuals with ASD and their families/whanau.

3. Undertaking and sharing research

Bright Sparks
Tips for Autism

Bright Sparks
The Auckland branch of Autism NZ is funded by the Ministry of Health through to June 2008 to run the Bright Sparks programme. This is an activity-based programme for children and young people with ASD in the Auckland area. Through recreational and leisure activities the programme offers children and young people with ASD meaningful social interaction whilst offering families a break from full time caring role. The programme is currently being evaluated. See www.autismnz.org.nz for more information.

4. Improving information and advice

ASD Disability Information and Advisory Service (DIAS)
Disability Services of the Ministry of Health have contracted Life Unlimited and Parent to Parent New Zealand jointly to provide a new national DIAS for people with ASD and their families/whanau called Altogether Autism.

This service will:

Provide written information on ASD, support groups and services
Facilitate contact with a Support Parent whose child also has ASD
Provide ongoing support and information to adults with ASD
Have advisors/field workers available to provide ASD information and advice
Provide clinical and evidence-based advice on interventions/therapies to support people with ASD throughout their lifespan
Provide a web site listing ASD service providers
Support community network meetings

5. Building effective service pathways

Memorandum of Understanding with CYF
Review of the Well Child Tamariki Ora Framework

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
The Ministry of Health and Child Youth and Family (CYF) have a Memorandum of Understanding that clarifies the roles and responsibilities of each agency. One of the recommendations from the Best of care? Report, released in May 2007, was a review of the MoU between CYF and the Ministry of Health around out of home placements for disabled children in CYF Care. This review also includes the development of a set of practice guidelines for professionals. This review and the development of the guidelines will be completed in 2008.

Review of the Well Child Tamariki Ora Framework
In 2002-3 the Ministry of Health developed the new Well Child Tamariki Ora Framework and an associated Schedule for delivering Well Child care. The Framework and the Schedule were the result of a two-year project aiming to reduce fragmentation and inconsistencies in the delivery of Well Child services. The framework is currently under review to ensure that Well Child Services effectively meet the needs of children and their families. For more information go to http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/well-child-review-framework.

Page last updated: 2 April 2008