In what is an Australian first, the Malinauskas Government is releasing a $330,000 tender that will enable up to 100 eligible school students in Adelaide to access autism assessments at no cost to their families.
The new service, will have the flexibility to be delivered on school grounds to help address common barriers to assessment including unfamiliar clinical environment, cost and wait times.
Students in Northern Adelaide at risk of being disengaged from education, students from low socio-economic backgrounds and those currently awaiting assessment through the public system will be prioritised under the new service.
The program will be funded over a minimum 25-month period with children and young people to be referred for assessment from June 2024.
This latest funding announcement is part of a broader set of reforms previously announced, designed to increase access to assessment and supports for autistic children and adults, including the $14.8 million Inklings early support pilot and another $310,000 tender from the Department of Human Services for autism assessment for autistic young people and adults.
This initiative builds on the nation leading Autism Inclusion Teacher program, with the SA Government investing $28.8 million to provide access to an autism inclusion teacher in every public primary school, including Reception to Year 12 schools.
Photo: SA Premier Peter Malinauskas, Assistant Minister for Autism Emily Bourke, autism inclusion teacher Cass Wright and State Autism committee member Jack Herzich.