❓ Hon. Linda Savage questions the Minister for Health regarding waiting times for autism spectrum disorder assessments at the Child Development Service, seeking specific data for different age groups and a historical comparison to August 2011. The Minister's response indicates data limitations and the inability to provide precise figures without manual file reviews.
AnsweredQoN 642Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CHILD
DEVELOPMENT SERVICE — AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER ASSESSMENT
642. Hon LINDA
SAVAGE to the minister representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the $49.7 million allocated over four years to
reduce waiting times at the state Child Development Service.
(1) What is the
current waiting time for a child to be seen for a complex team assessment for
autism spectrum disorder in the metropolitan area?
(2) What are the
current waiting times for a child to be seen for a complex team assessment for
autism spectrum disorder in the metropolitan area in the following age groups:
less than four years, between four and six years, and older than six years?
(3) What was the
waiting time for a child to be seen for a complex team assessment for autism
spectrum disorder in the metropolitan area in August 2011?
(4) What were the
waiting times for a child to be seen for a complex team assessment for autism
spectrum disorder in the metropolitan area in August 2011 for a child aged less
than four years, between four and six years, and older than six years?
DEVELOPMENT SERVICE — AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER ASSESSMENT
642. Hon LINDA
SAVAGE to the minister representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the $49.7 million allocated over four years to
reduce waiting times at the state Child Development Service.
(1) What is the
current waiting time for a child to be seen for a complex team assessment for
autism spectrum disorder in the metropolitan area?
(2) What are the
current waiting times for a child to be seen for a complex team assessment for
autism spectrum disorder in the metropolitan area in the following age groups:
less than four years, between four and six years, and older than six years?
(3) What was the
waiting time for a child to be seen for a complex team assessment for autism
spectrum disorder in the metropolitan area in August 2011?
(4) What were the
waiting times for a child to be seen for a complex team assessment for autism
spectrum disorder in the metropolitan area in August 2011 for a child aged less
than four years, between four and six years, and older than six years?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
In addition to the Child Development Service, the Disability
Services Commission and private therapists also provide autism assessments. The
Department of Health is unable to comment on the waiting times for those
organisations.
(1) The
metropolitan Child Development Service is unable to report a single waiting
time for a complex team assessment for autism spectrum disorder as assessments
of preschool and school-aged children are managed separately. Waiting times
vary based on the age of the child, and the capacity of the service to respond.
Younger children are prioritised for assessments.
(2) CDS waiting
times for autism assessments are maintained separately for preschool-aged, and
school-aged children. Waiting time information for these groups is not captured
electronically. An analysis of files at multiple CDS-intake sites is required
to provide this information.
(3)–(4)
The metropolitan Child Development Service is unable to report on the waiting
time for a child to be seen for a complex team assessment for autism spectrum
disorder in August 2011 within this time frame. Electronic data is not
available. To provide this information, a manual review of the data would be
required.
In addition to the Child Development Service, the Disability
Services Commission and private therapists also provide autism assessments. The
Department of Health is unable to comment on the waiting times for those
organisations.
(1) The
metropolitan Child Development Service is unable to report a single waiting
time for a complex team assessment for autism spectrum disorder as assessments
of preschool and school-aged children are managed separately. Waiting times
vary based on the age of the child, and the capacity of the service to respond.
Younger children are prioritised for assessments.
(2) CDS waiting
times for autism assessments are maintained separately for preschool-aged, and
school-aged children. Waiting time information for these groups is not captured
electronically. An analysis of files at multiple CDS-intake sites is required
to provide this information.
(3)–(4)
The metropolitan Child Development Service is unable to report on the waiting
time for a child to be seen for a complex team assessment for autism spectrum
disorder in August 2011 within this time frame. Electronic data is not
available. To provide this information, a manual review of the data would be
required.
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