❓ Hon Stephen Dawson questions the Minister for Disability Services regarding the closure of Therapy Focus's ABA program for children with autism, and the government's response. The Minister acknowledges the closure and outlines support for transitioning families to alternative services, citing cost and NDIS considerations.
AnsweredQoN 151Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
AUTISM —
APPLIED BEHAVIOUR ANALYSIS THERAPY
151. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
Minister for Disability Services:
I refer to the Therapy Focus–run ''The
Complete Advantage'' applied behaviour analysis therapy program for
children with autism.
(1) When did the minister become aware of Therapy Focus's
decision to close its ABA program?
(2) Did the
government offer increased funding to Therapy Focus to keep its East Fremantle–based
ABA centre open; and, if not, why not?
(3) With the
impending closure of TCA, what is the government doing to ensure that ABA is
still available to children with autism?
(4) Has funding been offered to another service provider to
run the program; and, if not, why not?
(5) Will the
minister ensure that another provider is found to provide an applied behaviour
analysis therapy program for the children with autism affected by this closure?
APPLIED BEHAVIOUR ANALYSIS THERAPY
151. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
Minister for Disability Services:
I refer to the Therapy Focus–run ''The
Complete Advantage'' applied behaviour analysis therapy program for
children with autism.
(1) When did the minister become aware of Therapy Focus's
decision to close its ABA program?
(2) Did the
government offer increased funding to Therapy Focus to keep its East Fremantle–based
ABA centre open; and, if not, why not?
(3) With the
impending closure of TCA, what is the government doing to ensure that ABA is
still available to children with autism?
(4) Has funding been offered to another service provider to
run the program; and, if not, why not?
(5) Will the
minister ensure that another provider is found to provide an applied behaviour
analysis therapy program for the children with autism affected by this closure?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) I became
aware of Therapy Focus's decision to close its applied behaviour
analysis program on 3 March 2015.
(2) No. The
Therapy Focus ABA program operates on a user-pays model at a high cost each
year per child. ABA has at its core intensive therapy services delivered by
qualified personnel. Despite the best efforts of Therapy Focus to redesign a
more sustainable ABA program, it has not been able to attract a sufficient
number of families for it to become sustainable. This follows three unsuccessful
attempts by a former organisation called LEARN to achieve a sustainable
program.
(3) The state
government will support the transition of the families affected by the closure
of the Therapy Focus ABA program to alternative therapy service providers. These
programs that provide services to the majority of children and adults in WA
accessing autism services are valued by many families and they are sustainable.
(4) No. The
impending closure of the Therapy Focus ABA program is an inevitable result of
the cost attached to it. The program was transitioned to Therapy Focus with
financial assistance from the Disability Services Commission for administration
and set-up costs after three failed attempts by LEARN to establish a
sustainable program. The program model involves intensive therapy delivered by
qualified personnel and is cost prohibitive. It is also clear that as we head
towards the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the very high cost of this
intensive therapy approach would not be considered ''reasonable and
necessary''.
(5) As stated
in answer (3), the state government will support the transition of the families
affected by the closure of the Therapy Focus ABA program to alternative therapy
service providers.
(1) I became
aware of Therapy Focus's decision to close its applied behaviour
analysis program on 3 March 2015.
(2) No. The
Therapy Focus ABA program operates on a user-pays model at a high cost each
year per child. ABA has at its core intensive therapy services delivered by
qualified personnel. Despite the best efforts of Therapy Focus to redesign a
more sustainable ABA program, it has not been able to attract a sufficient
number of families for it to become sustainable. This follows three unsuccessful
attempts by a former organisation called LEARN to achieve a sustainable
program.
(3) The state
government will support the transition of the families affected by the closure
of the Therapy Focus ABA program to alternative therapy service providers. These
programs that provide services to the majority of children and adults in WA
accessing autism services are valued by many families and they are sustainable.
(4) No. The
impending closure of the Therapy Focus ABA program is an inevitable result of
the cost attached to it. The program was transitioned to Therapy Focus with
financial assistance from the Disability Services Commission for administration
and set-up costs after three failed attempts by LEARN to establish a
sustainable program. The program model involves intensive therapy delivered by
qualified personnel and is cost prohibitive. It is also clear that as we head
towards the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the very high cost of this
intensive therapy approach would not be considered ''reasonable and
necessary''.
(5) As stated
in answer (3), the state government will support the transition of the families
affected by the closure of the Therapy Focus ABA program to alternative therapy
service providers.
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