❓ Hon. Stephen Dawson questions the Minister for Disability Services regarding funding and access to Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism in Western Australia. The Minister acknowledges ABA's use but emphasizes individualised programs and funding based on need, not diagnosis.
AnsweredQoN 162Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
AUTISM — APPLIED BEHAVIOUR ANALYSIS THERAPY
162. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the Minister
for Disability Services:
I refer to applied behaviour
analysis therapy programs for children with autism.
(1) Will the
minister acknowledge that ABA is a federally recognised best-practice
intervention for children with autism?
(2) Can the minister list all
Western Australian service providers that provide ABA therapy programs?
(3) How much
Disability Services Commission funding is provided to WA providers offering ABA
and which services receive that funding?
(4) How much DSC
funding is provided to all autism-related service providers in WA and which
services receive that funding?
(5) Can the
minister advise how long the waiting lists are for families wishing to access
other providers of ABA therapy in Western Australia?
162. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the Minister
for Disability Services:
I refer to applied behaviour
analysis therapy programs for children with autism.
(1) Will the
minister acknowledge that ABA is a federally recognised best-practice
intervention for children with autism?
(2) Can the minister list all
Western Australian service providers that provide ABA therapy programs?
(3) How much
Disability Services Commission funding is provided to WA providers offering ABA
and which services receive that funding?
(4) How much DSC
funding is provided to all autism-related service providers in WA and which
services receive that funding?
(5) Can the
minister advise how long the waiting lists are for families wishing to access
other providers of ABA therapy in Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1) ABA
therapy is recognised as being one of many successful interventions. Any
therapeutic approach should be planned and applied on an individual basis, and
ABA will not necessarily be the right therapy for every child or family.
(2) Elements of
ABA are used by many of Western Australia's service providers as part
of their therapeutic services. The commission funds individualised programs and
ABA is used as recommended by therapists as part of those individualised
programs. There is no list of ABA providers, as the therapy is utilised as
needed rather than as a stand-alone program.
(3) The
commission provides $17 134 819 for early intervention services across the
state, including those delivered by the commission. These services include
elements of ABA as required.
(4) Western
Australia does not fund services by diagnosis; it funds based on individual
need. Many organisations provide services to people with autism. As such, there
is not a recorded level of funding directed towards support for people with
autism.
(5) Waitlists for
access to early intervention services vary between service providers. A list of
waitlist times for organisations across the state is not available in the time
frame requested; however, I will provide the information to the honourable
member by Tuesday, 24 March 2015.
(1) ABA
therapy is recognised as being one of many successful interventions. Any
therapeutic approach should be planned and applied on an individual basis, and
ABA will not necessarily be the right therapy for every child or family.
(2) Elements of
ABA are used by many of Western Australia's service providers as part
of their therapeutic services. The commission funds individualised programs and
ABA is used as recommended by therapists as part of those individualised
programs. There is no list of ABA providers, as the therapy is utilised as
needed rather than as a stand-alone program.
(3) The
commission provides $17 134 819 for early intervention services across the
state, including those delivered by the commission. These services include
elements of ABA as required.
(4) Western
Australia does not fund services by diagnosis; it funds based on individual
need. Many organisations provide services to people with autism. As such, there
is not a recorded level of funding directed towards support for people with
autism.
(5) Waitlists for
access to early intervention services vary between service providers. A list of
waitlist times for organisations across the state is not available in the time
frame requested; however, I will provide the information to the honourable
member by Tuesday, 24 March 2015.
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