A parliamentary question seeks detailed information on the prevalence of autism, services available, and associated costs in the Bunbury, Busselton, and South West region of WA. The answer reveals significant data gaps within the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) South West regarding autism-specific services and funding.

AnsweredQoN 2969Legislative Council
Asked
20 October 2010
Portfolio
Mental Health

QuestionView source ↗

(1) How many people with autism live in, -
(a) Bunbury;
(b) Busselton; and
(c) the South West region?
(2) How many of these people are, -
(a) six years or younger;
(b) seven to 18 years;
(c) 19 to 24 years;
(d) 25 to 45 years; and
(e) 45 years or more?
(3) What services for people with autism are provided by the public sector in, -
(a) Bunbury;
(b) Busselton; and
(c) the South West region?
(4) In relation to (3), -
(a) what is the cost of each of these services; and
(b) is the service age specific?
(5) What services for people with autism are provided by non-Government organisations in, -
(a) Bunbury;
(b) Busselton; and
(c) the South West region?
(6) In relation to (5), and each of the services identified, -
(a) what is the cost of the service;
(b) what portion of the service cost is funded by the State Government;
(c) what portion of the service cost is funded by the Federal Government; and
(d) is the service age specific?
(7) What services for people with autism are provided by private sector in, -
(a) Bunbury;
(b) Busselton; and
(c) the South West region?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
23 November 2010
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Mental Health
Response time
34 days
(1) (a - c) This data is not known to the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) South West.
(2) (a - e) This data is not known to WACHS-South West.
(3) (a - c) WACHS-South West provides a regional service through the Regional Therapy Team (RTT) focussing on the three therapies of Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy.
(4) (a) In relation to WACHS-South West, programs and services are not developed specifically for clients with autism but rather focus on the needs of the client; therefore there can be clients with a variety of diagnosis accessing services.
On the basis of this it is not possible to separate out and cost those resources that are specifically working with clients with autism.
(4) (b) In relation to the services provided by WACHS- South West adults with Autism must have a diagnosis prior to the age of 18 to be eligible for RTT services. School aged and adult clients are most likely to be streamed into existing groups and workshop programs rather than provided individual services. Children aged 0-4 years requiring services are prioritised as high.
(5) (a - c) Detail is not known to WACHS-South West.
(6) (a - d) This information falls under the portfolio of the Minister for Disabilities.
(7) (a - c) Detail is not known by WACHS-South West.
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