THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

In a nation-leading move, every South Australian public primary school (including reception to year 12 schools) is appointing an Autism Inclusion Teacher (AIT).

These teachers, who formally start in the role in term one of the 2023 school year, will be central in supporting best practice for autistic students*.

In South Australia, there are more than 2,500 autistic children in primary schools who receive individualised funding through the department’s Inclusive Education Support Program (IESP).

There are many more autistic students who don’t receive additional funding or who are not yet diagnosed, but who would benefit from adjustments and approaches that will support them to thrive in school.

AITs will be released into the AIT role for either one day a week or one day a fortnight, based on the number of student enrolments and the school’s Index of Educational Disadvantage.

The $28.8m Autism Inclusion Teacher initiative is designed to support students across all settings. AITs won’t teach all the autistic students in the school, nor provide a referral service, but will focus on influencing the practice of staff at their school, creating inclusive learning environments. They are being supported to develop their own skills and, in turn, grow their school’s capacity to work with autistic children and young people.

AITs will be provided with professional learning through face-to-face modules, workshops and online opportunities.

In the long run, AITs will provide support to their fellow educators on how to best support and educate students with autism and drive improved practice relating to autism that works for their school.

While the AIT is a school-based role, there may be some situations where they will work collaboratively with a co-located preschool or early learning centre, for example, when planning for the transition of an autistic learner from preschool to school.

In addition, the Department for Education will continue to fund Autism SA to provide a combination of individual services and teacher capacity building services.

The AIT roles are part of a range of improved support services to be introduced from 2023, including:

 Exploring opportunities to offer more early childhood identification and intervention services in children’s centres

 Supporting schools to sign up to an Autism Charter

 Providing more specialist staff in schools.

Emily Bourke, right (pictured here with Hannah McMillan) has been appointed Assistant Minister for Autism in South Australia in a bid to ensure people with the neurological condition are better represented.

*This item uses identity-first language throughout. We recognise there are people in the autistic community who prefer person-first language, people who prefer identity-first language and people who use the terms interchangeably.

For more information education.autism@sa.gov.au

A seamless all-girls education from the Early Years through to Year 12.