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Strengthening the Workforce

The Department is focused on strengthening the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) expertise of the workforce.

Current initiatives

Teachers working together at a table

For more specific information on the professional learning and development opportunities in your region, see: Regional Priorities

The Autism Secondary Consultation and Training Strategy (ACTNOW)

The Department is committed to ensuring children and young people with ASD are supported effectively by a workforce equipped with the skills, knowledge and understanding to best foster their unique learning needs:

  • The Autism Secondary Consultation and Training Strategy (ACT-NOW), was developed in 2005 to build skills and knowledge across the early childhood sector. The focus of ACT-NOW was to help service providers to more effectively identify ASD, promote an understanding of ASD within the wider community and provide professional development to support effective learning and development for these children and their families. For more information, see: Autism Secondary Consultation and Training Strategy
  • A further focus of ACT-NOW has been the development of linkages between service providers and families through the Regional Autism Consultation and Training Teams (ReACTs). ReACTs identify and respond to the ASD training and consultation needs in their local areas which informs training needs, ASD skills development and secondary consultation for early childhood professionals provided by the ACTNOW team. For more information, see: ReACT Groups Information
  • ACT-NOW was extended following the recommendations of the Autism State Plan and continues to provide a website with information for families and professionals, professional development and training for practitioners, secondary consultation and network support.

Maternal and Child Health

The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) service is a free universal service available for all Victorian families with children from birth to school age. The service provides a comprehensive and focused approach for the promotion, prevention, early detection, and intervention of the physical, emotional or social factors affecting young children and their families in contemporary communities. 

In 2009 following extensive consultation, an evidence-based framework for the Key Ages and Stages visits was implemented. This framework includes components around assessment, intervention and promotion of health and development, with an emphasis on early identification and referral processes for children with disabilities or developmental concerns including ASD.

For more information, see: Maternal and Child Health

Maternal and Child Health and ACTNOW

In 2011 the ACT-NOW team is providing further training and resources specifically for maternal and child health nurses in relation to identifying early signs of ASD within the Key Ages and Stages visits, strengthening the referral pathways, and supporting families through this process. 

For more information, see: Maternal and Child Health

Early Childhood Intervention Services

The Department has introduced workforce initiatives for Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECIS), including incentives for graduates to work in ECIS, support for ECIS staff to work in rural areas, and scholarships for ECIS staff to undertake further study. 

For further information, see: Early Childhood Intervention Services

Autism Teaching Institute

The Department is committed to increasing the ability of schools to respond to the diverse needs of children and young people with an ASD. In 2006, the Department established the Autism Teaching Institute (ATI) based at Western Autistic School. 

The ATI provides accredited training courses and professional development opportunities to build teacher skills and knowledge about teaching students with an ASD. 100 scholarships are being be provided over four years (2010-2013) to build the expertise and capabilities of Victorian government school teachers.

For more information on the courses offered at the Autism Teaching Institute see: Courses

For further information, contact the: Autism Teaching Institute

The Department's Autism Scholarships

Fundamental to the Department's commitment to provide a range of effective educational options to best support children and young people with an ASD are initiatives that support quality teaching and strengthening the capacity of the workforce.

The Department's Special Education Scholarships support teachers seeking to obtain an endorsed special education qualification. A number of these scholarships are reserved for studies in the specialist area of ASD. 

In 2010-2011 56 scholarships have been awarded to teachers across Victoria including 8 additional scholarships funded by the Human Resources Division. 

ASD Scholarships are advertised by Circular Memorandum in November each year for commencement of study in the following year.

For more information please see the Scholarships Fact Sheet. (PDF - 734Kb)

For additional information, see: Regional Offices

Training and further education

Teacher smiling
  • The Special Education Scholarship Program supports teachers in Victorian government schools to obtain an endorsed special education qualification. The scholarship intake for studies commencing in 2012 will be advertised during Term 3, 2011. For more information, see: Scholarships
  • A Window into Autism and A Window into Autism Extension are professional learning programs specially designed to increase the skills, knowledge and ability of Education Support staff in Victorian government schools to support students with an ASD. Education Support staff can also apply for professional learning grants of up to $1500 to undertake professional learning specific to their individual learning needs. For more information, see:
  • The ‘Supporting Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder’ component has recently been included in the Disability Certification IV training.

Helping children with autism

Alongside State Government programs, the Australian Government’s Helping Children with Autism package includes professional development to strengthen the skills of educational staff in supporting children and young people with an ASD. 

For further information, see: Helping Children with Autism

Positive Partnerships

The ‘Positive Partnerships: supporting school aged students on the autism spectrum’ project coordinated by the Australian Autism Education and Training Consortium (AAETC) delivers two components of the package. One component delivers professional development for teachers and other school staff who are working with students with an ASD (Professional Development Component). 

Regional Departmental staff are currently being trained as facilitators to deliver the first component of the Positive Partnership programs across the state. For more information, see: Positive Partnerships

The second component offers workshops and information sessions for parents and carers of school aged children with an ASD (Parent/Carer Component). Both components incorporate an Online Learning Portal where teachers and parents can access learning modules, resources, fact sheets, workshop content and support material. 

For more information, see the Positive Partnerships Online Learning Portal 

Autism Spectrum Disorders: Planning successful transition to primary and secondary school programs

Starting primary and/ or secondary school is an important and exciting step for children, young people and their families, but it can also be a difficult time for some. When a child or young person has an ASD, the transition may involve extra challenges and may be a source of stress and anxiety for parents and carers, professionals and the student. 

Successful transition to school requires careful planning, preparation and communication that lead to a shared understanding of each child.

The 'Autism Spectrum Disorders: Planning a successful transition to school' programs (primary and secondary) are facilitated by the Department's regional offices.

For more information on the programs, see: Enhancing Educational Opportunities

For details on when you region is offering programs, see: Regional Offices