SDN Children’s Services, in partnership with Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect), will be opening a new early education centre and outreach services for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) living in Greater Western Sydney.

SDN will build and operate a new 24-place long day care centre in Rooty Hill, which is due to open in 2012. The centre will be staffed by senior teachers with special education qualifications as well as a multidisciplinary team including a psychologist, speech pathologist, social worker and occupational therapist. We will also run outreach services in Cumberland/Prospect, Inner West, Nepean and South West Sydney areas, supporting 13 satellite long day care centres to develop autism-specific practices.

We would like to encourage anyone who is interested in receiving more information as it becomes available to register your interest by calling 1300 098 159. This includes families, service providers, potential employees, educators and community workers.

It is a NSW Government-funded project with $2 million committed towards building costs and ongoing operational funding of $1.2 million to support the service, which will be operated by SDN in partnership with Aspect. This initiative will be established as the first state government funded autism-specific early education demonstration service in NSW.

Professionals working with children with an ASD will be able to come to the centre to learn more about best practice. The Rooty Hill centre will provide intensive early education and care for children with an ASD and will include assessments, group sessions for children and families, therapeutic services, family support services and resources, training and education for other agencies, and educational events for the public.

The name of the new service is SDN Beranga, which is an Aboriginal word in the local Dharug language meaning ‘we belong’. We thank the Dharug elders for their permission to use this name.

“We would like to thank the NSW Government for its vision and commitment to such an important initiative for children with autism spectrum disorders. This service is unique in that it is more than a stand-alone autism-specific centre. Through the outreach services provided to the satellite centres we will be able to help many more children and families,” Ginie Udy, the CEO of SDN, said.

“There are around 1 in 160 children with an ASD living in Greater Western Sydney. Research shows the importance of evidence-based early intervention in providing the best opportunities for children with autism to achieve their potential,” Adrian Ford, the CEO of Aspect, said.

The 13 selected satellite centres will each enrol four children with an ASD and will be located in Cumberland/Prospect, Inner West, Nepean and South West Sydney areas. We expect satellite services to start from July 2011 and the Rooty Hill centre to open in early 2012.

Click here for more information about the service

For more information on enrolment please call SDN on 1300 098 159.