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Helpful Websites (13-18 years)

NDIS

The NDIS website contains lots of information to help you no matter what stage you are at. There are booklets you can download, videos and Easy Read information. You can begin at this page:

NDIS

From here, you will find information and videos to explain each stage.

Planning Resources

NDIS

This NDIS page has booklets to help you understand the NDIS, develop some goals for your child’s NDIS plan, get ready for a planning meeting and use NDIS plans and funds to find and purchase services and supports.

NDIS Participants

 

Autism Queensland

Autism Queensland has a Family Goal Setting Tool to help families identify and prioritise goals for their child as well as the family’s needs for information, support, and ways of participating in their community. SWAN has copies of this resource at our office that families can borrow.

Autism QLD – Family Goal Setting Tool

 

Association for Children with a Disability

Association for Children with a Disability have a free downloadable pre-planning workbook to help you prepare for NDIS plan meetings.

ACD NDIS Planning Workbook

 

Developmental Disability WA (DDWA)

DDWA’s ‘Making Changes through Goal Setting’, is a step-by-step workbook to guide you through a series of questions to help set goals for your child and create a road map to help your child achieve the goal.

DDWA Goal Setting Book

 

Down Syndrome WA

 Down Syndrome WA’s pre-planning workbook is for people with any kind of disability and any age to prepare for NDIS plan meetings.

Down Syndrome WA Resources

Recreation

Everyone can benefit from taking part in leisure activities such as sport, hobbies, dance and other skills classes. For autistic children and teens, it is perhaps even more important to find ways they can take part in leisure activities to gain the physical, social, emotional, creative and intellectual benefits.

As a parent/carer, it can feel challenging when it comes to finding activities that suit your child’s interests and that are welcoming and supportive. Here are some places to begin:

 

Local Community Directory

One of the best sources of information is your local Community Directory. You can find out about all kinds of services, facilities and groups in your local government area. You can use a search function to find up to date information on sporting clubs, hobby groups, music, dance and drama classes, games clubs, Scouts, play centres, outdoor play spaces, swimming pools, gyms and much more.

My Community Directory

 

SWAN – Services Directory

You can find information about sport and recreational activities and services on the SWAN website using the search function. You can also call or email SWAN to discuss ideas and get information and advice on what’s available.

SWAN Autism

Mental Health

There is a range of mental health services and support organisations, for children and adults, that you can access in the south west of WA. You can use the search function on the SWAN website to find a range of government and non-government services and private mental health practitioners.

SWAN Autism

The Mental Health Commission also has a search engine to help you find services in your area.

Please see: My Services

 

Here is a handy list of some services in the south west:

South West Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) – Bunbury

CAMHS provides free mental health programs to infants, children and young people up to the age of 17.

WA Country Health Service
Mental Health Services
Phone(08) 9722 4300
Access time 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM Mon-Fri

 

Kids Helpline

Kids Helpline is a free, private, and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. Counselling from Kids Helpline is available by phone, Webchat and email. Parents can also assist kids to contact Kids Helpline. You can explain that your child is autistic, and that you are helping them to learn to use Kids Helpline.

Phone: 1800 551 800

Kids Helpline (Kids)

 

Kids Helpline – For parents

Kids Helpline also has a wealth of resources on their website for parents. The Kids Helpline website has information and advice on a wide range of topics to help parents support a child who is experiencing anxiety, bullying, exam stress, abuse, family breakdown and much more.

Kids Helpline (Parents)

 

Headspace

Headspace Bunbury and Busselton are free, confidential services that help young people aged 12 to 25 with mental health support from skilled social workers and psychologists.

 

Headspace Bunbury

8 Spencer Street
Bunbury WA 6230
Phone: (08) 6164 0680
Email: info@headspacebunbury.org.au

 

eHeadspace

eHeadspace provides free online support and counselling to young people aged 12 – 25 and their families and friends.

Headspace

 

RuralLink (WA after hours service)

Provides easy telephone access to experienced community mental health staff, with a focus on supporting people with mental health issues.

Hours: 4.30pm – 8:30am Monday to Friday and 24 hours Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. During business hours you will be connected to your local community mental health clinic. Phone: 1800 552 002

 

Beyondblue – 1300 224 636 or chat online at swanautism.org.au/beyond-blue

 

Lifeline – 13 11 14 or chat online at swanautism.org.au/lifeline

 

Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467 or chat online at Suicide Call Back Service

Assistive Technology

Assistive technology (AT) includes all kinds of equipment and technology to support people with disabilities. Each child is different, but some of the kinds of AT a child who is autistic might need, could be a communication device (AAC/ PODD), apps, or sensory equipment such as sensory clothing. NDIS will fund some AT if it relates to a person’s disability and is needed to help them in their daily lives.

NDIS Assistive Tech

 

Apps

Here are some links to lists of Apps for iPads and other devices that you may find useful to support your child’s development. AutismApps is an Autism Association of WA website. It provides comprehensive advice on complex communication, devices, and Apps that they have reviewed.

Autism WA Apps

 

Indigo Australasia (formerly Independent Living Centre)  

Indigo provides a range of services including assessments and advice on communication technologies and other kinds of AT including sensory equipment.

Indigo Communication Solutions

Indigo Assistive Tech

They also have a searchable online equipment database:

Indigo Equipment Database

 

Sensory Equipment

SWAN has a list on its website of companies that offer sensory equipment and clothing, to access, see: SWAN Autism

Inclusion

Developmental Disability WA (DDWA)

Choosing what Matters – Getting a Life…Not just Services, by Heather Simmons, is a handbook of information and ideas to help families think about what kind of life they want for their child.

DDWA Choosing What Matters

 

Planning Choices

This Handbook is designed for parents of children with disability who want to learn how to access an ordinary, typical life for their child. It looks at understanding your child’s development and helps you plan and make choices with your child to support them to reach their potential.

DDWA Choices

 

Thinking Ahead

This is a practical handbook with a wealth of knowledge and tips to help you advocate for your child at school.

DDWA Thinking Ahead

 

Personal Learning Support Plans Used in Education

This booklet is about Personal Learning Support Plans; this is an umbrella term covering various kinds of plans your child may have at school. For example, an Individual Education Plan (IEP), Behaviour Support Plan, and Transition Plan.

Department of Education – Planning for Personalised Learning & Support

 

What is your child’s challenging behaviour trying to tell you?

This introductory guide is for parents, family members and carers who are worried about their child’s/family member’s behaviour. Parents can feel under a lot of pressure to ‘solve’ behaviour problems and are naturally very worried about the best approach to take. There are often complex reasons behind a child’s behaviour and it is rarely anyone’s fault, rather it is difficult to interpret what their behaviour is trying to tell us.

DDWA Behaviour

 

I am trying to tell you something

This resource is about understanding needs and why people with disability may respond with challenging behaviours.

DDWA Trying To Tell You Something

 

Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA)

Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) has produced a range of fact sheets on inclusion.

CYDA Fact Sheets

 

All Means All

All Means All is the Australian Alliance for Inclusive Education, working to implement an inclusive education system and remove the barriers that limit the rights of some students, including students with disabilities, to access full inclusive education in regular classrooms in Australian schools.

All Means All has produced an Inclusion Toolkit to guide parents in supporting their child’s inclusive education journey. You can download it here:

AMA For Parents 

 

School Inclusion Parent Network (SIPN)

SIPN is a network of families supporting each other to navigate the school years and promoting inclusive education. SIPN has an active Facebook group that provides information, support, and connection.

School Inclusion Parent Network

Family Support

Siblings Australia

Siblings Australia works to improve the support available for siblings (brothers and sisters) of children and adults with chronic conditions including disability, chronic illness, and mental health issues. Their website contains information about sibling support – services, resources, research and policy for siblings, parents, workers, and researchers. Siblings Australia also runs workshops and has a Facebook page and a closed Facebook group.

Siblings Australia

 

Relationships WA

Relationships WA runs a free Family Mental Health Support Service called 4families that provides support for families and carers (including grandparents). 4families operates in areas across the southwest, linking families to a variety of services to reduce family stress and enable children and young people to reach their full potential.

Relationships WA

 

Local Community Directory

One of the best sources of information for families is their local Community Directory. You can find out about all kinds of services, facilities, and groups in your local government area. For example, you can use a search function to find up to date information on playgrounds, playgroups, childcare centres, schools, parent groups, sporting clubs, counselling services and much more.

My Community Directory