FaHCSIA funding to cover VAC attendance

Amaze received official notification from FaHCSIA yesterday that families of children aged 0-6 who have access to the Helping Children with Autism funding may be able to use the Resources/Equipment component of their child’s FaHCSIA funding to attend this year’s Victorian Autism Conference (VAC). 

As a result, the Early Bird registration date for VAC 2012 has been extended to 22 June 2012 to allow interested  families to take advantage of this reduced rate.

This is very welcome news for families as this practical conference promises to provide strategies and information about all sorts of topics in ASD ranging from coping with the diagnosis to sleeping and toileting difficulties or dealing with transitions. The theme of this year’s conference is Knowledge, Awareness and Understanding Across the Spectrum and will cover topics across the lifespan.

The conference will be held in Melbourne on 9 and 10 August, and will be streamed live to eight regional locations (Albury/Wodonga, Ballarat, Bendigo, Horsham, Mildura, Shepparton, Traralgon, and Warrnambool) so delegates from across Victoria can attend. Tony Attwood (ASD Expert), Carol Gray (Social Stories), Sue Larkey (Education and ASD Specialist), and Jonathan Petty (individual with ASD) and his family will deliver the keynote addresses. The full program can be viewed here.

Families who are registered with FaHCSIA to receive the Helping Children with Autism funding who wish to attend the conference, please note that as per FaHCSIA’s general resources and equipment policy, the purchase of all resources (including conference registration at VAC 2012), is at your HCWA Providers’ discretion. They must decide as to whether they believe a parent/carer would benefit from attending the conference, as part of the childs’ overall therapy program.

Please consult with your HCWA Provider following the guidelines below:
1. The process is either:

• After consultation with the HCWA Provider, the parent/carer can purchase the conference registration themselves and then be reimbursed by their provider once FaHCSIA has processed this claim through the ‘resources’component of the funding
• After consultation with the family, the HCWA Provider can purchase the conference registration on behalf of the family using funds from their own bank account and be reimbursed through the ‘resources’ component of the child’s funding

2. Only one conference registration (resource) per child is allowed and the monies do not cover travel or expenses to enable conference attendance
3. The conference registration will be deducted from the families’ resource and equipment allowance on the date of purchase

To register for the conference, click here.