About Us
The Autistic Family Support Association Inc. is a self funded, state wide, voluntary parent based network.
AFSA…
- is a member of Autism Victoria
- provides a voice for parents and carers – to the media, politicians and government – to improve the outcomes and quality of life for individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families and carers
- provides the opportunity for parents and carers to network with each other through linkages to other Autism Spectrum Disorder support groups and consumer based organisations around Victoria and Australia
- is governed by a volunteer committee made up of parents who “have been there” and wish to make a difference for all parents and carers
History
AFSA was formed by a group of parents in the early 1980’s. Their children were attending the VACA Eastern Centre and they wished to maintain contact with each other when their children moved onto other school settings. They published a newsletter, called CONTACT (which is still published by the association), organised family focussed gatherings and seminars, and developed a parent to parent support network and a school holiday support program (funded by the federal government and now funded via the Special Needs Subsidy Scheme - SNDS).
In 1989 AFSA obtained a grant from Vic Health and produced the highly regarded information video “Autism the Early Signs”. Several of the young children featured in this video were followed up as teenagers 10 years later in “Autism the Teen Years”, funded by the Victorian Community Support Fund.
AFSA has worked closely with Autism Victoria (formerly known as VACAA) over the years. For example, in 1989 AFSA assisted VACAA to obtain philanthropic funding to establish a professional family counselling service – the first of its type in Australia. Since 1994 funding for this Autism Victoria based service has been provided by the Victorian Government.
In more recent years AFSA has focussed on developing a strategic plan that will strengthen and support the network of locally based family and carer support groups around the state. Development of this website is part of that process.
In 2006 strong lobbying from AFSA, in partnership with Autism Victoria, resulted in an undertaking by the Bracks government to develop an Autism State Plan. The two-year project resulted in a ten-year Autism State Plan, Australia’s first. The plan was included in “A Fairer Victoria” and an initial investment of $8.3m was announced in the 2009/2010 state budget.
AFSA’s most recent advocacy campaign helped convince the DHS Disabilty Services to allow all people with an ASD, whether they have an accompanying intellectual disability or not, to be considered for disability services. Now people with Aspergers and PDD-NOS, along with those with Autism, are eligible to apply for services from the DHS Disability Service providers including non-government organisations.
Organisational Details
| Name: | Autistic Family Support Association Incorporated (A0007531T) |
| ABN: | 27 369 160 573 |
| Address: | c/- PO Box 3328 Wheelers Hill Victoria 3150 |
| Phone: | 0428 938 794 (please leave a message and a committee member will return your call as soon as they can) |
| Web: | www.afsaconnect.org.au |
| Email: | info@afsaconnect.org.au |
Committee Members
| President: |
Richard Joseph |
| Public Officer: | Phil Lipshut |
| Secretary: | Amanda Golding membership@afsaconnect.org.au |
| Treasurer: | Chris Ford |
| Committee: | Paula Balsamo; Rosalie Cotter; Nick Harvey;Meredith Ward advocacy@afsaconnect.org.au Mobile : 0400 226 408 |
New committee members are always welcome – if you are interested please contact the President.