Supporter Spring 2024
Daphne Street a centre for excellence Our Daphne Street Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre (ASELCC) continues to build its reputation as a centre for excellence and an employer of choice for allied health professionals wanting to work in the field. Through participation in key research projects, and being invited to speak on a state and national level, the Daphne Street centre and its team is being recognised as a leader in its field Earlier this year we hosted Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth MP, Minister for Autism Emily Bourke – Labor MLC, and Autism CRC chief executive Andrew Davis to officially launch Autism CRC’s latest National Practice Guideline Resources. The resources include the Supporting Autistic Children and their Families short course and eLearning and the National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism in Australia. The guidelines define evidence-based
Gary and Sheila can now focus on their health and future after securing stable housing through the Care Finder program
Finding home security Given just four weeks’ notice to move out of their private rental, Gary, 72, and Sheila, 59, found themselves in a crisis.
to help vulnerable older people navigate and access aged care.
Countless applications for private rentals were rejected, and they were not approved for retirement housing due to the short timeframe. With few options available to them, the desperate couple even considered driving to New South Wales to live in their car near their daughter. However, due to Sheila’s health conditions they were advised it would only make matters worse, coupled with the fact they would no longer be on the list for community housing in SA. “It was right on Christmas,” Sheila said. “Right at the eleventh hour AnglicareSA was able find us a hotel to stay in, we thought we were going to be living in our car the next day. “Our daughter who was training to become a case worker had put us in touch with AnglicareSA and the Care Finder Program which helped us find somewhere to stay in an emergency and more than that, they then helped us find a safe place to call home.” The Care Finder Program is an initiative of the Department of Health and Aged Care and funds a workforce of care finders to provide face-to-face support
AnglicareSA worked with the Adelaide North West Homelessness Alliance in sourcing funding for the couple and their small dog to live in a hotel where they spent the next three months living alongside other people experiencing homelessness. Gary and Sheila were then able to be housed in a flat through Unity Housing. “We can’t thank AnglicareSA enough,” Gary said. “We are so grateful for the support and advocacy provided to us during such a tough time.” Now that they are housed, the Care Finder team has linked Gary in with carer support through Carers SA, while Sheila has been provided a worker to assist her with accessing the NDIS. This, she said, meant she could focus on her health without the stress of facing homelessness. “It was such a stressful time, we had our belongings in storage and nowhere to live. Now we are here, we are unpacking, and we can relax in our own home,” Sheila said.
practices for supporting autistic children and their families that
promote children’s development, their participation in childhood activities, and their wellbeing. The centre was proud to host this launch and shine a light on the important work the Daphne Street team does to support local autistic children and their families.
AnglicareSA EGM, Disability and Wellbeing Services Ian Byrne, Board Chair Tim Sarah, Senior Manager Autism Services Grace Frost, and Austism CRC chief executive Andrew Davis at the launch
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