Inclusive Program

Children must be less than 4 years of age when they start in our program. A formal diagnosis of autism is not required, but our research team will assess each child to confirm eligibility (that is, that each child shows likely signs of autism).

The classrooms are mainstream, high quality early childhood education settings. located at La Trobe University Community Children’s Centre (Bundoora).

Each child is assessed every term using the ESDM Curriculum Checklist. This is a play-based assessment carried out by two ESDM certified therapists and families are invited to attend.

Each term, new goals are developed for all children, based on the ESDM Curriculum Checklist and family priorities. Each child receives between 20-24 individualized goals from all developmental domains, for example, communication, play, imitation, cognition, motor skills, personal independence and so on.

Each child’s progress is monitored through careful data collection, including:

• All staff regularly take data after working on a child's goals, using our Data App
• Each week, the child’s Key Worker will review the data to monitor how the child is progressing
• The Key Worker will monitor whether a child is consistently implementing the skill outlined in the step, inconsistently implementing the skill or having difficulties with particular skills. This information will be utilised to progress children to the next step on individual objectives (for skills consistently implemented) or to review whether changes need to be made to the step to support learning (e.g. using additional/different prompts, resources etc).
• If a child needs some support to progress on goals, the Key Worker will refer to the ESDM Decision Tree to carefully build in extra support for the child.

• Children receiving ESDM (G-ESDM) in naturalistic, group settings have made positive gains across cognitive, adaptive, and communicative outcomes (Vivanti et al., 2014; Vivanti & Dissanayake, 2016; Vivanti et al, 2018)
• High-quality childcare environments that promote engagement in joint activities with peers have been found to positively impact on social and communication development (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Early Child Care Research Network, 2000, 2003). The Inclusion Program aims to provide autistic children with rich social and learning opportunities in a high quality and social group early learning and care environment, combined with personalised early intervention.
• Another important rationale for the Inclusion Program is that it provides a ‘one-stop-shop’ for families; early intervention, long day care alongside peers and access to Allied Health specialists familiar with your child.

We are a registered NDIS service provider and intervention fees are payable using your child’s NDIS plan and/or private funds.

Intervention fees are charged according to the current NDIS Price Guide, against line items for Capacity Building Supports for Early Childhood Interventions and Therapy Assistant - Level 2.

Intervention fees are not charged if a child is absent, however, late notice cancellation fees may apply.

Description of support

ESDM Certified Therapist conducts play-based assessment using the ESDM Curriculum Checklist to collaboratively identify and develop 20-24 ESDM learning objectives with family. The assessment will be conducted at La Trobe University Community Children’s Centre, Bundoora.

Frequency

1 assessment (1-2 hours) and development of up to 20-24 goals (3 hours) with family.

Price per hour ($) *

$193.99 and/or $86.79

Hours

Approx. 5 hours total.

Price per week

Once per term

Term 1 Assessment Intake

$969.95

Description of support

ESDM Certified Therapist visits the room to target goals with the child, supervises/coaches therapy assistants, monitors the child's progress, reports to the team and trains educators to support the child.

Frequency

Weekly

Price per hour ($) *

$193.99 and/or $86.79

Hours

1.5 hours per week

Price per week

$290.99

Term 1- 4 fees (per 12 week term)

$3,491.88

Description of support

Allied Health input into child’s program;

• Specialist referrals as required and identified by family/KW
• Program input to further progress key learning across developmental areas

Price per hour ($) *

$193.99

Hours

Example: 1 hour per term

Term 1- 4 fees (per 12 week term)

$193.99

Description of support

ESDM trained therapy assistant works in the classroom with child and targets the child’s individual goals.

Price per hour ($) *

$72.90

Price per week

$765.45

Term 1- 4 fees (per 12 week term)

$9,185.40