The Positive Partnerships: supporting school aged students on the autism spectrum project delivers two components of the Helping Children with Autism package being implemented by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). The aim of both components is to improve the educational outcomes for school aged children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

The two components are:

1. professional development for teachers and other school staff who are working with students with ASD (Professional Development Component); and
2. workshops and information sessions for parents and carers of school aged children with ASD (Parent/Carer Component).

Both components are delivered nationally by the Australian Autism Education and Training Consortium (AAETC). 

"I would just like to congratulate everybody involved in the postive partnership project, for providing us with such great resources. I know I'm still struggling to find the time to work through everything, but am chipping away at my to do list!.

Your program has given me heaps of ideas, particularly in making the teacher/parent relationship work better. I have already drafted up and shown my son's teacher an amended style communication booklet which she has commented on quite positively.

I have found the newsletter a fantastic idea for sharing information, our Key Local Facilitator (KLF) has done a wonderful job putting all the information together, it is just brimming with useful sites, and current chat topics. I particularly like the visual supports information section, unfortunately it will be sorely missed when the KLF role ends for our group, I hope that a universal one could possibly be introduced to all participants in the program who are interested."
 

Cathy Harding, attended a workshop in Queensland