Autism Connect is now available across every state and territory in Australia, providing evidence-based advice and information on autism.

This free autism helpline supports autistic people, their families and carers, health professionals, researchers, teachers, employers, and the broader community.

Alisha Rotella, who is autistic and an occupational therapist, contacted Autism Connect for advice on supporting her autistic clients. “The person I spoke to was autistic. I love that we have autism advocates within this great service. It was so wonderful to have someone who had all the information, I wasn't spending hours on Google trying to piece it together myself. It saved a lot of time and I got some really good information.”

For those who prefer to search for information themselves, Autism Connect has a self-search information directory. The directory provides a curated list of autism resources, as well as groups and services available in your local area. These resources and local services are available to search online 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Autism Connect has been developed by Amaze, an autism peak body that has been supporting autistic people and their families for over 50 years. To learn more about the service, download their flyer or brochure.

Autism Connect advisors are available by phone, email, or live webchat from 8am to 7pm, Monday to Friday.

• Phone: 1300 308 699
• Email: info@autismconnect.org.au
• Website and search: amaze.org.au/autismconnect

The two new offences (Criminal Code, Chapter 22 – Offences against morality) include:

• ss. 229BB – Failure to protect a child from a sexual offence: will make it an offence to fail to protect a child from a sexual offence in an institutional setting. The new law has been implemented to address issues such as offenders being moved from one institution to another and continuing to perpetrate child sexual abuse, or institutions placing their reputational requirements above the safety and wellbeing of a child or young person. The offence will be punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment for an ‘accountable person’ who fails to protect a child from a sexual offence.
• ss. 229BC – Failure to report sexual offending against a child to police: will make it an offence for any adult not to report sexual offending against a child by another adult to police. This obligation extends outside of the workplace to our responsibility as members of the Queensland community to protect children. The offence will be punishable by up to 3 years imprisonment for any adult who fails to report child sexual abuse to police.

The offences recognise the difficulties victims have in disclosing or reporting abuse, the vulnerability of children, and the risk that perpetrators of child sexual abuse may have multiple victims and may continue to reoffend against particular victims over lengthy periods of time.

The Criminal Code amendment does not replace the mandatory reporting obligations of doctors and registered nurses under the Child Protection Act 1999 (Qld) (the CP Act). The CP Act reporting requirements remain when there are concerns that a child:

(a) has suffered, is suffering, or is at unacceptable risk of suffering, significant harm caused by physical or sexual abuse; and

(b) may not have a parent able and willing to protect the child from the harm.

The Department of Justice and Attorney-General are responsible for leading the distribution of central information for the new legislative amendments to agencies and have made the following resources available to Queenslanders: www.qld.gov.au/protectchildren or https://www.qld.gov.au/law/crime-and-police/types-of-crime/sexual-offences-against-children.

Due to an accident, Catherine has a history of severe depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus II (IDDM II), and vision problems which affect her ability to make and attend medical and psychiatric appointments.

Initially, Catherine was referred to the IOW program for transport only. After many conversations with her IOW team and Indigenous Outreach Worker Jeanon Andersen, the team realised that Catherine required more intensive, sensitive support in managing her chronic health conditions. 

Catherine confided in her IOW team and shared that she was frightened of all authority figures – including doctors, nurses, and even her therapist. She had severe agoraphobia that affected every aspect of her life.

The IOW team became Catherine’s advocate and supported her during many medical appointments.

Jeanon said that the team first ensured Catherine had an up-to-date care plan, with referrals to appropriate specialists set in place.

“Due to Catherine’s mental health illnesses and the subsequent prescribed medication, her short-term memory was affected. Our team would ensure that we kept a schedule of her appointments and rang her the day before, and the day of, the appointment to remind her,” said Jeanon.

“We were by Catherine’s side through every step of her appointments – from holding her hand when we entered the building and arriving early to have a cup of tea and discuss her fears, to writing down her questions and answers so she had all the information from the specialist or therapist when back at home.

“This allowed Catherine to process the information slowly, in her own time, giving her greater confidence and autonomy over her own health care needs”.

Following Catherine’s ocular accident, she now also struggles with reading, writing, and comprehension.

“The IOW team were successful in working with Catherine to ensure her disability claim was processed and accepted,” said Jeanon.

“We took the burden off her by ensuring we collated all the medical evidence required.

“Our team was supported in this process by Mackay Hospital and Health Services, private specialists and their teams, and Centrelink”.

Catherine was invited to a women’s group by other Girudala workers – she rarely attended at first, but eventually she started attending the group semi-regularly.

This was a huge success in her steps to overcoming her anxiety-led agoraphobia. Her therapist was particularly happy that the team was able to encourage Catherine to attend these groups, as it was hugely healing to her.

The Girudala IOW team strongly believe in holistic care, and that working with a team and the wider community is the best way to ensure a client’s best outcome.

After three years on the program, successful cognitive-based therapies, exposure therapies, and two surgeries, Catherine is now living with her husband independently.

“She is able to manage her own health and chronic conditions, and has a newfound confidence,” Jeanon said.

“Catherine is a much-loved member of the community and attends many local events. 

“She has now been discharged from the IOW program, and we are all extremely proud of her”. 

*The patient’s name has been changed to protect her privacy.