Media Release 10 February 2011
New Autism Association Centre Expands Services for WA
The Premier of Western Australia today (9:30am – 11am) will officially marked the commencement of
construction of the Autism Association of Western Australia’s new Service Headquarters and state
of the art Early Intervention Centre in Shenton Park.
The new facilities will expand the Association’s delivery of services in all areas and enable
clinical and training staff to connect with organisations, professionals and families throughout
Western Australia.
Autism Association of WA Chief Executive Officer, Joan McKenna Kerr, said the new Service
Headquarters was the result of a true partnership between the Autism Association, the
community and the public sector.
The Government and Lotterywest have supported the development of the centre with a
$4million grant with the balance of the funding coming largely from community fundraising and
other activities.
“Our new Service Centre will provide the infrastructure to expand services for both children and
adults, and will include a state of the art early intervention centre for newly diagnosed children
under the age of six years,” Ms McKenna Kerr said.
“It will provide the Association’s multi-disciplinary teams with the capacity to work with over 400
pre-school children with Autism each year. In addition to the Early Intervention Centre, the new
complex will also provide facilities for all of the Autism Association’s community based Children
and Adult Services as well as Family Support Programs.
“It will also have a medical consultancy suite for adolescents and adults with complex needs.”
Ms McKenna Kerr said importantly the new facilities would assist clinical and training staff to
connect with organisations, professionals and families in regional Western Australia.
Lisa Cocks, mother of two children with Autism, said early intervention was critical in helping
develop life-long skills for her children and strategies to cope in different situations.
More attached……
New Autism Service Centre Media Release.pdf
February 10, 2011
tony serve
