Work has begun on a new state of the art autism clinic in Logan, which will provide expert care and early intervention services for toddlers and small children living with autism.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the centre will focus on children aged between two and six, supporting the region with a high-quality, full-time, health service.
“The Coalition Government invested almost $1 million in the project because it will both support families and, through research, help improve the way we approach autism,” Mr Chester said.
“The centre will be run by the AEIOU Foundation and will help the community better understand autism, and what it can do to support autistic children and their families.
“It will also help children with autism build confidence and social skills, giving them the best chance to reach their full potential.”
Federal Member for Forde Bert van Manen said the centre would be the first of its kind in Queensland, featuring classrooms, a motor-skill therapy room, a playground, and modern facilities for research.
“The new facilities will also be used by researchers, teachers and therapists to develop and improve intervention and treatment services,” Mr van Manen said.
“It will form part of the innovative Meadowbrook Health and Knowledge Precinct in Logan, which is transforming the suburb into an integrated centre for health, education and research in Queensland.”
Chief Executive Officer for AEIOU Alan Smith said the Foundation was sincerely grateful for the financial support from the Australian Government and Queensland Health, making the development of this Autism Centre of Excellence possible.
“AEIOU is thrilled to work with our community partners to create this flagship development, which will bring together a number of organisations to facilitate genuine inclusion, better support in our communities along with opportunities for research and training for future leaders in this field,” Mr Smith said.
“Fundamentally, this centre will ensure AEIOU can support an additional 50 children with autism each year, while also providing training and support to their families.”
Construction of the Logan Autism Centre of Excellence is scheduled for completion by May 2018. The project is jointly funded by the Coalition Government ($999,840), the Queensland Government ($990,000), and the AEIOU Foundation ($248,122).