Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres - questions and answers

All applicants for Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre funding were required to register by emailing asdchildcare@fahcsia.gov.au by 5pm Friday 29 August 2008.

Applications close at 2pm AEST Friday 26 September 2008. Application packs are available at www.fahcsia.gov.au or by emailing asdchildcare@fahcsia.gov.au

Questions asked throughout the application period

General

1. Where will the new Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres be located?

Six Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres will be established in the following locations:

South Western Sydney
Brisbane
Adelaide
North West Tasmania - building on Tasmanian capacity
Melbourne
Perth

2. How are the centres related to other Australian Government initiatives?

The establishment of six Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres is part of a broader Australian Government commitment to establish 260 Early Learning and Care Centres across Australia.

The centres are an additional commitment to the $190.7 million Helping Children with Autism package, also being implemented by the Australian Government.

3. When will the centres be available?

Service providers for all centres will be selected in one selection process, commencing in August 2008. The time required for construction and fit-out will vary for each centre depending on the requirements of particular centres and whether existing infrastructure can be utilised. Centres will be brought online as soon as possible with at least two expected to be operational before June 2009, and four in the 2009-2010 financial year.

4. What is the purpose of the centres?

The Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres will provide early learning programs and specific support to children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) in a long day care setting.

The Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres will provide child care for children aged zero to six years with ASDs and will have a positive impact on their long-term life outcomes. They will provide parents with support in the care of their children and give them the opportunity to participate more fully in the community.

Through their affiliations with universities or hospitals, centres will have a research and workforce training component which will help achieve a better understanding of ASDs and increase workforce capacity.

5. Who are the service providers of the Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres?

The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) is seeking applications via an open selection process for service providers to deliver the Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres. Potential applicants will be required to demonstrate:

expertise in the provision of child care
expertise in the provision of early intervention services for children with ASDs aged zero to six years and their families and carers
an affiliation or partnership with a relevant university or hospital specialising in paediatric, early childhood or ASD-related research or services; and
compliance with all relevant state and commonwealth standards, regulations and licensing requirements for long day care centres.

Applications close at 2pm AEST Friday 26 September 2008. Application packs are available at www.fahcsia.gov.au or by emailing asdchildcare@fahcsia.gov.au.

6. How much will these six centres cost?

The 2008-09 Budget invests $114.5 million over four years (up to June 2012) to establish the Australian Government's first 38 new Early Learning and Care Centres, including the six autism specific centres:

$96.8 million of the $114.5 million has been appropriated to the Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations for the construction and fit-out of the 38 centres, and
$16.4 million (up to $2.73 million per centre) is available as a contribution towards salary and wage expenses directly attributable to employment of six specialist staff and five trained child care workers for each of the six autism specific centres over the four-year period.

The budget for each centre will be dependent on the building plans and estimated construction costs and will vary from site to site and across jurisdictions.

7. How was the Tasmanian site identified?

The Tasmanian location was announced during the 2007 federal election campaign by the now Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon Jenny Macklin MP.

8. How were the remaining sites identified?

Decisions regarding the remaining locations were informed by ASD child population data. The five sites chosen were identified as being accessible to the most children with ASDs.

9. Why have the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory missed out?

Centres were identified based on ASD child population data and only those sites that were accessible to the most children recognised with ASDs were selected.

Families with children aged zero to six years with ASDs in the Northern Territory (NT) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) will still be able to access existing services for children with ASDs provided by the territory governments and the Australian Government's Helping Children with Autism package, which includes access to autism advisory services, playgroups, individual funding for early intervention, and education and support services.

The Australian Government understands the need to work with the ACT and NT and will work closely with these governments to further build support services for children with ASDs, particularly those in remote and Indigenous communities.

10. How many children can attend each centre?

Each centre will be an approved long day care centre with the capacity to deliver a minimum of 20 approved child care places for children aged zero to six years with ASDs.

The Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres are part of a broader Australian Government commitment to establish 260 Early Learning and Care Centres nationally. The six autism specific centres will be clearly branded as Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres and must be designed to be clearly distinguishable and distinct from other similar or surrounding services.

11. Why are there only six centres and will there be more centres in the future?

The establishment of six Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres is part of a broader Australian Government commitment to establish 260 Early Learning and Care Centres across Australia. The centres are an additional commitment to the $190 million Helping Children with Autism package, currently being implemented by the Australian Government. Evaluation of the centres' success will allow further decisions to be made regarding appropriate early intervention services for children with ASDs and how they are best delivered.

12. How can I obtain further information about the centres?

Further information is available on the FaHCSIA website. Please submit any enquiries regarding the selection process for service providers of the centres to asdchildcare@fahcsia.gov.au

Parents and carers

13. Is my child eligible to attend one of the Early Learning and Care Centres?

Children aged zero to six years with a diagnosis of an ASD or with ASD-like symptoms can enrol at one of the six Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres. Priority of access must be given to children with ASDs or ASD like symptoms in the year immediately prior to starting formal school. The second priority is children with ASDs or ASD-like symptoms in the two years prior to starting formal school. It is also important that centres allocate places based on needs of the child and family and with direct regard to the Australian Government's Priority of Access Guidelines, including a focus on families from Indigenous, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and disadvantaged backgrounds.

14. Can I use my Helping Children with Autism funding package at an Early Learning and Care Centre?

No, as these centres are being provided with up to $2.73 million by the Australian Government to fund specialist staff.

As an approved long-day care provider, centres will be eligible for Australian Government financial support for the delivery of approved child care places, including Child Care Benefit.

Under the Australian Government's $190 million Helping Children with Autism package, families of children aged zero to six years diagnosed with ASDs and not yet at school will have access to a funding package of up to $12 000 per child (up to $6000 per child per financial year) to enable them to access interventions delivered by providers on a Panel currently being established by FaHCSIA.

As each Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres will be provided up to $2.73 million to fund specialist staff:

providers will not be eligible to claim costs incurred as part of the delivery of services to the 20 autism specific approved child care places through the FaHCSIA Early Intervention Service Provider Panel.
the early intervention individual support funding will not be able to be used at the centres, however, families will still be able to utilise this funding by accessing providers on the FaHCSIA Early Intervention Service Provider Panel.

15. Will the Early Learning and Care Centres follow best practice in the autism field?

Service delivery models for the Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres must be based on the Early Intervention Best Practice Guidelines published by Prior and Roberts (2006) and current evidence of best practice in child care and early childhood education for children with special needs. A copy of the Prior and Roberts Guidelines has been provided with this application pack and can also be obtained by visiting the www.health.gov.au/autism website.

16. How do I enrol my child in one of the Early Learning and Care Centres?

This information will be developed by individual centres and will become available as centres are established.

17. Can siblings attend the Early Learning and Care Centres?

Yes, however priority of access must be given to children with ASDs or ASD-like symptoms in the year immediately prior to starting formal school. The second priority is children with ASDs or ASD-like symptoms in the two years prior to starting formal school. It is also important that centres allocate places based on needs of the child and family and with direct regard to the Australian Government's Priority of Access Guidelines, including a focus on families from Indigenous, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and disadvantaged backgrounds.

18. Will my child have access to early education while at a centre?

Children attending in the year before formal schooling will receive an autism specific early childhood education program. To achieve this, specialists with expertise in the provision of early intervention for children with ASDs will work in partnership with specialists in high quality child care and early childhood education to develop an innovative service model and early learning program.

Funding applicants

19. Can individuals apply to work in the Early Learning and Care Centres through this application process?

No. This is not a recruitment exercise for individuals. Staff recruitment will be the responsibility of individual centres.

20. Can a consortium apply or can my organisation subcontract some of the work?

The expertise required for the design and delivery of the centres is multi facetted. Applicants may wish to consider partnerships or consortia to cover all aspects of the selection criteria. Collaborations between professionals, ASD experts and peak and community organisations will provide comprehensive input and understanding that will result in the delivery of high quality outcomes.

If a consortium is proposed FaHCSIA will only sign a funding agreement with the 'lead agency'. The lead agency is responsible for the delivery of the initiative and the performance of the consortium. Please note that FaHCSIA will not accept changes to consortium arrangements that in the opinion of the Department represent a material change to the successful application.

21. Is a budget required to be submitted with the application?

Yes. An indicative budget is required. Successful organisations will be required to finalise this budget during the negotiations of the Funding Agreement.

Refer to the Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres - Application Guidelines for further details.

22. Is the funding inclusive or exclusive of GST?

Funding is GST exclusive, therefore the indicative budget should be GST exclusive.

23. Is there a benchmark for staff remuneration?

Remuneration rates are the responsibility of the funding applicant. The Australian Government will provide a contribution towards staffing costs.

24. Can an organisation submit an application for more than one location?

Yes. Funding applicants who wish to submit applications for more than one location must provide a separate Application Form for each location.

25. Is it necessary to provide financial information with my application?

Yes. This information will form part of the assessment of your application. Please refer to the Financial Viability section in the Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres - Application Form for more details.

26. How do I present my application?

Funding applicants should submit the original application (unbound) and two copies in hard copy, and an electronic copy of the application via an email attachment.

27. Will I get confirmation that my application has been received?

No. Funding applicants are encouraged to use a delivery process that allows them to track their application.

28. Can an organisation obtain an extension of time to complete an application?

No. An extension of time cannot be granted. It is up to the applicant to make arrangements so that their application is received by FaHCSIA by 2pm AEST on Friday 26 September 2008.

29. When will the successful applicants be announced?

It is expected that funding recipients will be announced in December 2008. Details will be available on the FaHCSIA website.

30. Where can I find the names of the successful applicants?

The successful applicants will be listed on the FaHCSIA website.

Questions asked throughout the application period

31. I can't download the Application Pack documents from the website. What do I do?
Try going back to the webpage and clicking on the link to the document again. If you are still unable to download any part of the Application Pack, please email asdchildcare@fahcsia.gov.au and the documents will be emailed to you.

32. What is the amount of operational funding available to centres?

Up to $2.73 million is available as a contribution towards salary and wage expenses directly attributable to employment of six specialist staff and five trained child care workers for each of the six autism specific centres over the four year period to 2012. Page 8/21 of the Operational Guidelines has been updated to reflect the correct funding amount. Any versions of the Operational Guidelines downloaded before 10 am on Monday 18 August 2008 incorrectly stated that the amount of funding available is up to $2.37 million.

33. Is the funding available for capital to be allocated evenly across the centres?

The capital funding will be allocated and where it is required and will be negotiated with successful funding applicants. It will be dependent on the building plans and estimated construction costs and will vary from site to site and across jurisdictions. Proposals demonstrating greater value for money will be more highly considered.

34. How do I register my intent to apply for funding for an Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre?

All applicants for Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre funding are required to register by emailing asdchildcare@fahcsia.gov.au by 5pm Friday 29 August 2008. Email registrations must include the applicant's name, organisation, and address, telephone and email contact details.

35. Does this application process include recruitment of staff for the Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres?

No, this is not a recruitment exercise for individuals. Staff recruitment will be the responsibility of individual centres.

36. What area does South Western Sydney encompass?

For the purpose of the establishment of an Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre, the South Western Sydney Centre should service the area surrounding Liverpool, New South Wales, extending southwest to Campbelltown, New South Wales, and its surrounds.

FaHCSIA may consider proposals for centres located outside of this area if they demonstrate a critical need (such as availability of land or existing buildings) and can still service the intended population appropriately.

37. What is long day care?

Long day care is a centre-based form of child care service. Long day care services provide quality all day or part-time care for children of working families and the general community. The Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres will provide early learning programs and specific support to children aged zero to six years with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in a long day care setting.

38. Can the Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres access the early intervention individual support funding available through the Helping Children with Autism package?

FaHCSIA is providing funding to each Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre as a contribution towards salary and wage expenses directly attributable to employment of six specialist staff and five trained child care workers. As a condition of this funding centres are expected to maintain a staff to child ratio of up to one to four for 20 places for children with ASDs.

As each Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre will be provided up to $2.73 million to fund specialist staff for 20 autism specific approved child care places, providers will not be eligible to claim costs incurred as part of the delivery of services to the 20 autism specific approved child care places through the FaHCSIA Early Intervention Service Provider Panel.

However, service providers may claim costs through the FaHCSIA Early Intervention Service Provider Panel if:

they provide services to children with ASDs that are filling places in addition to the 20 places funded by FaHCSIA and
these services are provided by staff other than the eleven employed via FaHCSIA funding.

Staff employed in the centres via FaHCSIA funding can be on the FaHCSIA Early Intervention Service Provider Panel. However, they cannot claim costs incurred as part of the delivery of services within the Centres (as their employment is already being funded by FaHCSIA via the Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre initiative). They may choose to provide services in addition to and outside the centres, and claim these costs through the panel.

Given the required staffing for the Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres (including at least two allied health professionals), it is not expected that families will need to seek additional services to those provided within the Centres and funded by FaHCSIA under this initiative. The Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres are considered a complete treatment provision providing specific and tailored support. However, if families wish to obtain additional services they can utilise the early intervention individual support funding they are entitled to and access providers on the Panel.

39. Is it necessary for any member of a consortium bidding for funding to establish and operate an Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre to be a member of the FaHCSIA Early Intervention Service Provider Panel?

No. Applicants or consortia bidding for funding do not need to be associated with the FaHCSIA Early Intervention Service Provider Panel.

40. Can capital funding be used for the purchase of land?

Capital funding may not be used for the purchase of land. Further clarifications are being made to Sections 3.1.1 and 3.4.1 of the Operational Guidelines to reflect this requirement. The Application Guidelines are also being updated to reflect this change.

41. Can Capital funding be used to pay for land lease costs?

Capital funding may not be used to pay for land lease costs.

42. Will FaHCSIA accept applications from consortiums where the lead agency has changed since registration?

FaHCSIA will accept applications from consortiums where the lead agency has changed following registration. The organisation named as the lead agency in the formal application for the Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres will be the legal entity which, if successful, will be offered a funding agreement by FaHCSIA. Please note that following submission of applications the Department will not accept changes to Consortium arrangements that, in the opinion of the Department, represent a material change to an application.

43. $96.8 million has been appropriated to DEEWR for child care related funding (such as the Child Care Benefit and Child Care Tax Rebate) and the construction and fit-out of the first 38 Early Learning and Care Centres. How much of this funding has been earmarked for the construction and fit out of the centres?

The capital funding to be allocated to each centre (if it is required) will be negotiated with successful funding applicants. The amount will be dependent on the building plans and estimated construction costs and will vary from site to site and across jurisdictions. Proposals demonstrating greater value for money will be more highly considered.

44. Who has registered to deliver an Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre?

For probity reasons FaHCSIA is unable to provide details on registrations received for the Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres.

45. Will FaHCSIA accept applications from organisations who did not register their intention to apply?

FaHCSIA will accept applications from organisations who have not registered their intention to apply. Applications must be submitted by 2pm AEST on Friday 26 September 2008.

46. Researchers provide advice to my organisation. Do I need to list them as members of my consortium?

Only organisations directly involved in the establishment and operation of the Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres need to be included as consortium members in your application. People or organisations providing services to the consortium do not. It is essential that the lead agency sign a Memorandum of Understanding with any consortium members to avoid uncertainty.

47. Page 8 of the Application Guidelines, under Section 2.2.1 Land and Building, states: 'Successful applicants who receive capital funding will be required to enter into an agreement concerning future use or disposal of property. Where the property is leased, this may require a tripartite agreement. The agreement will identify expectations on all parties, including the lessee and the land or building owner, on the use of the facility. For example, the Department may require the land or building owner to commit to ensuring the facility is available for use in line with the Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres guidelines'. Does this requirement extend for the period of the operational funding, and beyond?

The length of the agreement concerning future use or disposal of the property will depend on the amount of capital funding provided, if this is required. The agreement will extend for the period of operational funding, and may extend beyond this period dependent on the amount of capital funding provided.

48. Our proposal requires more than $2.73 million in operational funding to deliver an Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre. Will our proposal be considered by FaHCSIA?

Up to $2.73 million per centre is available as a contribution towards salary and wage expenses directly attributable to employment of six specialist staff and five trained child care workers for each of Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres. All other operating costs must be covered from alternative funding sources.

49. Will non compliant tenders be accepted and reviewed?

We are not in a position to assess wether your application is compliant or not until we have assessed your entire application.

News

Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres - questions and answers

General

Parents and carers

Funding applicants

Questions asked throughout the application period

General

Parents and carers

Funding applicants

Questions asked throughout the application period