The Kids Research Institute Australia welcomes today’s Federal Government announcement of a new pilot program to support babies showing early social communication differences in Western Australia.
The WA pilot program builds on research conducted by The Kids Research Institute Australia, La Trobe University and the West Australian Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS), which found that babies who received the child-led iBASIS-VIPP therapy experienced less disability (eg. language difficulties) compared to those who received treatment as usual. It also helped parents connect with their babies.
The pilot program, known as Inklings, will be run as a partnership between The Kids, CAHS (WA) and WA Country Health Service (WACHS) and will involve 700 families in WA.
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) the Hon. Bill Shorten MP, made the announcement at the National Press Club today as one of several reforms of the NDIS.
Andrew Whitehouse, the Angela Wright Bennett Professor of Autism Research at The Kids Research Institute Australia and The University of Western Australia, welcomed the Government’s support of the Inklings pilot program.
“The aim of Inklings is to support families of babies who are developing differently with an evidence-based program which will enable them to gain the skills they need to thrive,” Professor Whitehouse said.
“Inklings is based on the hypothesis that supports commencing during the first two years of life, when the first signs of atypical development are observed and the brain is rapidly developing, could lead to even greater impact on developmental outcomes in later childhood.
“This program is a proactive approach in helping babies now, rather than waiting for an autism diagnosis to commence therapy.
“We’re thrilled to be working in partnership with CAHS and WACHS to deliver the pilot. This is an important first step for what could be a truly transformative program for families of babies who are developing a little differently.”
For more information on the Inklings program, or to register for updates, visit inklings.org.au