* To provide a coordinated support service for children with Autism and their families.
* To make our children happy, pleasant and participating members of the community.
* Whenever possible, to prepare the children to integrate into the schools, home and broader community. Where this is not possible, to provide alternative education and accommodation.
The services of the Mansfield Autistic Centre commenced in 1968 with the first of the family camps or "family playschools" as they were known as. The service was established by Dr. Joan Curtis who recognised that the services for families of children with autism spectrum disorder were scarce and there was little practical assistance available. Families in rural Victoria were especially disadvantaged. Family playschools were designed to give practical assistance to families in the management of their child. It also provided a vital opportunity for regional families to be introduced to other families experiencing similar difficulties giving them a new support network. Families came together for up to a week and participated in a range of recreational activities as well as some more formal parenting sessions.
In 1970 a travelling teacher service was established as a follow up service, supporting families in their own homes. These positions were funded by two Apex Clubs. Five years later, state government subsidies were allocated to fund these positions.
In 1976 the Mansfield Autistic Centre established a residential school in an old motel with financial assistance from the Commonwealth Department of Social Services.
In 1978 a three bedroom house was bought on the current Mansfield Autistic Centre site and utilised as a school. A purpose built school was then designed, constructed and opened in 1982.
In 1991 Mansfield Autistic Centre became a registered non-government special school with the Registered Schools Board of Victoria and is now part of the Association of Independent Schools Victoria.
At this stage the children who began at the onset of the service were becoming adults and required different services again, hence Mansfield Autistic Centre Committee for Residential Options (MACCRO) was formed. Mansfield Autistic Centre continued to function as a school catering for school age children under a separate committee of management.
Between 1992 and 1999 the number of families wishing to access our service more than doubled (In 1997 Mansfield Autistic Centre structure of services underwent some major reconstructions in an attempt to allow more families to access the service as the funding simply didn’t enable an increase in Mansfield Autistic Centre staffing to meet the needs of families). A purpose built residence was erected and caters for children on the service as a short term intensive placement, opening the service up to many more families. Students reside at the Residence and continue to attend the school daily.
Today the service is held in high esteem and encompasses all of rural and regional Victoria. The school caters for children within the Autism Spectrum Disorder aged between 5 & 18 who will visit for a term. Six travelling teachers service the state whilst parenting groups are run by the Centre in each region to enhance skills. Inservicing of staff in schools around the state also assists in supporting these children within their immediate environments. Social groups for adolescents with Aspergers have been established within four regions. Family camps are run at the end of each term and involve families of the children who have a term placement at Mansfield Autistic Centre and others in need of services from the same region.
By regionalizing the service and having each school term dedicated to a region it has provided the opportunity for families to develop better support networks, etc.
Due to increased demand, new initiatives have been established to enable our existing resources to be spread more widely in an attempt to provide some support to families on the ever growing waiting list.
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