Autism Victoria is to host the Victorian Autism Conference (VAC) 2010 at The Sett’s Club in Mildura on the August 5-6.
The conference will present a range of strategies and ideas to families and professionals which will assist them to best support individuals on the Spectrum. Sunraysia Autism Spectrum Support Group and Sunraysia Residential Services will be co-hosting this event with Autism Victoria.
The Victorian Autism Conference will attract 2000 participants; 500 in metropolitan Melbourne and 1500 across regional Victoria.
In a first of its kind, this two-day event will be streamed live across the state to nine ‘satellite’ centres to facilitate the participation of regional delegates, of which Mildura is one.
Other centres include Shepparton, Albury-Wodonga, Horsham, Geelong, Ballarat, Traralgon, Bendigo, and Warnambool.
The aim and content of the conference has been determined in response to a recent survey conducted by Autism Victoria.
This survey identified a range of key areas in which both families and professional members expressed a strong need for practical strategies.
Murray Dawson-Smith, CEO of Autism Victoria is enthusiastic, “this is the first time we have attempted a conference on this scale and it is exciting to be able to create the opportunity for rural and regional families and professionals to attend a conference at an accessible location and an affordable price”, he said.
Key speakers include renowned speaker Dr Richard Eisenmajer and eminent author Dr. Wendy Lawson – two of many professionals and clinicans presenting at the conference.
On Friday Autism advisor Emma Godsil was in Mildura touching base with Sue Hermans from Sunraysia Residential Services, along with Donna Milne and Sharon Middleton of Sunraysia Autism Spectrum Support Group, who will be co-hsoting the Victorian Conference which is designed to provide practical strategies for families and professionals alike in the Loddon-Mallee region.