Autism Advisory & Support Service is pleased to share details about the NSW Government’s upcoming community consultations on Foundational Supports for Children. These sessions, led by the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), invite conversations with parents, carers, kin, and service providers to help shape services for children under nine with autism or developmental delay.
These supports are being designed to assist children with low-to-moderate support needs to reach developmental milestones, foster social connection, and support their emotional, physical and mental well-being. They also include information for families, carers and kin to better understand and support their child’s needs.
Consultation sessions are scheduled across NSW, from August to November 2025, and are open to community and sector participants unless otherwise noted. The confirmed sessions include:
- Monday 18 August, Liverpool (morning) – Open to all
- Tuesday 19 August, Parramatta (morning) – Open to all
- Monday 25 August, Seven Hills (morning) – Open to all
- Monday 25 August, Seven Hills (afternoon) – First Nations (to be confirmed)
- Tuesday 26 August, Campbelltown (morning) – Open to all
- Tuesday 26 August, Campbelltown (afternoon) – First Nations (to be confirmed)
- Monday 1 September, Regents Park (morning) – Open to all
- Tuesday 2 September, Wagga Wagga (morning) – Open to all
- Monday 8 September, Chatswood (morning) – People with lived experience of disability and advocates
- Monday 8 September, Chatswood (afternoon) – Sector
- Monday 15 September, Randwick (morning) – People with lived experience of disability and advocates
- Monday 15 September, Randwick (afternoon) – Sector
- Tuesday 16 September, Bankstown (morning) – Open to all
- Monday 22 September, Lithgow (morning) – Open to all
- Tuesday 23 September, Dubbo (morning) – Open to all
- Tuesday 23 September, Dubbo (afternoon) – First Nations (to be confirmed)
Additional consultations will be held in Broken Hill, Redfern, Armidale, Tamworth, Ballina, Coffs Harbour, Gosford, Wollongong, Batemans Bay, Newcastle, Penrith and Lake Macquarie, with details to be confirmed as venues are secured.
For those unable to attend in person, six webinars will be offered to broaden accessibility across the state.
If you work in early childhood education, disability services or early intervention, or if you’re a parent, carer or kin of a child with developmental needs, your voice matters. AASS encourages you to register to have your say. Please register here: https://dcj.nsw.gov.au/community-inclusion/disability-and-inclusion/foundational-supports-for-children.html
