Western Suburbs Families Unite, Demand Better Autism Support in Schools
Families in Perth's western suburbs are rallying together to demand greater inclusion and educational support for children with autism, forming a new advocacy group to address critical gaps in local services.
New Alliance Emerges to Champion Neurodivergent Children
The newly established Western Inclusion Neurodivergence Alliance has quickly garnered dozens of members, with its inaugural meeting scheduled for next month. The group aims to raise awareness, provide family support, and advocate for more inclusive educational environments.
Founder Felicity Creagh, a mother from Mt Claremont, highlighted the urgent challenges facing families. She revealed that autistic children are frequently suspended or excluded from mainstream schools, forcing many parents to resort to homeschooling while others grapple with school refusal, suicidal ideation, and self-harm among their children.
Personal Struggles Highlight Systemic Failures
Ms Creagh, who has two children diagnosed with autism and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), shared her family's difficult journey. Her ten-year-old son was denied entry to a local private school due to his PDA diagnosis and was excluded from daycare at just three years old. He received his autism diagnosis at seven, followed by the PDA identification.
"Some families are driving as far as Hillarys for inclusive schooling," Ms Creagh explained. "Autistic PDA children can be successful if they are nurtured in the right environment. We wish to meet with daycare, primary and secondary schools in the western suburbs, and we want them to know our kids are absolutely amazing."
Community Impact and Broader Recognition
The tragic deaths of Mosman Park brothers Leon and Otis Clune, both autistic, have deeply affected local families. "We can all relate because we don't feel supported or included by the local community," Ms Creagh noted.
Pathological Demand Avoidance, recognised as an autism subtype, involves extreme avoidance of routine demands. The condition gained formal recognition in the Federal Government's autism strategy last year and was featured at a major international conference in Perth during November.
"The parents of autistic children need compassion and understanding," Ms Creagh emphasised. "These children are smart, kind, funny and deserve to be included in education. Ableism and misogyny is rife in relation to children and female parents. For such a long time, these children and adults were considered 'bad and lazy', but we must shift that narrative."
Political Responses and Government Initiatives
Shadow education minister Liam Staltari acknowledged the struggles facing education support centres. "These centres nurture and teach some of the most vulnerable children in WA and yet they have been crying out for help for nine long years now," he stated. "They need more resources and more support, and we need more services like them - including for children with complex needs in the western suburbs."
The State Government has committed to establishing a dedicated disability reform unit to enhance access and services across public schools, following a review of Western Australia's outdated School Education Act. The review explicitly stated that no child should be denied enrolment at their local school due to disability.
A spokeswoman for Education Minister Sabine Winton confirmed the Cook Labor Government's commitment to supporting all students, including those with disabilities. She detailed several initiatives:
- A 2022 investment of $18.2 million expanded WA's Specialised Learning Programs for autistic students to eight additional schools, bringing the total to 24 institutions
- Specialist advice and guidance available to all public schools through the School of Special Educational Needs: Disability
- An additional $395 million allocated over forward estimates in the 2025-26 State Budget to support students with disabilities
- Over $600 million allocated in 2025 for students with disabilities, representing a $95 million increase compared to 2024
- Complex Behaviour Coordinators increased to 64 full-time equivalent positions across 192 schools, including Floreat Park Primary School
Despite these government measures, western suburbs families continue to advocate for more immediate and accessible support within their local communities, highlighting the ongoing need for specialised programs and inclusive educational environments closer to home.
