Framework offers kids support to show their strengths
We’re delighted to announce the release of the National Framework for assessing children’s functional strengths and support needs in Australia (the Framework).
The Framework was developed to address the current gap in knowledge and lack of consensus about how best to assess, differentiate, and report children’s strengths and support needs.
“By placing children and families at the heart of decision making, the Framework is well positioned to inform professional practice, operational guidance, and decision making, across all states and territories, service and support settings”, said Professor David Trembath from Griffith University, who has co-led the project with neurodivergent speech pathologist, Amy Fitzpatrick.
The Framework focuses on professional practice for those working with children aged 0-12 years and their families. It can be used across relevant health, education, disability and community services to support all children, irrespective of whether they have a diagnosed condition or may receive a diagnosis in the future. This includes, but is not limited to, children with:
- developmental delay
- neurodevelopmental conditions
- acquired disability
- other health and medical conditions that result in the need for additional supports.
“As a community we need to better focus on understanding each child and family for who they are as individuals, including their unique strengths and support needs. Diagnoses have their place, but of themselves they tell us next to nothing about an individual’s strengths, and very little about any particular support needs they may have”, said Ms Fitzpatrick.
The Framework was co-produced with the stakeholder community and representatives from 23 community and professional organisations, associations, and societies across the health, disability and education sectors. This included those with lived experience of disability directly as individuals and/or as parents or family members. Autism CRC also partnered with Indigenous Allied Health Australia and the Australian Government.
“We now have a Framework that provides a consistent, evidence-based and culturally responsive approach for assessing, differentiating, and reporting children’s functional strengths and support needs. It is a very important national resource”, said Autism CRC CEO, Andrew Davis.
The core elements of the Framework are the Guiding Principles and sections outlining the process of assessment, differentiation and reporting of children’s strengths and support needs, including what approach should be used, what information is critical, and what the outcome should be for each.
The Framework also provides guidance related to the use of tools, core competencies and capabilities required by professionals involved in assessing children’s strengths and support needs, and recommended safeguarding approaches. The Framework is intended to improve children’s health, activities, participation, and wellbeing by improving professional practice and the policy that supports it. It will sit at the centre of a range of future initiatives to improve the approach, experience, and outcomes of services and supports provided to children and their families in Australia.
Autism CRC has a strong record in evidence-based co-designed solutions, which led to the organisation taking up this latest challenge. Frameworks are commonly used to set out a vision and approach for addressing complex issues, where multiple complementary tools, resources, activities, and approaches may be needed. Frameworks are particularly helpful and important when a single solution is unlikely to be appropriate for all people, in all contexts, but where all solutions should reflect a common understanding, evidence-base, and guiding principles.
The project has broadly followed the same methodology used to develop the two National Health and Medical Research Council-approved Autism CRC National Guidelines. This iterative process of evidence gathering, evidence synthesis, and consensus-building involves community, professional, and government stakeholders. A six-week community consultation process in February and March 2024 sought the views and experiences of all members of the community, including children and young people, to add to the research evidence. Inputs were gathered from both individuals through a ‘Community member views’ survey, and organisations through an ‘Organisation views survey’.
The Framework, Supporting Information and Easy Read fact sheet are available through Autism CRC’s Best Practice Portal website at autismcrc.com.au/strengths-and-supports.
“The diversity of Reference Group members and the communities they represented have ensured the Framework is inclusive and responsive to the needs of all children and families across Australia”, said Mr Davis.
Autism CRC commissioned this project with support from an Australian Government Department of Social Services Information, Linkages, and Capacity-Building grant.
We extend our thanks to the individuals and organisations who contributed to the development of the Framework through the Reference Group. Sincere thanks also to the children, families, and community members who supported the development of the Framework by contributing to the community consultation process and yarning sessions.