New autism hub in Canberra receives capital injection as construction commences

Jason Roberts

Feb 28, 2020

Save

AEIOU Foundation has confirmed that not for profit health care charity the John James Foundation has committed $3.5 million towards the completion of their new state of the art autism hub for children in Canberra.

The facility, which commenced construction this week, will occupy 1,200sqm of land and will have a state of the art learning centre, playground and parking facilities that will enable it to cater for children aged between 2 and 6 years old.

Up to 40 children per day will be supported by a specialist team that will include speech pathologists, occupational therapists, behavioural therapists and early childhood educators.

The hub will be the first AEIOU property in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and is expected to open in 2021.

Commenting Alan Smith CEO of AEIOU said “This demonstrates our commitment to young families and the community in Canberra and New South Wales. Early intervention is life-changing. It offers hope, unlocks potential and opens up possibilities for families and their young children at a critical time of their life.”

With John James Foundation CEO Joe Ruff saying “Canberra families have previously relocated to Queensland to access these services. Families will now be able to stay close to family and friends, with the autism -specific support they need.”

AEIOU is a family focused profit for purpose organisation that was established in 2005 with a network of centres that support more than 350 children per day in the 2 to 6 year old age groups across 10 centres across South Australia and Queensland.

This site is their first in the ACT.

Don’t miss a thing

NSW Early Learning Commission conducts 220 unannounced visits

More than 100 regulatory officers conducted unannounced inspections at over 220 early learning services in a single-day compliance operation, as the NSW Early Learning Commission intensifies oversight across the sector.

Failing the Most Vulnerable: Two WA Childcare Providers Penalised Over Supervision Breaches

In February the Western Australian State Administrative Tribunal handled two separate disciplinary proceedings brought by the CEO of the Department of Communities against out-of-school-hours care (OSHC) providers. Both cases highlight critical failures in active supervision, particularly concerning highly vulnerable children diagnosed with autism who managed to wander away from their respective services unnoticed.

Keeping children safe with one simple lesson

Water safety remains at the forefront of national concern, as drowning continues to be the leading cause of accidental death for children aged 0-4.

Prime childcare and medical investment opportunity hits the market in Thornhill Park

A permit-approved early learning and medical asset in Melbourne’s west is set to test investor appetite for secure income, long-term leases and value-add potential in a high-growth corridor.

Ecological identity: a new lens on an age-old practice