Professor Chris Sharpley (BBRG) recently joined Professor Vicki Bitsika and Dr Aude Etournaud from the Centre for Autism Spectrum Disorder (CASD) at Bond University in a two-week trip to New Caledonia to help develop more effective services for children with autism in the South Pacific nation. The partnership focusses upon the Australian university staff providing training and research for teachers, psychiatrists and psychologists at the Institut Specialisme Autisme, and the Noumea Hospital Child Psychiatry Unit, New Caledonia.
Currently uncurable, autism occurs in about 1% of all children in many nations, and is a major reason for poor rates of social and academic progress through school and entry to employment in adulthood. The most successful treatment strategies revolve around providing parents, teachers, and psychological care-givers with a framework to understand and educate children with autism so that they can reach their potential.
Professor Vicki Bitsika training psychiatrists and psychologists at the Noumea Hospital Child Psychiatry Unit
As well as spending two weeks training local New Caledonian staff in how to recognise and assess autism, ways of conceptualising autistic behaviour, dealing with challenging behaviour, and communication with parents, the BBRG and CASD team is evaluating the effectiveness of the training for scientific research publication.
The Australian academics also publicised the partnership in several print and radio media interviews, a lengthy TV news presentation, and a public meeting for over 160 local parents and interested persons, including a 1-hour question-and-answer session which received widespread media coverage, further promoting the issue of autism. The three Australians also met with M. Christopher Gyges (Minister for Services for the Handicapped), Mme Annie Beuste (Chair of the Institut) and several local decision-makers in the field of health and education to formalise the relationship between the two nations’ facilities. There was also in-depth consultation with local business leaders and the guidance and assistance of the Australian Consul General, Mr Paul Wilson, was invaluable.
Professor Chris Sharpley taking questions at a public meeting on ASD
As a result of these activities, a three-year agreement has been established between the New Caledonia Government and the BBRG and CASD to continue the training processes and to provide research mentoring to the institutions responsible for services to young people with autism in New Caledonia. The Australian services are provided on a voluntary basis and the New Caledonian Govt is meeting travel and accommodation costs in this important and valuable cross-nation partnership.
