Queenscliff chosen as camp base to aid children with autism

SPECIAL camps to help support autistic young people grow their confidence are set to kick off in Queenscliff from September.

Autism Camp Australia (ACA) is a registered charity whose mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of autistic young people and their families through life skills development programs.

ACA will host a five-night learning camp program 10 times a year at Queenscliff, targeted for autistic kids aged 7-14 and their families.

The camps have programs for the autistic young people, siblings, parents and carers.

ACA’s first location in Byron Bay opened in January 2020, and its second in the Sunshine Coast in December.

ACA chief executive and founder Rachel Rowe said the charity toured Victoria scouting for an appropriate site earlier this year, deciding on YMCA Camp Wyuna in Queenscliff.

ACA and Camp Wyuna have entered a 15-month contract, and Ms Rowe said the charity intended to continue running camps at the site on an ongoing basis.

Ms Rowe said there would be 12 families attending each camp at Camp Wyuna.

“We deal with children with heightened sensitivity issues,” she said.

“We’re trying to find the right mix of activities, accessible accommodation and all our camps are within two hours of a state capital so they’re easily accessible to people coming from all over Australia, although obviously at the moment it’s more statebased enrolments (due to COVID-19).”

Ms Rowe said the program had “massive benefits”.

“We’re so heavily oversubscribed because there is such a gap and need for supports for autistic young people and their families,” she said.

“This is not a babysitting service, this is about building capacity in autistic young people to be able to successfully take part in mainstream social and community participation.

“It’s a progressive approach where you essentially support the whole family to enable both the autistic young person and the rest of that family to both function better and integrate and be accepted in mainstream society.”

Ms Rowe said the camps would bring employment to the region for somewhere between 20 and 35 contractors in each camp, in roles such as care teams, activity providers, and transport.