SDN Macquarie Park, Autism Specific Program - Opening 6 January 2025

Get more than school-ready, get life-ready 

Developed by university-trained early childhood teachers, our preschool program focuses on the whole child. Children learn to make friends and work together, while gaining the skills and independence they need to thrive through the big transition to school.

The SDN Macquarie Park Autism Specific Program is a structured early learning program delivering effective intervention services for autistic children. It mirrors the practice at our SDN Beranga Autism Specific Preschool, which provides:

• High quality early childhood education and care practice
• Evidence based early childhood intervention strategies
• A comprehensive autism-specific approach

The approach and content of the program is tailored to each individual child and we work in partnership with the child’s family to set goals. We focus on autism specific developmental needs such as attention, compliance, imitation, language, social skills and many other areas to prepare children for their transition to school. Our qualified staff trained in inclusion practice, create a highly supportive teaching environment setting a routine to promote the generalisation of new skills.

Our staff are fully aware that children with autism often have a range of sensory sensitivities. You can be assured that any and all sensitivities will be fully catered for across the centre. Teaching staff will also be able to help your child express themselves and regulate their emotions.

Our preschool program follows an evidence-backed, play-based learning approach. Children have fun and follow their curiosity, while we weave in vital skills and learning outcomes.

SDN Macquarie Park's play spaces are designed to be responsive to the learning styles of children with autism. We designed it to highlight function, texture, tones and levels, and to promote creative and social play.

The natural outdoor spaces provide opportunities for children to enjoy themselves and have adventures. They're safe environments for children to run, jump and yell, make mud cakes, ride bikes and use their energy.

Outdoor spaces provide more than physical benefits. Even though you may think that children only play outside to have fun, they're also improving their thinking, social, and emotional skills. When they're playing outside, they're inventing games, learning about the world at their own pace, and figuring out social customs like turn-talking.

Children enrolled at SDN Macquarie Park can access therapists from our Children's Therapies team through your NDIS package or through a fee-for-service model.

Therapies we offer are:

- Early Intervention Practitioners

- Occupational Therapy

- Speech Pathology

- Behaviour Support

Therapists will be available onsite. Our therapists will work hand-in-hand with you and your child's educators.

Telehealth service is also available.

Our daily fee is $220 per day.

If you work at Optus Macquarie Park, you may be eligible to a discounted fee. Please contact our Family Engagement Team on 1300 831 445 to enquire.

Children can enrol up to five days per week.

Based on best practice principles in early intervention, we do not offer a one day per week option for the autism specific program to ensure the best outcomes for children.

Children are eligible to start in the Autism Specific Program when they turn 3 years and 9 months old.

The majority of families in our centres do not pay the full daily fee because they receive Child Care Subsidy (CCS) from the government.

The subsidy you may receive through the CCS will depend on:

• Your combined family income
• The number of hours you work, study or participate in recognised volunteer work. This is called the ‘activity test’. If your child is in the year before school, if you are on a very low income, or if you are on parental leave, you will not have to pass the activity test to receive some CCS.

Your child will need to meet immunisation requirements and you will need to meet residency requirements to be eligible to receive the CCS.

You can also calculate what your out-of-pocket child care costs will be on the government’s Starting Blocks Child Care Subsidy Calculator.

Please note that this fee does not include therapist support.

We also offer scholarships to further support you with fees if you have a health card or your child identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. You will still need to pay a small amount each day, but please speak with us to see if you meet the criteria for a scholarship.