FAQs
What age range is Westmead Feelings Program for?
Westmead Feelings Program 1 is designed to meet the learning needs of children:
- aged 8-12 years with ASD and mild intellectual disability
- aged 6-8 years with ASD and no intellectual disability.
Westmead Feelings Program 2 is designed to meet the learning needs of children:
- aged 8 to 14 years old with ASD without accompanying intellectual impairment.
Do children need to be able to read or write?
Westmead Feelings Program 1 is aimed at verbal children with pre-literacy skills at about the level of a child in the first year of primary school. They may or may not be able to read, but can draw simple pictures or write a few key words and can pay attention for at least a few minutes at a time.
Westmead Feelings Program 2 is aimed at children with fluent speech, who are able to read and write, and pay attention for at least five minutes at a time.
I’m a parent. Where can my child access Westmead Feelings Program?
Westmead Feelings Program can only be delivered by facilitators who are trained and certified by ACER and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney.
Facilitators who are trained and certified in delivering the program work in a variety of public and private settings. See the list of trained and certified Westmead Feelings Program facilitators here.
You can also ask your local education or health provider if they are able to offer Westmead Feelings Program.
I’m an education or health care professional. How can I offer Westmead Feelings Program to children that I work with?
For some professionals, Westmead Feelings Program can be delivered without completing facilitator training and certification. For other professionals, online facilitator training through ACER is required so that Westmead Feelings Program can be delivered. Read more about information on qualification requirements here. Facilitators receive the complete Westmead Feelings Program Resource Kit as part of the training course.
Can I purchase a Westmead Feelings Program Resource Kit without completing the online training course?
Psychologists, speech pathologists, teachers and other allied health professionals are able to purchase Westmead Feelings Program without further training. To register your qualifications please create an ACER Online Shop account, or contact our customer service department at sales@acer.org to discuss specific requirements.
I’ve been trained in Westmead Feelings Program. How can I access additional child materials?
Additional child, parent and teacher materials can be purchased separately from ACER.
Order through the ACER Online Shop
How often is the Westmead Feelings Program updated?
The Westmead Feelings Program has been improving social, emotional and mental health outcomes for autistic children and their families for over 15 years. Preferences for language and terminology have evolved during this time, and with each reprint of the Westmead Feelings Program materials, adjustments are made to ensure that the program continues to address the needs of the neurodiverse community in positive and affirming ways.
Is Westmead Feelings Program only a group-based intervention program or can I use it with children 1:1?
Westmead Feelings Program has been researched as a group-based intervention. However, Westmead Feelings Program is also successfully used clinically in 1:1 settings.
Is Westmead Feelings Program covered under the National Disability Insurance Scheme?
Westmead Feelings Program can be funded by an NDIS support package.
Westmead Feelings Program can be NDIS-funded in individual sessions, school-based sessions, family sessions and also in groups.
A registered provider can offer individual or group Westmead Feelings Program sessions to help an NDIS participant achieve their goals related to areas that might include behaviour, emotion regulation, social skills and improving home and peer relationships.
There are lots of options; providers and families should work out together the best way to deliver Westmead Feelings Program for each child.
Is Westmead Feelings Program covered under Medicare?
Children who have a Mental Health Care Plan or Chronic Disease Management Plan can use this funding for Westmead Feelings Program sessions run by registered Medicare providers (e.g. psychologists, occupational therapists, speech therapists).
Westmead Feelings Program can be implemented to achieve Mental Health Care Plan or Chronic Disease Management Plan goals related to behaviour, emotion regulation, social skills and improving home and peer relationships.
I’m a researcher and I am interested in using Westmead Feelings Program in my research. How do I go about this?
Please contact our customer service department at sales@acer.org to discuss your research further.
Is there a version of the Westmead Feelings Program for adolescents or adults?
Not yet, but please check back regularly for updates on new programs.
Can I carry out Westmead Feelings Program sessions remotely?
Facilitators should use their professional judgement about how the children they are working with will adapt to sessions conducted remotely. The program is designed to be implemented with groups of up to seven children, but has also been shown to be effective when carried out 1:1. Where appropriate, parents or family members may take the role of other children in group activities.
Videos and other content supplied on the Facilitator’s USB may be shared on-screen within online videoconferencing apps. Content should not be removed from the file structure of the USB and shared electronically, both to maintain the copyright in the resources and to ensure that the USB menu functionality is not adversely affected.