AEIOU Foundation confirms it is undertaking a consultation process regarding proposed changes to its service footprint, with the potential closure of its Gold Coast centre and significant changes to operations at its Bundaberg, Nathan, and Sippy Downs centres.
AEIOU Foundation CEO Alan Smith can be attributed to the following statement:
AEIOU Foundation has always been committed to delivering high-quality, integrated early intervention supports for young children with autism, with a unique integration of therapy, early childhood education, and care.
The service AEIOU delivers is unique and effective, supporting children’s unique strengths and needs, as well as the overall family unit. However, the disability sector has been significantly impacted since the NDIS reforms began rolling out in 2024 and the result for AEIOU and autistic children with complex needs has been devastating.
Despite our best efforts to adapt to the evolving NDIS environment and advocate for the value and efficacy of the service AEIOU delivers, we cannot sustain current operations.
We have explored every opportunity and applied careful consideration to our decision making.
I am very sad to confirm the proposed closure of AEIOU’s Gold Coast centre from 5pm on Friday 27 June. We also propose ceasing our unique integrated service, our supported learning service and childcare in centres in Bundaberg, the Brisbane suburb of Nathan, and at Sippy Downs on the Sunshine Coast. Access to 1:1 therapy will be maintained in these three locations.
Further to this, we have been forced to reduce our Central Office operations and will adjust to operating with approximately half of our current staff-base.
Our staff in our centres and offices are the heart of AEIOU. I thank them for their contributions, their commitment and the life-changing difference they have made for the children and families they support. We sadly acknowledge the gap this will leave for children and families in the affected communities. In the likely event these changes will proceed, we will support children, families and staff as best we can during this time.
AEIOU will maintain existing services in areas including Adelaide, Brisbane (Bald Hills), Ipswich (Camira, currently undergoing reconstruction and operating in Forest Lake), Canberra, Logan, Townsville and Toowoomba. We will continue to advocate for sustainable, high-quality early intervention services.
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Media enquires: E: communications@aeiou.org.au | M: 0415 244 898 | M: 0414 818 095
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