“huge beast” – Clare Rowe on NDIS, funding potentially driving diagnosis, parents disputes about diagnosis of children at the Pacifica Congress conference

“huge beast” – Clare Rowe on NDIS & parents disputes about diagnosis of children at the Pacifica Congress conference

Listen in https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-ujz8a-14d6128

 

Clare Rowe https://www.roweandassociates.com.au/ Clare has presented at Pacifica Congress events several times including at their Plus One event in Sydney 2023. Clare, through the Family Report Writer’s Network is sponsoring the Inside Family Law Podcast Champagne Celebration.

 

At the Pacifica Congress Conference live in Hobart 2023 www.pacificacongress.org

 

The Inside Family Law Podcast is hosted by Zoe Durand at Mediation Answers www.mediationanswers.com.au in partnership with Lawyer Magic and ArtWork.

 

If you would like to attend the champagne celebration on 1 November 2023 for the Inside Family Law and network with our remarkable guests that we have hosted over the years secure your spot at: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/736405357247?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

• “10% of 5 to 7 year old boys are on the NDIS”
• No actual test as such for autism or ADHD. It is the professional opinion for such a diagnosis, but 2 different professionals could have different views.
• Funding is tied to diagnosis.
• What are the implications of a diagnosis of say autism?
• Pressure on psychologists to diagnose given otherwise parents lose their funding, which could negatively impact family.
• Autism 1, 2, 3 (only 2 and 3 receive funding). Clare has not yet seen a diagnosis of autism 1, because there is no funding for this. Dynamic between what we diagnose and funding.
• Dynamic where parents polarise. I.e one prefers nachos and video games and the other prefers vegan lifestyle. They become more extreme once separated. Then party A says the child isn’t eating healthy food in party B’s home and Party B says the child is not being fed properly on an overly restrictive diet. When together they balance each other. Once apart “they become more them”.
• This is understandable to an extent as when people separate they go out to find themselves.
• Clare’s involvement in matters where one party asserts a diagnosis and the other disputes it. Different outcomes in those matters. In one case mother had Munchhausen’s by proxy and was unwell and in others the child should have been diagnosed and the other parent disputing it was asked to be involved and learn about the child’s needs etc.
• Sometimes the reason a parent disputes a diagnosis is because they were not involved in that diagnosis in the first place and once they are involved they can engage with recommendations.
• Is there sometimes a tendency to pathologize human variance?