Peter Malinauskas will commit $17.15 million into funding students on the spectrum

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas will adopt a policy that supports young children and students with autism if elected on Saturday.

Every public primary and R-12 school in the state would have a teacher leading policy and practice on supporting students with autism, under a Labor pledge.

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas has promised $17.15m for the initiative.

The teachers would become a dedicated point of contact for parents of children with autism, as well as supporting other staff.

“We know schools are dramatically under-resourced when it comes to the acquisition of the skills that are required to accommodate the various needs,” Mr Malinauskas said on Sunday at a forum for parents of children with autism.

Peter Malinauskas making an announcement at a forum of parents of children with autism. Picture: Russell Millard

“What we want to do is have a unique specialised resource in every school.

“That unique resource is to be highly trained with all the requisite skills required, to not just assist a child in that school with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) but translate their skills and knowledge to every teacher in that primary school.”

Labor had already last year pledged $50m to employ 100 new mental health specialists, including therapists and counsellors, who would be deployed across primary and secondary schools.

“Even if we don’t have an early diagnosis, early intervention could be of extraordinary assistance,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“Speech pathology, occupational therapy, child psychology, those resources just aren’t there at the moment. Parents are at wits’ end trying to access those resources.”

Jenny Karavolos, the CEO of Autism SA.

He said a Labor government would quickly sign up every state agency to the Autism SA Friendly Charter.

“We need to increase the whole of society’s understanding (and) therefore the compassion towards their fellow Australian who is not neurotypical. That happens through knowledge.”

Autism SA chief executive Jenny Karavolos backed the Labor policy.

“With more awareness comes more understanding,” she said. “(It) therefore creates more opportunities for inclusion and participation.

Wendy Henderson, of Elizabeth Park, said her family had received minimal support while her son Sam, now 22, had been in a public primary school.

But he was much better supported when they moved him to a private school.

Jess Hoppo with her one-year-old son Teddy, who is showing autistic traits. Picture: Russell Millard

“There were instances throughout (primary) school where Sam was being bullied as well as being physically being removed from class as well,” Mrs Henderson said.

“We firmly believe that if Sam had gone through the public education system he wouldn’t be as articulate as he is now. He would certainly not be at university.”

Jess Hoppo, 35, of Two Wells, had a four-year wait for son Noah, 11, to be diagnosed with autism, while daughter Daisy, 3, is on a waitlist and baby Teddy, 1, is already showing similar traits to Noah.

“To have things in place is just going to make a world of difference,” she said of Labor’s policy. “I’m actually quite impressed they have listened.”