ASD Implementation Advisory Group

Published 08 July 2008, Posted in National

An Implementation Advisory Group (IAG) has been established by the New Zealand Guideline Group to advise them on how to implement the key recommendations in the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Guideline and how to improve the implementation process.

IAG members wish to hear your ideas for implementation of the ASD Guideline.

At the Parliamentary launch of the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Evidence-based Guideline on 2 April 2008, Minister of Health David Cunliffe announced that from May 2008 forwards, work to implement the Guideline would commence. 

The New Zealand Guidelines Group was awarded a contract to provide implementation services, including managing the expansion of services for people with ASD and development of national frameworks to improve the availability and quality of services for people with ASD.

New Zealand Guidelines Group was required to form an Implementation Advisory Group (‘IAG’) of well-qualified individuals.  Over a hundred people responded to an invitation to submit an expression of interest in sitting on the IAG.

Eighteen individuals have been identified to serve on the IAG.  All of them fulfilled multiple criteria from a criteria list which included:

• living with autism
• caring for people with autism
• working with people with autism as a professional
• working with people with autism as a researcher
• a track record of passion for improving the lives of people with autism
• a track record of good team work.

The names of people who will serve on the IAG are listed in the supporting document at the end of this article.

The first meeting if the IAG was held on 12 June in Wellington.  The role of the IAG are defined in its Terms of Reference, which broadly are to:

a) advise the New Zealand Guidelines Group on how to implement the key recommendations in the Guideline
b) advise the New Zealand Guidelines Group about how to improve the implementation process.

The next meeting of the IAG is on 14 August 2008.  IAG members wish to hear from you about your ideas for implementation of the Guideline.  If you would like contact details for an IAG member, please contact Carol Su’a at New Zealand Guidelines Group on 04 471 4180 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Supporting document

IAG_members.doc ()