As increasing numbers of students with disability enrol in mainstream schools, South Australia is set to become a national leader in education for children with autism.

State Government funding will allow Flinders University to design and teach a specialised postgraduate course in teaching children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to 80 teachers from across the State, Catholic and independent school sectors.

The $700,000 funding, announced by SA Minister for Education and Child Development Dr Susan Close, follows a recent evaluation of capacity in mainstream schools that found access to professional learning and qualifications for leaders and teachers in the area of ASD was ad hoc and often limited to introductory levels. Full story.