Fiona Scott (Lindsay, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Nearly two weeks ago, I did a walk of nearly 100 kilometres right around the electorate of Lindsay to raise awareness of, and funds for, autism. Many children are born every year with autism, and it is a developmental condition that will stay with them their entire lives. I am very proud that the Nepean Blue Mountains region has been part of the early rollout of the NDIS. This will bring much hope to so many local families.

During my walk, I visited many local schools and I would like to thank the schools and the principals of McCarthy Catholic College, Nepean high, Emu Plains Public School, Adventure Preschool, Glenmore Park High School, Caroline Chisholm College, Surveyors Creek Public School, Penrith Christian School, Our Lady of the Rosary Primary School at St Marys, Wollemi College, and Kurrambee School, of course, as well as St Marys leagues club. We followed that up with the walk for autism around Jamison Park, where many hundreds of local people came to support autism.

All the funds raised from the walk for autism, as well as my walk, will go towards the Luke Priddis Foundation, a wonderful local organisation that supports so many families of children with autism. Their dream, which is becoming a reality, is to build a centre for autism in High Street, Penrith. It will have two sensory spaces, offices, a consultation room, a parents retreat, a lounge area and a kitchenette. We have already committed $20,000 to this facility as well. This is wonderful news for the people of Lindsay and wonderful news for the parents of children with autism.