FAQs
Does the camp cost include food?
We offer both self-catered and fully catered camp depending on the location. See each location’s Package page for the full details of each.
Can I come for less than 5 nights?
Yes you can, but all families are required to attend from night one, so as to create stability for the whole group. No refund or discount is offered if you decide to leave camp early, and we encourage families to stay for the whole time.
Do you employ Autistic people on your team?
Yes, we are actively seeking Autistic adults to join our team. We hope to introduce a volunteer program for Autistic young adults, and that some of the young people attending our camps will eventually come and work for us. Autistic candidates considering applying for work at Autism Camp Australia (ACA) will need a minimum qualification of a Cert 3 Disability Support Worker, WWCC, National Police Check and First Aid certificate.
We only have two bedroom cabins available. Up to six people are able to stay in the cabin (2 adults, 4 young people). You are welcome to bring another adult with you, eg a grandparent or friend. Another option for single parents, is to come with another single parent and child and then split the costs. If you did a split with another single parent, it may be possible for you to both invoice the NDIS only, and not have to seek Carer funding too.
I am a single parent with one Autistic young person. How can I make this work?
Will there be an option for young people from the region to join activities?
Eventually, yes, if there are extra spots available on activities. Sign up to our newsletter to be kept in the loop.
Is a grandparent able to come if one of the parents/carers is working?
Yes, you are very welcome to bring a grandparent or friend as long as there are no more than two adults in your family group.
My youngest is 18 with the mental age of a 10 yr old. Would he qualify for the Autistic Young Persons’ Program?
The age range for our programs is 7-14 years. We understand that it can be challenging to find the right fit if the young person is intellectually disabled, but we have to take care with safety for the young people in the lower end of our age range. Teenagers/young adults any older than 14 are much bigger physically which could be overwhelming for 7 year olds. We hope to design a teenager/young adults program in the future which may be more suitable for your teenager/young adult to attend.
Will your Carers look after my young person if they don’t want to attend a particular activity between 9am-4pm?
No, our Carers are employed to look after participants in the Autistic Young Persons’ Program and the Siblings’ Program. If the young person does not wish to take part in an activity it will be the parent’s/carer’s responsibility to look after them during this period of time.
We have so many ideas! We hope to provide a range of services as the charity grows. One baby step at a time. But yes, a program for teenagers/young adults is on our radar. We appreciate your patience.
Are you planning to design a program for young Autistic adults?
Smoking/Drinking/
Drugs
We have a zero-tolerance approach to recreational drug use at our camps.
Sunshine Coast Camp
The Sunshine Coast is completely non-drinking, non-smoking.
Byron Bay Camp
We encourage you to take this opportunity to leave alcohol and cigarettes at home. However, we understand that this is your holiday and, as such, you may want to enjoy a beverage or two in an evening. As such, alcohol and cigarettes are allowed within the following strict parameters.
Please refrain from drinking alcohol on the property before 5pm each day. Any person drinking alcohol before 5pm, or any person considered to be intoxicated at any time during their stay at ACA, will be asked to leave the camp, forfeiting all camp fees, will, along with their family, be asked to leave the camp. This includes situations where that person's speech, balance, coordination or behaviour are noticeably affected or affecting the enjoyment of other campers, and it is reasonable to believe that the affected speech, balance, coordination or behaviour is the result of the consumption of drugs or alcohol.
Smokers are asked to use a designated smoking area away from the families attending. We ask all participants to respect that this is a family camp and act accordingly.
What is your policy on screen time?
We encourage families to treat this as a nature-based holiday, and leave devices at home. However, we understand that some young people rely on screen time to calm them down in times of anxiety. We respectfully request that, if devices are being used, this is done in the privacy of your own cabin, rather than in communal spaces.
You are welcome to bring Autistic, and other, siblings outside of the 7-14 age range for your family holiday, however, neither the Autistic Young Persons’ Program or the Siblings’ Program is suitable (or safe) for young people outside of the 7-14 age range. Parents/carers are responsible for the care of young people of <7 years of age, and >14 age. As there are so many weddings and events happening in the Byron Bay region there are lot of options for babysitting services including Kidzklub, Little Wild Things, Rugrats and Coastal Babysitters. You can also search for private babysitters close to the camp location using Sittr. If you need a qualified disability worker to care for your young person you can place an add on HireUp. All babysitting and disability worker hire arrangements made outside of the Autism Camp Australia camp program are done privately, and at your own risk.
Can I bring siblings outside of the 7-14 age range?
No pets are allowed at any of our sites. The only exceptions to this rule are Assistance Animals. An Assistance Animal Permit must be sighted by ACA at least 14 days before attending the camp for the animal to be permitted to attend.