Evaluation of SDN Beranga Autism-specific Preschool

SDN Beranga opened in 2013 and originally the model was funded through NSW Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC). Since 2018, as a result of changes to government funding, SDN Beranga has been providing sessional early education for 81 preschool-aged children through a community preschool model. In 2021, the Social Policy Research Centre at UNSW Sydney was commissioned to undertake an evaluation of SDN Beranga Autism Specific Preschool (SDN Beranga). Using mixed-methods, including an online family survey, interviews with families and stakeholders, and analysis of child development records collected by SDN Beranga, the research team investigated the impact of the Preschool model on children’s development, parents’ satisfaction with the Preschool, and considered the viability and of the model and options for future service delivery.