Running a household can be tricky at the best of times, but when children have autism things become all the more challenging.
Yet Natasha Brearley-Ngarua manages to care for her own four children – three of whom have been diagnosed with autism – as well as answer calls and emails from local parents of autistic children.
In recognition of her contribution to enriching the lives of children with autism as a parent and volunteer, the Doreen mother has been shortlisted for a national award from the not-for-profit autism support services provider Autism Spectrum Australia.
The awards night is in Sydney on April 8, coinciding with World Autism Awareness Month.
Ms Brearley-Ngarua is one of 10 people nominated for the parent/carer of the year award, one of six awards in five categories.
The recipient must be a parent or carer of a person with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and will have made a “significant contribution to the family, community or autism community generally,” according to the award criteria.
The recipient must be an inspirational role model for other parents and carers and have made a contribution in increasing awareness or understanding of ASD.
Ms Brearley-Ngarua ticks all the boxes. She created an online support group that can be accessed via Facebook for parents and carers struggling with the lack of support for their high-functioning autistic children.
More recently, she set up a support group at Plenty Valley Church in South Morang and has created an Autism Awareness and Advocacy in Victoria and Australia group on Facebook.
She’s also petitioning the state government to improve school funding for children diagnosed with ASD.
Rosa Carrafa, 40, an applied behaviour analysis therapy student and babysitter for attendees at Ms Brearley-Ngarua’s support group sessions, nominated her for the award.
“Natasha has stopped at nothing to educate her own family of four children and the entire community,” Ms Carrafa said.
The awards are judged by a combination of medical experts and individuals with personal experience of autism.
