Will Callaghan, the non-verbal autistic boy who got lost for two nights in the Victorian wilderness earlier this year is back in the bush — and he couldn't look happier.
Despite the immense relief the family felt when Will was found on Mt Disappointment in June, it was "business as usual" for the Callaghans once he was back home after an ordeal that his mum, Penny, said left her "exhausted".
She got in touch with Mansfield Autism Statewide Service (MASS), which bought a 100-acre farm earlier this year, where Will and his brother Robin, who also is on the spectrum, have been going on bushwalks, patting horses, and throwing rocks into the dam.
"I contacted them and said I desperately needed support and they provided a safe place for both my boys for four nights," Ms Callaghan said.
This is Will's first visit to the service's farm.
"It will be his vision of paradise I'm sure," Ms Callaghan said.
"He loves to be outside walking and running — nature is so calming and important to children on the spectrum."
Respite hard to come by
The Callaghan family have been working with the Mansfield Autism Statewide Service since Will was four years old.
He and Robin have participated in several of the service's programs, including therapy placements, in-home support, and family camps.
MASS director Simone Reeves said there were limited options for families seeking respite care in Victoria.
"There's a real lack of respite in the state, and for families who live in such a vigilant state, they're desperate for planned respite," she said.
Funding is available to families through their National Disability Insurance Scheme plans, but more accommodation is needed to cater for children with autism, according to Ms Reeves.
"They would be lucky to get a few days every few months," she said.
"Families really struggle to get respite on an annual basis."
Ms Reeves said because of those challenges many families operated in survival mode.
"Often they're in this physical and emotional exhaustion [because] they actually don't have the capacity to be able to change their behaviours to help support their children's behaviours," she said.
Ms Callaghan said the care could be life changing.
"Knowing you've got some planned respite helps you keep going," she said.
"If you're in that caring role 24/7, respite can help you from getting to crisis point."
