AEIOU News

Lord Mayor recognises Brisbane's quiet achiever

Tue, 8 Feb 11

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

FEBRUARY 2011

Lord Mayor recognises Brisbane’s quiet achiever 

Dr James Morton, a respected medical director for Haematology-Oncology Clinics of Australia and a passionate advocate for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, has been awarded the Citizen of the Year at the 2011 Lord Mayor’s Australia Day Awards.

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said the Awards recognised those who significantly improve the lives of individuals and communities, and contribute to the city’s vision of a diverse, harmonious and strong community.

Cr Newman said Brisbane residents, such as Dr Morton of Upper Mt Gravatt, helped shape a city in which citizens lived together harmoniously, and could take advantage of the opportunities the city offered.

 “The contribution that James has made for Brisbane children with autism and their families over many years is astounding,” Cr Newman said.

“James embodies the concept of acceptance and selfless dedication to those less fortunate.

“I would like to congratulate both the winners and the nominees for the 2011 Australia Day Awards and thank them for the extraordinary difference they have made to the people of this city.

Dr Morton said he was honoured to be recognised for the award, which notes his contribution to establishing a best-practice curriculum that helps more than 160 Queensland children to learn vital language, social, fine motor and pre-academic skills.

“When our son Andrew was diagnosed with autism at the age of two and a half, we wanted to find a way for him to attend a mainstream school.  We found an excellent pilot program with an early intervention model, but soon after it closed. There was nothing else like it in Queensland or the entire country for that matter,” Dr Morton said.

“So, in 2005, we decided to start our own, with a model that not only helps children reach their full potential, but provides support to families as well.”

“It is our goal that by 2012, AEIOU’s program will be providing specialist care to up to 50% of children with autism in Queensland,” Mr Morton said.

Today, AEIOU enrols more than 160 children across nine centres in Queensland (four of which are in Brisbane), supporting families in both metropolitan and regional areas.  The centres are staffed with specialist early childhood teachers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and music therapists and more than 70% of children successfully transition into mainstream schools.

In the next five years, Dr Morton plans to support children with autism from diagnosis right through to providing vocational support, with a goal to replicate his best practice model interstate, beginning with New South Wales.

For details on further Australia Day category winners please contact the Lord Mayors office Media advisor Nick Kennedy 0437 831 581.

For more information about Dr James Morton and AEIOU Foundation please visit www.aeiou.org.au.

Media contact:

Laura Daley, AEIOU Foundation Communications Coordinator, p: 07 3320 7555, m: 0417 284 058, e: Laura.Daley@aeiou.org.au.