Here’s what’s in Australia’s new national autism strategy

The federal government has unveiled a seven-year plan to improve the lives of autistic Australians.

Australia’s first-ever national autism strategy aims to create “a safe and inclusive society where all autistic people are supported and empowered to thrive”.

It’s hoped the strategy will lead to meaningful change for a group that lags behind the rest of the population in many areas of life.

See why the ABC used the language around autism that it did for this story.

What’s in the strategy?

All up, there are 22 “commitments” focused on four key reform areas: social inclusion; economic inclusion; diagnosis, services and support; and health.

Commitments include increasing accessible and sensory-friendly public and online spaces; considering the feasibility and acceptability of current screening and diagnostic tools; exploring ways to make diagnosis and assessment processes more affordable; and supporting employers to hire and retain autistic employees.

The health components of the strategy will be actioned through a separate road map, which has not yet been finalised.

The government has pledged $42.3 million to implement the first phase of the strategy, including:

$19.9 million over four years for a peer support program providing “lived-experience knowledge, empathy and culturally-tailored advice for autistic people in groups they resonate with”
$12.2 million over five years for a body to translate autism-related research into evidence-based tools and guidance for service providers and policymakers
$3.7 million over two years to evaluate existing programs for improving the lives of autistic people
$2.8 million over four years for an epidemiological study to find the true prevalence of autism in Australia
$915,000 over two years for new community awareness and education initiatives
$445,000 for 2025-26 for new pre- and post-diagnosis resources

The government released a draft strategy last year before consulting with an oversight council, working groups and the autistic community to develop an action plan.

Clare Gibellini worked on the strategy oversight council. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)

“This is not about trying to fix autistic people, this is about looking at us from a strengths-based point of view and trying to achieve better outcomes,” said advocate Clare Gibellini, who is autistic and co-chaired the oversight council.

The move brings Australia into line with countries such as England, the United States and Canada, which have all launched their own national autism strategies.

Why is this needed?

Outcomes for autistic Australians are generally much poorer than for the rest of the population.

By the numbers

It’s thought 290,000 Australians have an autism diagnosis, though the strategy estimates the true number of autistic people to be much higher
Autistic people are six times more likely to be unemployed than people without disability
Autistic people are 2-3 times more likely to die prematurely than the general population
69 per cent of autistic 5- to 20-year-olds have experienced difficulty at school or university
Only 5 per cent of autistic people have a bachelor degree or higher, compared with 20 per cent of people with disability and 35 per cent of people without disability
37 per cent of all NDIS participants have autism listed as a primary diagnosis — the highest proportion of any disability

Source: Department of Social Services, National Disability Insurance Agency

Autistic people often excel in some areas yet face challenges in other areas without the right support.

Autism exists on a spectrum and while some autistic people can, with small adjustments, live fully independent lives, others may have much higher support needs, including full-time care.

Autistic people are also over-represented in the criminal justice system and are at a higher risk of homelessness than the general population, according to the strategy.

The lack of a coordinated national approach has also led to inconsistencies and support gaps across the country.

“Attitudes, practices and structures in a neurotypical world can create barriers that impact on autistic people being able to participate fully and equally in the community,” the strategy reads.

“Too many autistic people struggle to receive good education, obtain a fulfilling job, or receive the healthcare they need, caused by a lack of understanding of autism in Australian society, or ineffective supports for autistic people to help them achieve their goals.”

What impact will it actually have?

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth has hailed the strategy as a key piece of work.

“Addressing the barriers autistic people face in areas like education, employment and diagnosis is long overdue and we are proud to deliver a strategy that will change lives for the better,” she said.

A woman speaks to the media. — Amanda Rishworth says the strategy will help drive change for autistic Australians. (ABC News: Nick Haggarty)

Ms Gibellini said the strategy’s release was significant.

“It’s recognition that autistic people have additional support needs and that we live in a world that wasn’t built for us,” she said.

“I’ve been fortunate to talk to peers and colleagues around the world and there’s a huge degree of envy that we’ve got our own strategy … the fact that this exists is massive.”

Ms Gibellini acknowledged that it could often feel like strategies and programs did not produce concrete outcomes but she said this was different because the action plan was broken up into phases.

“[This will] look at what is working for us so we can continue investment in that way, rather than throwing money at things that we know aren’t necessarily right for us or that could be harmful,” she said.