Developing the National Autism Strategy
We want your feedback on the draft National Autism Strategy.
To give us your feedback, you can fill out some questions in a survey or email us.
Webinar on the draft National Autism Strategy held 19 April 2024
Please note:
- The Menti Q&A function is no longer active. If you have questions about the draft National Autism Stratgey, please email AutismPolicy@dss.gov.au
- Written answers to the Questions asked during the live Webinar will be available on this website soon.
This is a draft Strategy which has not yet been agreed by Government. Following feedback through the public consultation process the draft Strategy will be further refined and it is expected the final Strategy will be presented to Government by the end of 2024.
The National Autism Strategy is an Australian Government strategy and relates to areas of Commonwealth responsibility to improve life outcomes for Autistic people.
Feedback from the community on issues relating to states and territories will be shared with state and territory governments.
In any areas of joint responsibility between the Commonwealth and state and territory governments, the Strategy will guide the Australian Government’s engagement with jurisdictions.
About the draft Strategy
The draft Strategy includes a vision, guiding principles, outcome areas and commitments. These are the main areas we want your feedback on.
The draft Strategy is a framework for improving life outcomes for Autistic people. It helps guide a coordinated national approach, supporting Autistic people at each stage of life.
Underneath the Strategy there will be action plans, an evaluation framework and a plan for how we will continue to involve Autistic people and the autism community as we put the Strategy into action.
How the draft Strategy was developed
The draft National Autism Strategy was developed with the National Autism Strategy Oversight Council and its Working Groups.
The draft Strategy is based on a co-design process and consultation with Autistic people and their families, carers, advocates, researchers and other stakeholders.
From September to November 2023, we engaged with Autistic people and the autism community across Australia. More than 2000 people attended events or sent us written feedback about what a National Autism Strategy could focus on.
This feedback and ideas have been put into the National Autism Strategy consultation report.
You can read more about the journey to develop the draft National Autism Strategy – including the different stages and how we worked with communities and stakeholders.
Video: Why we’re developing a National Autism Strategy
Watch this video to find out why a National Autism Strategy is important. The video has captions and Auslan.
About the National Autism Strategy
We’re developing a National Autism Strategy to help improve life outcomes for Autistic people across Australia.
The Strategy will be for all Autistic Australians. It will cover key reform areas including access to services, healthcare, education and employment. It will help to guide a more coordinated, national approach supporting Autistic people at each stage of life.
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Contact
Contact the Autism Policy Team at AutismPolicy@dss.gov.au
Statement on language
The Australian Government acknowledges that people use different words to talk about Autism, and that each person will have a way of talking about Autism and about themselves that they like best. Some people in the Autistic community like to say ‘Autistic person’ (identity-first language), some like to say ‘person with Autism’ (person-first language), and some are fine with using either.
The Australian Government is using identity-first language to talk about the National Autism Strategy. This means that we will usually use the term Autistic person or Autistic people.