The following list shows A4's recent advocacy. This list contains both publications (including briefs and submissions) and communications (letters & emails).

To find a (free) disability advocate to help you, try:

Average wait time for autism assessments in children is over 3 years

By bobb |
view if girl drawing with chalk on a footpath

New research has revealed that children wait 3.5 years on average for neurodevelopment assessments.

The largest study of needs of families requesting neurodevelopment assessments found that the average time for families waiting on a completed assessment for their children was 3.5 years in public services. This wait time started from when parents first noticed a concern to when they received a comprehensive assessment.

DSS needs to better understand autism in Australia

By convenor |
Subject:DSS needs to better understand autism in Australia
Date:Fri, 2 Dec 2022 17:39:39 +1100
From:Bob Buckley (A4 Convenor) <convenor@a4.org.au>
To:Amanda.Rishworth.MP@aph.gov.au

Dear Minister The Hon A. Rishworth MP

Thank you for your interest in Ensuring people living with disability have the support they need.

I notice that your media release says:

Subject: improper use of so-called Independent Assessors in AAT reviews for autistic NDIS participants

By convenor |

Subject: improper use of so-called Independent Assessors in AAT reviews for autistic NDIS participants
Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2022 09:44:04 +1100
From: Bob Buckley (A4 Convenor) <convenor@a4.org.au>
To: The Hon. Mr. Shorten MP <Bill.Shorten.MP@aph.gov.au>, attorney@ag.gov.au
CC: ...

Dear The Hon Bill Shorten MP and the Hon Mr Dreyfuss MP,

Autism in the Budget 2022-23

By convenor |
text showing $5.3m for National Autism Strategy over 2 years.

The federal Budget includes funding for a National Autism Strategy (NAS). Australia needs a NAS because key disability supports failed autistic Australians.

  1. Australia's Disability Strategy (ADS) simply did not recognise that growing numbers of diagnosed autistic Australians need services and supports that are planned to meet their support needs.
  2. when the Department of Health and Ageing created its Roadmap for People with Intellectual Disability if failed to take the opportunity to recognise and address the needs of autistic people both with and without intellectual disability, or consult with representatives from the autism sector.
  3. the NDIS's war on autism does not benefit our nation. The NDIS needs to support autistic people much better than it currently does.
Subscribe to Advocacy