On the 14/1/2025, DSS Minister Rishworth and the federal government released ¾ of its National Autism Strategy (NA¾S)[1]. While we welcome the limited progress planned, we note that the 4th part of a full strategy, the so-called Health Roadmap for Autism, is missing. Also, DSS officials who wrote the ¾-Strategy failed to address many fundamental issues that need urgent action. In its current form, the NA¾S is deeply disappointing to say the very least.
Autistic Australians have long faced systemic neglect, with their specific needs often overlooked or diluted under broader, generalized policies. While neurodiversity has gained recognition, we must be clear: the needs of Autistic people are unique and cannot be swept under the umbrella of neurodiversity. To do so risks erasing our voices and our experiences.
Through Rick Morton's excellent investigative journalism and reports from grassroots NDIS Participants, our suspicions about the political deal-making behind the extraordinarily misguided amendments and their consequences are being confirmed. Despite the vitriolic public smear campaign waged against opponents of the legislation, it is now very clear that:
I write to formally protest the current content of your webpage https://raisingchildren.net.au/autism/therapies-guide/applied-behaviour… Its content is very poor quality and largely misleading. I suggest you revert to the page's previous content until more appropriate content can be developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders. I raised my concerns previously on 7/1/2025 but I have not heard from you. Please acknowledge my complaint.
Dear Minister,
As parents of an inspiring young man with Profound Autism , we have taken a keen interest in the development of the National Autism Strategy. We appreciate the efforts of many involved, and the commitment to provide a national strategy. We have contributed extensively to the Senate Select Committee on Autism and to the NAS (before and after the draft).
My name is Catherine and I am the Casting Director for The Assembly TV documentary series on ABC. We were in contact for S1 and I wanted to let you know that we have started casting for the second series. We are offering autistic people with an interest in journalism the opportunity to take part and I was hoping you could help me share the news.
The NDIS has achieved a new low: its Fraud Fusion Taskforce or some other internal “integrity” unit is sabotaging supports for some autistic NDIS participants with high and complex needs.
A4 received evidence that a secret entity in the NDIA is withholding payments for essential supports for NDIS participants with high and complex needs including supports that the NDIS agreed to provide in AAT s42C settlements.