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

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ABS: Information about disability severity in SDAC [SEC=OFFICIAL]

By convenor |

On 4/2/2026, A4 received the following information in an email from the Australian Bureau of Statistic (ABS).

Hi Bob, hope you are well.

As promised late last year, please find attached an explanation for how SDAC collects and derives the ‘Disability Status’ data item, aka severity. Apologies that this information has taken a while to reach you.

When you apply this explanation to the SDAC 2022 data for autism, you get the following:

Westmead's One Stop Shop responses from governments

By convenor |

In relation to A4's advocacy for improving essential hospital services for profoundly autistic Australians (see https://a4.org.au/node/2758), A4 received the following responses from governments and Ministers that were contacted initially. 

  • NSW response
  • federal response 

The NSW response is positive. We are keep to see how this develops ... both at Westmead hospital (inner-western Sydney) and in other NSW hospitals.

Letter to DSS/Health official - meeting request to discuss issues

By convenor |

The letter below was sent to a key health (former DSS) official raising issues and requesting a meeting. A more senior official made sure he got it.

One of the issues was how many mild to moderately autistic children were in the NDIS ... and likely to be caught up with the Thriving Kids program. He told a DRO Forum (4/9/2025) that work had not started ... which is different to what the NDIS told the media previously (see https://a4.org.au/node/2750). 

He has not acknowledged the letter nor responded. 

Thriving Kids Committee finally publishes a redacted version of A4's submission

By convenor |

Almost, two months after A4 made its submission to the Thriving Kids inquiry, the Committee got around to publishing a redacted version of the submission - see https://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=aa16eb63-911d-40fb-a99f-3d….

A4 is a national disability representative organisation (DRO) for autism that is recognised by government. A4 is the only national recognised DRO for autism representing the full autism spectrum.

urgent funding needed for Westmead's One Stop Shop for patients with profound disability

By convenor |

Dear Minister Butler MP

I recently became aware of the Westmead's One Stop Shop pro bono service for profoundly autistic patients (and others with severe disability who otherwise do not access many crucial health services). This service was described on the ABC in 2023.

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