Westmead's One Stop Shop responses from governments

By bobbux |

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. 

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.

Minister's response on ABS SDAC delay

By convenor |
Andrew Leigh MP looking serious with crossed arms

The Hon. Andrew Leigh MP responded negatively to A4's request that the ABS's SDAC survey collect data in 2025 (or 2026) ... ahead of the government's recent decision to wait until 2028.

The Minister's (undated, received 9/10/2025) response is available below. 

A4 does not understand why the survey would return to a six year cycle during the early stages of NDIS stabilisation (or major reform), the start of Thriving Kids, and the design phase of Foundational Supports for people with disability. 

Please conduct the ABS Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (in 2025)

By convenor |

Dear Minister Leigh

At the meeting for Disability Representative Organisations (DROs) at Parliament House on 4/9/2025 we were very disappointed to hear from officials that, without any reference to DROs, they decided to defer until 2027 the Australian Bureau of Statistic's (ABS) next data collection for its periodic Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC). An official claimed that the survey is conducted on a five years cycle. This claim is false; mostly, this survey is done on a three year cycle ... and it has not had a five year interval since before 1998 (if ever).

response on NDIS legislation missing autistic impairments

By convenor |

A4 received a response (see below) from the NDIS to letters sent previously to multiple ministers - see https://a4.org.au/node/2730 

While the response suggests that the triad of autistic impairments, social, communication, and behavioural impairments, might be beaten into shape under the categories available in the legislation, it shows disappointingly poor understanding of autistic impairments and the needs of autistic Australians. It says ... 

ART response - NDIS Division operations

By convenor |

Dear Mr Verco

your response (below) simply does not address the issue that I raised.

Bob Buckley
Volunteer Autism Advocate

Bob recognises and respects the traditional owners, elders past, present and emerging, of Ngunnawal and Ngambri country, the lands on which he lives and works. Sovereignty was never ceded.

On 19/06/2025 5:04 pm, Principal Registrar wrote:

Dear Mr Buckley

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