A4's Convenor sent A4's media release, autism groups want bullying in schools fixed, to the Commonwealth Minister and Shadow Minister for Education.

A4 also wrote to the Ministers and Shadow Ministers for Education in all the states and territories ...

Dear Minister for Education

Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (known as A4) sent the following media release (link here) to the Commonwealth Minister for Education. However, most autistic students are enrolled in state schools so it falls to you and your department to recognise and address the serious issue of bullying of autistic students in schools.

The number of students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder is growing rapidly. In June 2015, there were about 73,000 autistic students aged 5 to 15 years in Australia. That is over 2% of students. Autism is now the biggest distinct primary disability type in the NDIS trial sites. We can provide detailed numbers for your state if you don't have access to the breakdowns you might like.

I write to ask that you and your department recognise that bullying of autistic students results is poor outcomes, both short and long term. Please, if you can recognise the challenge due to bullying of autistic students, consider acting to reduce or eliminate bullying in schools in your state.

We would be interested to know whether you and your department recognise bullying of autistic students as a distinct issue or not; and if you recognise it,

1. what you and your department are doing in response to the challenge it poses; and
2. what reporting there is (or will be) of efforts to tackle bullying of autistic students in schools in your state/territory.

yours sincerely
Bob Buckley
Convenor, Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (A4)

29/1/2016

Responses

Following is the progress of this issue and communication with the various Education Ministers and shadow ministers.