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cruel NDIS policy targets the most autistic and vulnerable NDIS participants

By convenor |
NDIS logo - broken into two bits

NDIS policy (AAT Case Management Guide Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) - see below) fails some of the youngest and most severely autistic NDIS participants. Clinicians advise that some children with severe/profound or classic autism need intensive early intervention for their autism. NDIS policy (see below) says funding for the required early intervention depends on families winning a case against the government in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).

Mosman Park suspected double murder-suicide prompts calls for greater support for families with high-needs children

By bobb |
Maiwenna Goasdoue (left) and Jarrod Clune (right) facing the camera and smiling

Rhiannon Shine

In short:

Teenage brothers Leon and Otis, who lived with disabilities, were found dead in their Perth home along with their parents Jarrod and Maiwenna.

The incident, which police have described as a suspected double murder-suicide, is still being investigated.

What's next?

A disability advocate says the tragedy highlights the need for more support for families with high-needs children.

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.

NDIS overhaul must allow kids with most profound autism to retain supports

By bobb |

Steve Robson

Health Minister Mark Butler faces a delicate balance ensuring tens of thousands of autistic children don’t lose vital support as he moves them from the NDIS to his new Thriving Kids scheme. 

In August this year Health Minister Mark Butler announced his commitment to moving tens of thousands of Australian children from the National Disability Insurance Scheme to a new program to be called Thriving Kids.

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.

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