Executive Summary

Throughout the Inquiry the Committee heard evidence from people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and families living with ASD, who told the Committee about their individual and family experiences, and whose accounts of living with ASD form the basis for this report. The Committee found that ‘living with autism’ means something different for every person diagnosed with ASD. The Committee also found that people with ASD are not content to have policies and programs in relation to ASD developed without their involvement. The Committee supports the core principle that people with ASD must be included in any such developments – by governments, service providers and agencies.

In the ten chapters of this report, the Committee examines the quality and adequacy of both mainstream and autism-specific services currently provided to people with ASD and families living with ASD in a range of areas. The Committee found that there are serious shortcomings in service access, quality and delivery in Victoria. These include: access to timely and affordable assessment and diagnosis, the availability of early childhood interventions, inclusive schooling options, and a shortage of trained health professionals, to name a few. In each chapter, the Committee makes recommendations to improve the access, availability and quality of services to people with ASD.

The roll out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will occur across Victoria over the next few years. The Committee has found that, in its pilot phase in Victoria, participants in the scheme have experienced shortcomings and the Committee makes recommendations to address these issues. The Committee firmly believes that the Victorian Government has an ongoing, key role to play in improving and delivering services to people with ASD and families living with ASD.

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The report has 101 recommendations in 10 sections.

It can be downloaded from https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/file_…