A4's interim submission on the sustainability of the NDIS is available online.
The submission contains some recent data about the number of people diagnosed formally with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and receiving either an NDIS plan or Carer's Allowance (child). These diagnosis rates are often interpreted as indicators of autism prevalence in our community.
The following data is reported in Annex A.
| NDIS - autism | NDIS rates | Carer Allowance (child) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 0 to 6 | 7 to 14 | 15 to 18 | 0 to 6 | 7 to 14 | 0 to 6 | 7 to 14 | 15 to 18 |
| ACT | 248 | 1325 | 398 | 0.63% | 2.97% | 171 | 917 | 306 |
| NSW | 7124 | 23869 | 6100 | 1.03% | 2.90% | 5300 | 21438 | 7020 |
| NT | 148 | 568 | 102 | 0.61% | 2.03% | 126 | 517 | 141 |
| QLD | 4257 | 17125 | 4267 | 0.96% | 3.05% | 3712 | 20707 | 7215 |
| SA | 1795 | 8622 | 2406 | 1.29% | 5.01% | 1708 | 7433 | 2430 |
| TAS | 431 | 1513 | 469 | 1.04% | 2.87% | 383 | 1744 | 612 |
| VIC | 5197 | 21159 | 4707 | 0.93% | 6.23% | 4668 | 22964 | 7701 |
| WA | 1587 | 6782 | 2301 | 0.66% | 2.41% | 1229 | 5547 | 1911 |
| Australia | 20788 | 80972 | 20752 | 0.95% | 3.09% | 17301 | 81285 | 27351 |
A4 is concerned that over 6% of school-age children in Victoria (5% in SA) are eligible for and receiving an NDIS plan with autism as their primary disability. Nationally, the rate is over 3% of children.
While the number of pre-school-age autistic children is lower (0.95%), there are high numbers of children whose primary disability type is "Developmental Delay" or Global Developmental Delay, who it appears may be subsequently (too late) diagnosed autistic which means they miss out on autism-specific early intervention that research suggests produces substantially better long-term outcomes.
A4 encourages people to view the full submission.
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE
NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME
26 November 2021
Mr Bob Buckley
Convenor
Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (A4)
By email: convenor@a4.org.au
Dear Mr Buckley,
Current Scheme Implementation and Forecasting for the NDIS
Thank you for your submission to this inquiry. The committee has accepted your submission and allocated it submission number Submission 46.
The committee has decided to accept and publish your organisation's submission as public. This means that your submission, your name (if on the submission) and the name of your organisation will be made publicly available on the committee’s website, with signatures and contact details removed.
Your public submission is accessible from the committee's website: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/National_Disability_Insurance_Scheme/ImplementationForecast/Submissions
The version of your submission published by the committee will be protected by parliamentary privilege. This means that what you say in the submission cannot be used in court against you or anyone else. It is an offence for anyone to harass or discriminate against you because you have made a submission. Further information about parliamentary privilege is available from Senate Brief No. 11 – Parliamentary Privilege on the Australian Parliament website.
Further information on the inquiry process is available on the Australian Parliament website at: http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Getting_Involved_in_Parliamentary_Committees.
Please feel welcome to contact us if you have any questions about this inquiry or the committee process.
Yours sincerely
BA
Committee Secretary