The federal Budget includes funding for a National Autism Strategy (NAS). Australia needs a NAS because key disability supports failed autistic Australians.
- Australia's Disability Strategy (ADS) simply did not recognise that growing numbers of diagnosed autistic Australians need services and supports that are planned to meet their support needs.
- when the Department of Health and Ageing created its Roadmap for People with Intellectual Disability if failed to take the opportunity to recognise and address the needs of autistic people both with and without intellectual disability, or consult with representatives from the autism sector.
- the NDIS's war on autism does not benefit our nation. The NDIS needs to support autistic people much better than it currently does.
The federal budget contains the following section.
National Autism Strategy
Payments ($m)
| 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Social Services | - | 5.0 | - | - | - |
| Department of Health and Aged Care | - | 0.1 | 0.2 | - | - |
| Total – Payments | - | 5.1 | 0.2 | - | - |
The Government will provide $5.3 million over two years from 2022–23 to improve outcomes for people with autism. Funding includes:
- $2.0 million in 2022–23 to the Autism Cooperative Research Centre to continue autism research, coordination, collaboration and advice
- $2.0 million in 2022–23 to the AEIOU Foundation for Children with Autism to expand its existing early intervention centre in Townsville, Queensland
- $1.0 million in 2022–23 for the development of a National Autism Strategy
- $0.3 million over two years from 2022–23 to commence development of a National Roadmap to improve the health and mental health of people with autism.
The Government will also extend the funding provided to expand the ‘Autism: What Next?’ website by one year to 30 June 2024.
This measure delivers on the Government’s election commitment as published in the Plan for a Better Future.
A4 also received this from DSS ...
The 2022-23 October Budget announced the Better Support for People with Disability measures, including $5.3 million to support development of a National Autism Strategy. The National Autism Strategy measures include:
- $1 million to develop the National Autism Strategy
- $2 million to the Autism Cooperative Research Centre to continue its autism research and provide advice to support development of the National Autism Strategy
- $300,000 to develop a National Roadmap to target health and mental health outcomes for autistic people, and
- $2 million to the AEIOU Foundation for Children with Autism to expand their existing autism specific early intervention centre in Townsville, Queensland.
The Department of Social Services (the department) will lead development of the National Autism Strategy, and the Department of Health and Aged Care will lead development of the National Roadmap. Development of the strategy will be informed by the experiences of autistic people and their families and carers. The department will undertake a comprehensive national consultation process involving autistic people and families, and the autism sector and researchers, to ensure the voices of autistic people and the wider community are heard.
If you have any questions or would like to express interest in being part of the consultation process please email AutismPolicy@dss.gov.au. We look forward to working with you on this significant Australian Government commitment.
For further information about the Budget announcement please visit:
- PBS – Portfolio Budget Statements 2022-23 - Social Services | Department of Social Services, Australian Government (dss.gov.au)
- Minister Rishworth’s Media release – Ensuring people living with disability have the support they need | Department of Social Services Ministers (dss.gov.au)
- Factsheet - Better support for people with disability | Department of Social Services, Australian Government (dss.gov.au)
And this from the Department of Health and Ageing ...
Funding for a National Roadmap to Improve the Health and Mental Health of Autistic People
Hi Everyone
I am pleased to let you know that the Australian Government has announced funding to develop a National Roadmap to Improve the Health and Mental Health of Autistic People (the Roadmap).
In the October 2022 Budget, the Government has allocated $0.3 million over 18 months for the development of the Roadmap by 30 June 2024.
The development of a Roadmap will address the breadth of issues faced by autistic people in the health care system and outline actions to improve health and mental health outcomes for the growing population of autistic people in Australia. The Roadmap will be an associated plan to the National Autism Strategy, specifically targeting the need for improved health and mental health outcomes for autistic Australians.
The Department of Health and Aged Care will be in touch shortly to arrange an initial planning meeting with a small group of active stakeholders in November 2022. This initial meeting will be to confirm the development process, governance structures and ensure key co-design principles are in place before commencing work on the Roadmap.