Please involve the autism community in creating a National Autism Strategy

By convenor |

Subject: Please involve the autism community in creating a National Autism Strategy.
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2022 13:31:52 +1000
From: Bob Buckley (A4 Convenor) <convenor@a4.org.au>
To: The Hon. Mr. Shorten MP <Bill.Shorten.MP@aph.gov.au>
CC: Senator Carol Brown <senator.carol.brown@aph.gov.au>, ...

Dear The Hon. Bill Shorten MP

I am concerned by a report that your Government is planning to start the task of writing a brief "National Autism Strategy" without properly consulting and involving the broader autism community. Please do not do this.

Australian Autism Alliance - scorecard for the 2022 Federal Election

By convenor |
Australian Autism Alliance logo

Federal Election 2022 – Scorecard Major Parties new commitments to Shifting the Dial on Autism

The Australian Autism Alliance (Alliance) welcomes the commitment from the Coalition, Labor and the Greens to introduce a new National Autism Strategy in the next term of Parliament. The Alliance believe this will be critical in shaping the future policy agenda and help improve the life outcomes of hundreds of thousands of Autistic Australians.

Election 2022: Coalition earmarks ambitions to develop national autism strategy

By bobb |
Families and social services minister Anne Ruston. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

Melissa Coade

Ways to build the workforce capability for people living with autism will be one of the key pillars of a Liberal plan to develop a nationwide approach to autism-specific services.

The Coalition has pledged $1 million to develop a strategy within the next year, aimed at improving service integration and access for services and increasing awareness about autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

National autism strategy in the pipeline, with both Coalition and Labor committing to plan

By bobb |
children walking forward (away from camera)

Australia is set to develop a national autism strategy regardless of who wins the federal election — a move that has been welcomed as a "good start" to changing community attitudes ;to children and young people with a disability.

Key points:

  • A parliamentary committee recommended an autism strategy after examining services, support and life outcomes for people with the condition
  • Both Labor and the Coalition have committed to introducing a strategy if elected on May 21
  • Advocates say a national strategy is a good start but more needs to be done

Earlier this year, a parliamentary committee that examined the services, support and life outcomes for people with autism recommended the establishment of a national strategy.

How autistic NDIS recipients could solve our cybersecurity skills gap

By bobb |

Tess Bennett

Autistic NDIS recipients are willing and able to work but fear if they get a job and lose it they will be ineligible for any future financial support from the scheme, a disabled rights activist says.

Rhett Ellis is an autistic entrepreneur with an interest in technology and cybersecurity who has lobbied the government to introduce autistic employment programs.

Government agency accused of being 'at war with those it should be supporting' as appeals against NDIS cuts spike

By bobb |
Sarina and Kaden

Kaden McCarthy, 10, lives with autism and has difficulty using and interpreting verbal and non-verbal communication.

Key points:

  • There has been a big increase in the number of NDIS participants reporting their plans are being slashed
  • Lawyers say they cannot keep up with the demand for assistance and the appeals system is congested
  • The government says the increase in appeals reflects the overall growth in the NDIS

How to reduce autism prevalence and save the NDIS

By bobb |
Professor Whitehouse sits facing the camera

Jill Margo

Australia’s leading expert on autism says a new model of intervention could reduce long-term disability from the disorder, by a factor of three, and help to make the ballooning National Disability Insurance Scheme more sustainable.

“The NDIS is currently relying on an outdated model of when to commence autism therapy,” said Andrew Whitehouse, head of Australia’s leading autism research team, CliniKids, based at the Telethon Kids Institute in Perth.

your "value for money" claim on ABC's QandA

By convenor |

Subject: your "value for money" claim on ABC's QandA
Date: Sat, 9 Apr 2022 14:09:40 +1000
To: senator.ruston@aph.gov.au
CC:Bill Shorten <bill.shorten.mp@aph.gov.au>, Minister.Reynolds@dss.gov.au, Hughes, Hollie (Senator) <Senator.Hughes@aph.gov.au>

Dear Minister Ruston,

I doubt I have ever seen a NDIS Plan review that omitted some explicit claim that some essential support was "not value for money". Your claim on #QandA was incorrect. Either you know this is happening all the time, or you should know.

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