About the National Autism Strategy
In 2022, the Australian Government announced the development of a National Autism Strategy.
The strategy will be for all autistic Australians. It will cover key reform areas including access to services, healthcare, education, and employment. It will help to guide a more coordinated, national approach supporting autistic people at each stage of life.
We released the draft National Autism Strategy for public feedback from 2 April 2024 to 31 May 2024.
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Importance of the strategy
There are a growing number of Australians on the autism spectrum and with other neurodevelopmental conditions. For many Autistic people life outcomes in education, vocation, health and family functioning are worse than they should be.
There is a 20-year gap in life expectancy compared with the general population.
Autistic people are also around 7 times more likely to be unemployed than people without disability, and they have a higher risk of homelessness.
People within the Autistic community have called for a dedicated National Autism Strategy.
A National Autism Strategy will improve life outcomes for all Autistic people in Australia. It will provide, for the first time, a coordinated national approach to services and supports for Autistic people living in Australia and their families.
The National Autism Strategy will sit alongside Australia’s Disability Strategy(Opens in a new tab/window).
How to talk about autism
We acknowledge that people use different words to talk about autism, and that each person will have a way of talking about autism and themselves that they like best. Some people in the Autistic community like to say ‘Autistic person’ (identity first language), some like to say ‘person with Autism’ (person first language), and some are fine with using either.
We use identity first language to talk about the National Autism Strategy. This means we will be using the term Autistic person or Autistic people.
More information
- Learn how the National Autism Strategy Oversight Council will guide the development of the autism strategy.
- Read our Easy Read National Autism Strategy information.
Updates
Find updates about the National Autism Strategy.
News
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