National Autism Strategy aims to improve support and inclusion for autistic students

Claire Halliday
A new national strategy aims to better support the needs of autistic Australians.

The unveiling of the federal government’s seven-year plan to improve the lives of autistic Australians has implications for the education sector that experts hope will lead to meaningful change.

Australia’s new National Autism Strategy is the first of its kind for the nation and aims to create “a safe and inclusive society where all autistic people are supported and empowered to thrive”.

22 commitments

The 22 “commitments” in the plan include focus on four key reform areas: health; social inclusion; economic inclusion; and diagnosis, services and support.

These include increased and improved access to sensory-friendly public and online spaces; consideration of the feasibility and acceptability of current screening and diagnostic tools; exploring ways to improve the affordability of diagnosis and assessment processes; and supporting employers to hire and retain autistic employees.

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A government pledge of $42.3 million will help implement the strategy’s first phase, including:

  • $915,000 over two years for new community awareness and education initiatives
  • $19.9 million over four years for a peer support program providing “lived-experience knowledge, empathy and culturally tailored advice for autistic people in groups they resonate with”
  • $12.2 million over five years for a body to translate autism-related research into evidence-based tools and guidance for service providers and policymakers
  • $3.7 million over two years to evaluate existing programs for improving the lives of autistic people
  • $2.8 million over four years for an epidemiological study to find the true prevalence of autism in Australia
  • $445,000 for 2025-26 for new pre- and post-diagnosis resources.

The government released a draft strategy in 2024 before consulting with working groups, the autistic community and an oversight council to develop the action plan.

“This is not about trying to fix autistic people, this is about looking at us from a strengths-based point of view and trying to achieve better outcomes,” says advocate and oversight council co-chair Clare Gibellini.

The plan’s release brings Australia into line with Canada, England and the United States, which have all launched their own national autism strategies.

Why is the strategy needed?

With autistic Australians generally experiencing poorer outcomes than the rest of the population, the strategy aims to help offer greater support to cater for the diverse needs of the community.

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Because Autism exists on a spectrum, some autistic people require only small adjustments to help them live fully independent lives, while others can have much higher support needs, including full-time care.

“Attitudes, practices and structures in a neurotypical world can create barriers that impact on autistic people being able to participate fully and equally in the community,” the strategy reads.

Federal Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth has welcomed the strategy and says “addressing the barriers autistic people face in areas like education, employment and diagnosis is long overdue”.

“Too many autistic people struggle to receive good education, obtain a fulfilling job, or receive the healthcare they need, caused by a lack of understanding of autism in Australian society, or ineffective supports for autistic people to help them achieve their goals,” says Rishworth.

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Claire Halliday has an extensive career as a full-time writer - across book publishing, copywriting, podcasting and feature journalism - for more than 25 years. She lives in Melbourne with children, two border collies and a grumpy Burmese cat. Contact: claire.halliday[at]educationdaily.au