Government unveils first ever autism strategy

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The government has unveiled a plan to improve the lives of the estimated 290,000 people in Australia who are autistic. It's hoped the first-ever national autism strategy will lead to meaningful change for a community that experiences poorer employment and education outcomes.

Transcript

00:00This is no ordinary shipping container.

00:05It's a portable sensory room helping relax neurodivergent kids that need a refuge from

00:11busy places.

00:12I was so proud to be part of this project.

00:16Alexandra Hellens is autistic.

00:18She helped design this space.

00:21She struggled to find ongoing work after she was made redundant from a job she thrived

00:27in.

00:28I enjoy parts of the freelancing I'm doing now, but it doesn't play to my strengths

00:32as well.

00:33That constant churn, I think, just doesn't play well with my brain.

00:37With autistic Australians six times more likely to be unemployed, that's a key focus of the

00:43National Autism Strategy launched today.

00:46It contains 22 commitments across four key areas – social inclusion, economic inclusion,

00:53diagnosis and support, and health.

00:56$42.3 million will fund projects including a new peer support program and reviews of

01:03existing initiatives.

01:04These are not actions government have come up with.

01:08These are actions that autistic people themselves have said would make a difference.

01:14And that's what's so powerful about this strategy.

01:16I've had a couple of cries this morning, I'm not going to lie, because it's a very big,

01:20very emotional day.

01:21I've been here for 20 years.

01:24We've often maybe provided advice and then that's never come back into something tangible.

01:28In the past, some plans designed to improve the lives of people with disability have failed

01:33to deliver results.

01:35Many advocates have welcomed this blueprint, but some still have concerns.

01:40I think the National Autism Strategy is a great list of things we should get to, but

01:44there are some really gaping holes of what we've missed, and those are specifically around

01:48education and housing.

01:51As well as better employment outcomes, Alexandra Hellens wants attitudes to change.

01:56An autistic person isn't a broken person.

01:59We aren't incorrect, we aren't doing it wrong.

02:02This is just another way of being a person.

02:05Advice from one person, but a message for all.

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