Australian govt launches first national autism strategy

The Australian government has launched the first national strategy to improve the lives of autistic people.

Amanda Rishworth, the minister for social services, on 14 January, Tuesday, unveiled the first National Autism Strategy, promising improved inclusion, support and life outcomes for all autistic Australians, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The AUD 42.3 million (USD 26.1 million) plan includes 22 commitments on four key reform areas. Of the funding, AUD 19.9 million over four years will go toward a peer support programme that will provide lived-experience knowledge, empathy and culturally tailored advice to autistic people.

Another AUD 12.2 million will fund a new body that will translate autism-related research into evidence-based tools and guidance for service providers and policymakers. The government will also spend AUD 2.8 million to fund a study to find the true prevalence of autism in Australia.

"Addressing the barriers autistic people face in areas like education, employment and diagnosis is long overdue and we are proud to deliver a strategy that will change lives for the better," Rishworth said in a statement.

According to the Australian department of social services, there are an estimated 290,000 Australians with an autism diagnosis, though the strategy says the true number is likely much higher.

Autistic Australians are six times more likely to be unemployed than the general population and two to three times more likely to die early.

Five per cent of autistic Australians have a university bachelor's degree, compared to 20 per cent of all people with a disability and 35 per cent of people with no disability.

The strategy was built by the government in collaboration with autistic people and the National Autism Strategy Oversight Council. Clare Gibellini, co-chair of the National Autism Strategy Oversight Council, said that the strategy recognises that people with autism have additional support needs.

(AUD 1 = USD 0.62)