Thriving Kids Announcement by Minister Butler
On 20 August, the Hon. Mark Butler announced the new Thriving Kids program.
As Australia’s national body of community driven autism associations and leading researchers, the AABA welcomes government commitment to child development services, and to strengthening supports in early years where there is evidence that providing the right supports where children live, learn and play leads to better outcomes for many children.
Supports must consider the child and family’s context, needs and goals in settings such as the family home, early childhood services, schools and other community settings. These supports must be adequately resourced to be specialised and evidence-based, provided by properly trained professionals. Supports must also recognise the unique needs and strengths of different communities.
Thriving Kids must be accessible to children and families regardless of whether they live in metropolitan, regional or rural Australia.
Minister Butler referred to mild or moderate developmental delay or autism. It is critical to understand that autism is lifelong, and support needs may be ongoing, fluctuating and context-dependent as reflected in the National Autism Strategy.
Autistic people should have access to the NDIS on the same basis as everyone with disability, and they should never be described or perceived as a ‘burden’.
The announcement of Thriving Kids was a surprise to the disability community, and states and territories. With no consultation to date, families with autistic children are understandably anxious and fearful of a change that may see them excluded from needed supports. The AABA notes that Minister Butler stated that no child will be removed from the NDIS until appropriate alternatives are in place.
We welcome the Minister’s commitment to the principle of ‘nothing about us without us’! Thriving Kids must be designed with lived experience, families, as well as autism-specialist service providers to ensure it is of high quality, neuro-diversity affirming and not a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
It is also important that planning for Thriving Kids happens alongside planning for supports beyond childhood.
NATIONAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH ROADMAP
The National Roadmap to Improve the Health and Mental Health of Autistic People 2025-2035 (Autism Health Roadmap) is a welcome contribution to the health care of autistic people.
It has the capacity to significantly improve the health and mental health of Autistic Australians by improving general and autism-specific health care services, and building the capacity of the people who work in these services.
In drawing attention to the difficulties that autistic people have in accessing appropriate, timely, and available support, it is also commendable that common but often overlooked co-existing “invisible” conditions such as gastrointestinal conditions, sleep conditions and autoimmune conditions have been recognised.
The Autism Health Roadmap is a critical companion to the National Autism Strategy, and as such the AABA strongly urges the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care to fully resource an Action Plan to ensure full implementation.
NATIONAL AUTISM STRATEGY
May 2024
The Australian Advisory Board on Autism (AABA) welcomes and strongly supports the Draft – National Autism Strategy (The Strategy). It is a significant step toward creating a more inclusive and supportive society for autistic individuals and their families.
In finalising and adopting the National Autism Strategy, the AABA calls on the Australian Government to commit sufficient resources to improve the life outcomes for all 3.2% of the population who are autistic.
POSTION STATEMENT
ABC Four Corners - Careless: How the NDIS fails to protect our most vulnerable (Aired 25/9/2023)
September 27, 2023
As a group of community-driven autism associations and leading researchers from across Australia which collectively represents autistic people and their families across all life stages, the Australian Advisory Board on Autism (AABA) joins Australians in expressing our anger and sadness in seeing the deplorable services being delivered to vulnerable families and funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
The AABA seeks to drive evidence-based improvements to policy, programs, and practices so that autistic people can access high quality, safe, respectful, inclusive and effective services and supports, wherever they are and whatever their circumstances.
WORLD AUTISM DAY – 2 APRIL 2023
THE FULL AUTISM VOICE
March 30, 2023
World Autism Day is a day to appreciate the enormous contribution of autistic and autism communities.
An important milestone to recognise on World Autism Day in 2023 is Australia’s commitment to develop a National Autism Strategy[i].
AUSTRALIAN AUTISM ALLIANCE SCORECARD
THE ALLIANCE HAS RELEASED A SCORECARD MEASURING ELECTION COMMITMENTS FROM MAJOR PARTIES.
May 13 , 2022
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.
The National Autism Strategy is a major step forward from the current disjointed approach that autistic people and their families face in getting the support they need and will make a considerable difference whether they are NDIS participants or accessing other support services. However, the Alliance highlights that more action is required.
For more information and links to policies and/or other sources visit the The Alliance website.
AUSTRALIAN ADVISORY BOARD ON AUTISM CALLS FOR MORE THAN JUST AWARENESS
THE NEED FOR GREATER APPRECIATION ON WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY
April 2, 2022
Brisbane, Queensland – The Australian Advisory Board on Autism (AABA) is calling for World Autism Awareness Day to be recognized as an opportunity for the world to move beyond awareness towards a greater appreciation of Autism and the opportunities and challenges for people on the autism spectrum.
Research conducted by the Australian Catholic University suggests that over 85% of the Australian population have a family or other direct connection to a person on the spectrum. The AABA believe this statistic proves that while autism awareness has grown significantly, a greater understanding and appreciation of autism in the general population is needed.
AABA Chair Pam Macrossan, said “While the suggested awareness level of autism across Australian communities is to be welcomed, the complexity and variation is still not well understood. This gap in understanding can contribute to the exacerbation of the challenges facing our community and a reduction in opportunities for greater participation in all walks of life.”
“This lack of understanding is the most significant contributing factor in the preservation of many of the “myths” that surround autism.
“We hope World Autism Awareness Day can create a platform from which a more refined conversation can take place. A conversation that promotes and develops understanding, increases connection and engagement, and creates pathways to improved social and economic participation for all people on the spectrum.
“These discussions can build the foundations for inclusive and cohesive communities within which people on the autism spectrum, their families and supporters can live their best lives.”
The Australian Advisory Board on Autism is the national peak body of not for profit, evidence informed service providers for people on the autism spectrum, their families, carers and helpers.