Hundreds of babies aged between nine to 14 months old with early signs of autism will get preferable developmental support as part of the two new government-funded intervention programs.
About 1,500 vulnerable babies and their families from a diverse range of backgrounds will be able to participate in this program, which aims to address developmental concerns not being discovered early enough.
The evidence-based pilot program will take the best steps and implement appropriate interventions for infants showing early signs of neurodiversity.
The federal government will provide $22.1 million (US$14.65 million) for the two programs until 2026/27.
The new programs resulted from talks with disability and early childhood sectors, families and state and territory governments.
About one in 70 Australians have been diagnosed with autism.
National Autism Strategy
The announcement comes on the same day as the first full in-person meeting of the National Autism Strategy Oversight Council in Canberra.The aim of the council is to ensure that the National Autism Strategy is evidence-based and informed by the experiences of autistic people.
It will meet regularly in Canberra to guide the minister and effectively oversee the Strategy’s development.
The Oversight Council has ten members, with eight coming from the autistic community and sector and the other two from the research and professional sector.
In the recent federal Budget, the government committed $4.9 million towards developing the National Autism Strategy.
Children are seen at an early childhood centre in Canberra, Australia, on Oct. 30, 2020. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
Of that, $3.7 million will go towards the consultation and research for the National Autism Strategy in 2023-24.
The remaining $1.2 million will, over two years from 2023-24, help develop the National Roadmap to improve health and mental outcomes for people with autism.
This initiative will focus on addressing the critical health and mental health inequities experienced by the autistic community and help them get access to services, healthcare, education, and employment.
“The National Autism Strategy will form a whole-of-life plan to improve outcomes for all autistic Australians, spanning a number of key reform areas including healthcare, education and employment,” Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said.
“We want to ensure no one gets left behind and that includes the one in six Australians with disability, including autistic Australians.”
Why Is the National Autism Strategy Important?
In Australia, the number of people on the autism spectrum and other neurodevelopmental conditions is growing rather than declining. For many autistic people, life outcomes in education, vocation, health, and family functioning are unsatisfying and need improvement.
Autistic people are also around seven times more likely to be unemployed than people without disability, and they have a higher risk of homelessness.
People within the autistic community called for a dedicated National Autism Strategy that will improve life outcomes for all autistic people in Australia.
For the first time, it will provide a coordinated national approach to services and supports for autistic Australians and their families.
The National Autism Strategy will sit alongside Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031.
According to research by Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), an independent, not-for-profit medical research institute, autism affects approximately one in 160 individuals and is more common in males than females.
It is a neurodevelopmental disorder that usually appears before the age of three.
Some people will gradually improve as they get older while others remain unchanged and even develop new problems such as seizures. Autism can also lead to other problems such as depression.
