South Australia's first Autism Strategy

It is time to move beyond talking about creating autism awareness. It is time to build knowledge, understanding and acceptance to create lasting, and long overdue, cultural change across the South Australian community. 

What's being decided?

The State Government has listened to the calls of autistic people and families and has committed to working with the autistic and autism communities to co-design the state’s first Autism Strategy (the Strategy) and Charter (the Charter). Meaningful cultural change and greater inclusion in our community can only come about by consulting, listening, and creating open dialogue with the autistic and autism communities.

The Strategy will support a dedicated whole of Government approach to create a fairer and more inclusive society. The development and creation of the Strategy is an important step towards creating a more inclusive and knowledgeable society where autistic people can meaningfully participate in the community. 

Consultation

Through public consultation, the State Government invites submissions from the autistic and autism communities that will shape the Strategy and Charter. 

To start the consultation and co-design process, the State Government wants to hear your feedback on this Discussion Paper, in your words, with your stories and your experiences. 

We hope to hear from a diverse range of members of the autistic and autism communities.

Topics

Your feedback will provide meaningful insight into the priority areas which autistic and autism communities consider to be most important. We have included 8 topics to start the discussion.

Topic 1: State Autism Strategy

Topic 2: Defining autism

Topic 3: Rights, autonomy and diversity

Topic 4: Community attitudes

Topic 5: Access to Government Services

Topic 6: Health, mental health and wellbeing

Topic 7: Education, employment and the workforce

Topic 8: Spaces and the built environment.

Be part of shaping the State's first Autism Strategy

Consultation on the Discussion Paper is now closed

This Discussion Paper and YourSAy survey is the start of public consultation and co-design for the Strategy and Charter with ideas and questions that will help shape them. 

Consultation enquiries

If you have a consultation enquiry enquiries, please email: SAAutismStrategy@sa.gov.au.

What's next

Thank you to the autistic and autism communities for a tremendous response to the State’s first Autism Strategy – Discussion Paper, and your involvement in many forums and discussions over the past 12 weeks.  Following the closure of the first phase of consultation on 20 February 2023, DHS have commenced collating the responses and are in the process of producing a Consultation Report that will be made public when available. This report will reflect what we have heard via YourSAy and the many direct discussions with the autistic and autism communities.

We will then develop a draft Charter and Strategy which will be provided for further consultation throughout 2023. 

*Design and imagery used for this consultation is temporary, and will be updated with the release of the Strategy in consultation with members of the autistic and autism communities.