E&OE TRANSCRIPT
Topics: National Autism Strategy
RORY MCLAREN, HOST: The Federal Government has unveiled Australia's first National Autism Strategy, which is aiming to improve the lives of almost 300,000 people who have known autism diagnoses across the country. It is a seven year plan with some 22 commitments across key areas, including social and economic inclusion, as well as better support for those with diagnoses and health. The Minister behind the strategy is South Australia's very own Amanda Rishworth. She is the Federal Social Services Minister. Amanda Rishworth good morning.
AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: Good morning and it's great to be with you.
RORY MCLAREN, HOST: Thank you for your time. How significant do you feel this strategy is when it comes to better coordinating autism services across Australia?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, I think it is a real landmark piece of work because what it does is not only look at coordinating services, but looking at how we make our services, but also our community more inclusive for people with autism and that is really what autistic people told us about. Now, I have to say that this was not my strategy. This was designed by the Autistic Oversight Committee, which was made out with a majority of people with lived experience. So, this is a huge amount of work. It's. It sets a framework and it sets a roadmap. Of course, there's a lot more work to be done, but this is a critical piece of work to hopefully transform many systems, but also more broadly transform community as well, to make it more welcoming and more inclusive for autistic people.
RORY MCLAREN, HOST: You know, there is $42.3 million budgeted for the implementation or the first phase of the strategy. That's the start, not the end, isn't it?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Look, it is absolutely the start, but it is also important that this strategy is also about changing existing systems. It's about looking at ways that we can take what's often research and put it into practice and a great example of that is in public spaces. How do we provide spaces that don't overwhelm autistic people in a sensory nature. So, this money is the start, but it is really the start of what were the immediate actions autistic people called for and one of those areas really is in peer support. Having someone that understands you, that can give you support and advice along your journey as an autistic person, so you don't feel alone was identified as really key. And that's why some of the first investments that we're making is actually in peer support.
RORY MCLAREN, HOST: Is it also an acknowledgement that there is that disconnection or disconnect between what's happening in the research space and then what's actually delivered.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Oh, look. Absolutely. There is a lot of research out there that shows what best practice might look like in, for example, inclusive education or in employment workplaces, but it's hard for people to know how to implement that in a practical, everyday sense. So, some of the investments that we're making is actually looking at how we translate that, really best practice research, but make it fit for purpose every day, whether that's in a supermarket, whether that's in a workplace, whether that's in a community club. Because without that sort of how to guide, it's very hard for people. Because when we're talking about the way autistic people see the world and it's very different from for different people.
RORY MCLAREN, HOST: Exactly right. Individuals have their own experiences, don't they?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Absolutely. And I think it's really important to note that no autistic person's experience is the same, but often what is common is that what's called that they see the world often in a different way to what neurotypical people see the world. And so by sort of having a better understanding of that and looking at more flexibility around the way we, for example, ask people, how would you like to be communicated with? Is a really important first step for making autistic people feel included.
RORY MCLAREN, HOST: That's the voice of Federal Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth and also member for Kingston in Adelaide's southern suburbs. It's 25 minutes past 10. You're listening to Mornings with Rory McLaren across South Australia into Broken Hill and of course into Adelaide. Can I ask also about the strategy talks about essentially under diagnosed people in Australia with autism, that there are 290,000 people who have a diagnosis of autism, but that's underrepresented, isn't it? And how important is there's almost $3 million allocated for a strategy, for a study rather to look at the true prevalence of autism across the country. How important is that body of work going to be to shape further policy into the future?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Yeah, look, it is completely recognised, I think very broadly that the around 300,000 people with a diagnosis of autism is quite underrepresented. And to get a very, very clear picture of people with autism, that study is going to be very very important. Because it gives us a true picture of not only the prevalence, but it will start to help us understand the different experiences of autistic people. As I said, not everyone has the same experience. There are different journeys and different experiences that people have. And to get a very clear picture helps us better plan for supports and services. But it also gives us a better understanding of what more we can do.
RORY MCLAREN, HOST: Broadly though, as a Federal Minister and having been obviously involved in the development of this strategy, do you also feel that states and territories and the Federal Government haven't necessarily been working cohesively together in this space?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Look, I think this is a really emerging area of how we meet the specific needs of autistic people. The states and territories and the Commonwealth have worked together on Australia's disability strategy and it's been a very broad strategy and this is the first time we've really looked at how do we meet the specific needs of autistic people. So, it is a new area of work. I do think there's more collaboration to be done, but I do have to give out a shout out to the South Australian government, and particularly the Assistant Minister, Emily Bourke, because as Assistant Minister for Autism, she's been doing a huge amount of work and actually really having led the way. And one of the great things about our national strategy and about the South Australian strategy is that we really worked together on that and there is huge alignment between the two. So, I really am looking forward to working with some of the other states and territories that may not have developed their own autism strategy and actually work out how we really can align and coordinate. But I would say we're in a really good position in South Australia, where there is so much coordination and alignment between the South Australian work and also our national work.
RORY MCLAREN, HOST: Federal Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth, before I let you go, of course we are in the shadow federal election campaign right now. How big a challenge does the ALP have on its hands to hold your adjoining electorate of Boothby?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, no federal election is ever a walk in the park. They're always close. And so in terms of the Federal Labor Party and the ALP, we're taking this election. I mean, what will be on offer is a choice between building Australia's future under our government or taking it backwards. That's the choice on offer. And so we'll be putting a very clear, clear position and clear plan for the Australian people, but ultimately it's their decision.
RORY MCLAREN, HOST: Federal Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth. Thank you so much for your time this morning.