The National Roadmap to Improve the Health and Mental Health of Autistic People 2025–2035 was released by the Federal Government on Tuesday.
La Trobe University academics played an important role in the development of the roadmap, which follows the release of Australia's first-ever national autism strategy last month.
The roadmap sets out steps that recognise what will improve the health and mental health care for Autistic people across key areas including improving support and the quality of health care, building better connections between service sectors and strengthening research and data on Autistic people and their carers.
Dr Jac den Houting and Associate Professor Darren Hedley from La Trobe’s Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC) provided expert research insights, evidence-based recommendations and lived experience to the roadmap, ensuring the plan addresses the most pressing healthcare challenges for Autistic people.
“This roadmap is a long-overdue acknowledgement that Autistic people face complex and entrenched barriers to accessing healthcare,” Dr den Houting said.
“Its emphasis on autism-affirming care demonstrates that Autistic voices have finally been heard and that Autistic values have prevailed.
“Autistic people fundamentally deserve to be accepted and understood for who we are. Only then can we begin to create genuine social inclusion.”
At least 290,000 Australians identified as Autistic in 2022. Many more will have a relative, friend or colleague who is Autistic.
Associate Professor Hedley said a La Trobe policy brief was key in getting recognition of the need for systemic changes within the healthcare system to address the significantly increased suicide rate in autism.
Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler said the roadmap formed a key part of the National Autism Strategy, which would improve outcomes for all Autistic people by coordinating a national approach to services and supports, including access to services, health care, education and employment.
Actions recommended in the roadmap include:
- A national initiative to make it easier for Autistic people to identify relevant health, mental health, suicide prevention and preventative health practitioners that specialise in services for Autistic people.
- Service navigators or liaison officers, similar to disability health navigators, to assist Autistic people find services.
- Development of an ‘autism passport’ for Autistic people to share their information with health services
- Improving autism education and training for health and mental health professionals
- National evidence-based standards for pain measurement in Autistic people
OTARC research
OTARC’s Health and Wellbeing research program focuses on the priorities of the Autistic community. Through advocacy, policy development and research, the program has trained workforces, developed suicide prevention tools and explored areas such as anxiety, depression and sleep. OTARC advocates for improved healthcare access and policies informed by research that reflects the needs of Autistic people.
