Federal Election
2025 Australian Autism Alliance Campaign
Commit to a Fairer Future for Autistic Australians through accountability and action
In the lead-up to the 2025 Federal Election, we are calling on all political parties to make the following commitments through action and accountability to back a stronger, fairer future for Autistic Australians.
Current systemic barriers prevent a fairer future for Autistic Australians. Investing in targeted reforms and policies that improve choice, social justice, life experiences, and outcomes for all Autistic people to thrive across the life span is not only a human right but also a strong investment.
Key commitments needed:
- Full Support of the National Autism Strategy – Shifting the dial for Autistic people needs an integrated and interconnected government focus to enable accountability and action.
- Effective Education for all Autistic Australians – All education settings should provide the same rights, choices and opportunities for all.
- Improve Health & Mental Health for Autistic people – Autistic people struggle to access timely, affordable, available and accessible care.
- Building of an Inclusive Society – Society should be safe and supportive for all Australians.
- Enduring Economic & Social Outcomes for All – By addressing the needs of Autistic people early on, we can reduce harm and longer-term costs
Download the full version of Fairer Future for Autistic Australians.
Our scorecard below is created to provide an easy reference to reflect the major parties responses to some of our requested commitments under our Fair Australia Campaign and the Fairer Future for Autistic Australians campaign. We also provide links to highlight other disability policy commitments.
Also please see the following resources:
- Senator David Pocock’s Disability Commitments
- Independent Caz Heize’s Disability Commitments
- Peter Dutton’s commitment to support children with additional needs
The Alliance also is involved and supports the following campaigns:
Fair Australia Campaign
A Disability Inclusive & Equitable Australia by 2031
The disability support system is broad, but in too many ways it is disconnected.
For people with a disability, their families, and carers, issues like early childhood, education, employment, housing, health, and transport are interconnected, but are not treated in an integrated way by government. Govt depts all to often operate in silos, rather than as part of a broader, integrated plan.
Fair Australia is fighting this election for a future of inclusion, equity, and employment for people with a disability and their families.
DRO Election Campaign
Economic Justice for People with Disability
Australia’s Disability Representative Organisations have launched our National Blueprint for Economic Justice for People with Disability – a critical call to action for our next government.
One in five Australians live with disability, yet too many face impossible choices:
- Paying for essential supports OR buying groceries
- Living with family well into adulthood OR homelessness
- Accepting below-minimum wage OR unemployment
Our political leaders have a clear choice: continue excluding people with disability or create systems that work for everyone. View the detail here.
View the accessible version here.
The Blueprint is supported by:
- Australian Autism Alliance
- Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO)
- Community Mental Health Australia
- Children and Young People with Disability Australia
- Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA) Ltd
- Down Syndrome Australia
- First Peoples Disability Network
- Inclusion Australia
- National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA)
- People with Disability Australia (PWDA)
- Physical Disability Australia Ltd (PDA)
- Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA)
2022 Election
Federal Election 2022 – Shifting the Dial on Autism
Autism affects a large number of Australians. Australia’s autistic population is estimated to be around 650,000 with 1 in 4 having an autistic family member. Autistic people have unique and diverse talents but still experience significantly poorer outcomes in most aspects of life than other Australians.
In the leadup to the 2022 Federal Election, we are calling on all major parties to make the following 4 main commitments with the outcome of “Shifting the Dial on Autism” to improve the lives and lifelong outcomes for ALL autistic Australians and their families:
- Develop and fund a National Autism Strategy
- Convene an ‘Autism and COVID Summit’ in 2022” to identify initiatives that address the longtail adverse impacts of COVID and harness the unique talent of Autistic people who overwhelmingly want to work , have much to offer and would enable them to be part of the solution to current and future workforce shortages.
- Develop a National Roadmap to improve health and mental health outcomes for autistic people
- Ensure an enduring and effective National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
Download the full version of “Shifting the Dial on Autism” here.
For more information connect with us or contact Alliance Co-Chair Jenny Karavolos at chair@australianautismalliance.org.au.