<
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-steps-being-taken-to-get-better-treatment-for-australia-s-autistic-people-20240221-p5f6se.html>
"South Australian politician Emily Bourke didn’t realise she was taking on a
world first when her government created an Office for Autism just over a year
ago. But the more she talked to people and families around the state, the more
she knew it was needed.
It started on the campaign trail in 2022. “We were holding lots of community
forums, and it kept coming up naturally: my child can’t get through school; I’m
an autistic adult and can’t get into the workplace,” she says. So she started
holding specific autism forums; they kept getting booked out.
“That’s when we realised we needed someone solely focused on these autism
policies. We didn’t realise no one had a position like this in the world.”
Bourke is now Australia’s first assistant minister for autism, but she probably
won’t be the last. She’s tapped into something all policymakers in the country
must grapple with: our improved awareness of autism and rising diagnosis rates
mean our systems must change, from schools to workplaces.
All governments need to act. Federal Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth
will release the country’s first draft national autism strategy on Tuesday,
promising to create a “whole-of-life plan for all autistic Australians” that
spans reform to healthcare, education and employment."
Via
Fix the News:
<
https://fixthenews.com/good-news-marriage-equality-thailand-conservation-romania-reforestation-mediterranean/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
