Secretary
Department of Health and Human Services
50 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne Victoria 3000
GPO Box 4057
Melbourne Victoria 3001
www.dhhs.vic.gov.au\
DX 210081\
BAC-6288
Dr Jane Thomson
Committee Secretary
The Senate Select Committee on Autism
PO Box 6100, Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
autism.sen@aph.gov.au
Dear Dr Thomson
Thank you for the opportunity to provide a submission to the Senate Select Committee on Autism and to showcase the work Victoria is doing to improve the lives of autistic Victorians and their families and carers. (Please note that the use of identity-first language such as “autistic Victorians”, was the preference of many but not all people we consulted with in the development of the Victorian autism plan.)
I have attached a copy of the Victorian autism plan for your information. Launched in December 2019, the Victorian autism plan is a five-year plan setting out actions that will give autistic Victorians greater opportunities for choice, participation and contribution in our community. The plan sets out what the Victorian Government is doing now and into the future to restore people’s rights and opportunities, and to support their families and carers. The plan was developed through consultation with a diverse range of autistic people; their families and supporters; autism organisations, and other relevant organisations. This consultation was essential to making the plan accurately reflect people’s experiences.
The plan seeks to address key issues identified in the Final Report of the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Services for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder, which made 101 recommendations for improving supports and services and increasing inclusion for people with autism. I have attached the final report as an appendix to this letter for consideration by the committee. It includes testimony from autistic people and their communities, articulating many of the layers of discrimination and exclusion they experience.
The Victorian autism plan is built around intended outcomes and commitments that are consistent with Absolutely everyone, Victoria’s state disability plan for 2017-2020. Importantly, on the advice of the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Victorian autism plan replicates the long-term, high-level outcomes framework of the state disability plan. This outcomes framework is built around four key pillars: Inclusive communities; Health, housing and wellbeing; Fairness and safety; and Contributing lives.
The Victorian autism plan focuses on driving change in areas such as community inclusion, early identification and diagnosis, and supports pathways through key life transitions. It also
includes actions to increase participation in education and training and to build employment opportunities in the public and private sectors.
Victoria has progressed some key initiatives to ensure sport and recreation, and other activities are more accessible and inclusive. This includes Arts Centre Melbourne’s inclusive performances program which offers relaxed performances for audiences who benefit from a calmer environment, Museums Victoria’s Autism Friendly Museum initiative and Parks Victoria’s autism-friendly visits. Additionally, a significant commitment has been made to promote health and wellbeing through increased assessment and diagnosis services and through a Royal Children’s Hospital program to reduce avoidable hospital presentations and lengths of stay. The Department of Health and Human Services has also expanded on its RISE program which creates employment opportunities for people with autism.
I also draw your attention to Victoria’s autism awareness campaign, Change Your Reactions, launched on 17 February 2020. The campaign is Australia’s first social behaviour change campaign to promote better understanding and inclusion of autistic people. The Victorian Government has invested $2.8 million in the campaign, developed by Amaze, as a key commitment under the Victorian autism plan. The campaign encourages Victorians to recognise the exclusion autistic people face and to modify their behaviour in small ways that can make a large difference. The campaign can be viewed at https://changeyourreactions.com/ and uses both traditional and new media to influence more positive behaviours towards autistic people.
The Victorian Government has committed to annual public reporting to allow the community to track progress against commitments. It has also committed to a continuation of the Autism Plan Advisory Group to advise government on implementation of the plan and future actions. Reporting on the Victorian autism plan will form an appendix of future state disability plan annual reports for the life of the plan.
The plan will also be refreshed at its midway mark for the purpose of identifying outcome areas that require additional focus. I would note that the plan was launched in December 2019 and implementation activities were paused in March 2020 to focus Victorian effort on the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on people with disability. Accordingly, reporting and monitoring work will commence later than originally anticipated.
Thank you for writing to me about this inquiry. I trust the Victorian autism plan will inform the work of the Committee so that autistic people are a valued part of Australia’s social and economic fabric.
Yours sincerely
Kym Peake
Secretary
20/07/2020