Select Committee on Autism
Submission 35
Healthy Profession.J!JRACGP Healthy Australia.
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
12 June 2020
Department of the Senate
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2601
Via email: autism.sen@aph.gov.au
Dear Committee Secretariat,
Re: Select Committee on Autism - Terms of reference
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Terms of Reference from the Select Committee on Autism.
The RACGP is Australia’s largest professional general practice organisation, with more than 41,000 members. The RACGP represents and supports both urban and rural general practitioners (GPs).
GPs play an important role in the early diagnosis and subsequent management of people with autism. GPs have unique knowledge of the patient family and community context as well as the patient’s co-morbidities, Which are very common in autism. Hence, they are well placed to assess the needs and goals of care of individual patients with autism, and how best to progress towards those goals - including contributing towards the assessment and participation of their patients with autism in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
GPs are also an integral part of a multidisciplinary team, and play a key role in the coordination of care of people with autism, including provision of care to their families and carers. Effective and cohesive care by a multidisciplinary team helps improves health outcomes, particularly for those patients with complex needs.
The RACGP considers the Terms of Reference to be thorough. We look forward to hearing the Committee’s next steps and providing further comment. Please contact Mr Stephan Groombridge, Manager, eHealth and Quality
Care on or at if you have any further queries.
Yours sincerely
Dr Harry Nespolon
President
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Ltd
100 Wellinaton Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002
racgp.org.au ACN ooo 223 807 ABN 34 ooo 223 807