Focus Area 1: Ongoing actions
Commitment 1: Create clearer and more consistent pathways to diagnosis for Autistic people of all ages.
Target
Raise public awareness regarding diagnostic pathways and ensure all information and resources are accessible and easy to navigate.
Action
Develop and promote information, where appropriate, on autism to assist people and their families to access services, for example:
- assessment and diagnostic services
- counselling and support following a diagnosis
- autism and disability specific information
- supports for parents with disability, including autism.
Lead: All state government agencies
Commitment 2: Improve the availability and access of diagnosis, especially in regional and/or remote areas.
Target
Expand autism assessment services and supports for children and young people and their family and carers, especially in regional and remote areas.
Action
Improve pathways to identify children and young people who require an autism assessment.
Lead: Office for Autism (Department of the Premier and Cabinet)
Action
Assist carer and case worker understanding of the pathways to identify children and young people in care who require autism assessments.
Lead: Department for Child Protection
Action
Provide training to case workers delivering support in rural and remote areas to understand pathways for autism assessment for children and young people in care who have been identified.
Lead: Department for Child Protection
Action
Provide autism assessment and diagnosis referrals for young people connected with the youth justice system, and for family members receiving support from Safer Family Services through the Autism Assessment and Diagnostic Service.
Lead: Department of Human Services
Commitment 4: Improve the post-diagnostic referral process and accessibility of accurate information and resources.
Target
Ensure training and resources on post-diagnostic services and supports are continually updated.
Action
Provide regular carer learning opportunities and forums to keep carers informed and updated of supports available for Autistic children and young people in care.
Lead: Department for Child Protection
Target
Develop clear and accessible resources for Autistic people accessing post-diagnostic services and supports.
Action
Ensure resources and websites provide clear and accessible information on how higher education students can access the support services they offer, and outline what those services are, even if they have not previously disclosed an autism diagnosis.
Lead: TAFE SA and Office for Autism (Department of the Premier and Cabinet)