Focus Area 5: Immediate actions - first 12 months
Commitment 1: Consider how the built environment may impact Autistic people and identify opportunities for improvement across current and future infrastructure projects.
Target
Ensure that accessibility and inclusion is considered from the very beginning of the planning process.
Action
Review the Security Design Standards to incorporate viable solutions for alarms in buildings where people may have sensory needs.
Lead: Department for Education
Target
Improve the standardisation of autism inclusion in infrastructure projects.
Action
Collaborate to develop autism inclusive guidelines that are available publicly to ensure the needs of Autistic people are being met throughout the planning, development and management of new infrastructure projects.
Lead: Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing and Department for Infrastructure and Transport
Target
Collaborate with the Autistic and autism community to inform infrastructure projects.
Action
Update the Community Engagement Charter Toolkit to provide guidance for consulting the autism community on future planning decisions.
Lead: Department for Housing and Urban Development
Action
Consult with Property Council of Australia to inform inclusive design.
Lead: Office for Autism (Department of the Premier and Cabinet)
Commitment 2: Identify ways to improve accessible transport options and the accessibility of public spaces and venues, including signage and wayfinding tools.
Target
Collaborate with subject matter experts to ensure the needs of the Autistic and autism community are considered in the decision-making process.
Action
Collaborate on Driver Training Reform Bill to ensure the needs of the Autistic and autism community are considered during the reform process.
Lead: Office for Autism (Department of the Premier and Cabinet) and Department for Infrastructure and Transport
Action
Collaborate on Disability Parking Reform to ensure the needs of the Autistic and autism communities are considered during the reform process.
Lead: Office for Autism (Department of the Premier and Cabinet) and Department for Infrastructure and Transport
Commitment 3: Partner with organisations, sporting clubs, local councils and community services to support inclusive initiatives for Autistic people of all ages.
Target
Improve new and existing programs and services to ensure they are accessible and inclusive to allow Autistic people to fully participate.
Action
Review current and potential inclusive initiatives that support community participation and social connection for Autistic people under the Department of Human Services Community Connections Program (CCP), for people aged 18-65.
Lead: Department of Human Services
Action
Review current and potential inclusive initiatives that support community participation for Autistic people within the programs offered by the Community and Partnerships team, including the Community and Neighbourhood Development Program, the Financial Wellbeing Program, the Youth Support and Development Program, and the Service to Aboriginal Youth Program.
Lead: Department of Human Services
Action
Review opportunities for the Sports Vouchers Plus program to be expanded to include other recreational sport and activities to support Autistic people.
Lead: Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing
Action
Provide funding for community and non-government organisations to implement inclusion initiatives through the Community Grants Program 2024.
Lead: Office for Autism (Department of the Premier and Cabinet)
Target
Ensure sporting and community facilities support accessible and inclusive community participation.
Action
Ensure event organisers using government facilities provide for the needs of Autistic people and people with disability – including participants, officials and spectators.
Lead: Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing
Action
Work with State Sporting Organisations to ensure they have updated disability and/or neurodivergence policies and procedures for their sport at all levels.
Lead: Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing
Action
Explore funding opportunities to work with partners for the delivery of disability and autism awareness workshops with state sporting organisations and sporting clubs.
Lead: Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing