The federal government has released its National Autism Strategy 2025-2031, outlining the vision for a safe and inclusive society for all Autistic people. Here’s what this could mean for psychologists and where improvements could be made.
Note: When referring to 'autism' in this article, we are referencing the 'autism spectrum'. We also use identity-first language, such as 'Autistic person'.
The government's long-awaited National Autism Strategy 2025-2031 (the Strategy) has been released, marking a significant milestone for Australia’s Autistic community.
For psychologists, this is more than a policy document – it’s a roadmap for addressing systemic barriers and supporting Autistic people in living full, meaningful and empowered lives. But how does this Strategy measure up, and what role can psychologists play in its implementation?
Below, we unpack what’s included in the Strategy, examine where it reflects the advocacy of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) on behalf of its members, and highlight areas where more work is needed.
Why Australia needs this strategy
According to 2022 data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), there are 290,900 Autistic people living in Australia – that's 1.1% of the population. And this is likely an underestimation. Yet, this community faces stark disparities in education, employment and social inclusion.
For instance:
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Less than half (45.1%) of Autistic people aged 15-20 complete Year 12, and just 5.2% attain a Bachelor’s degree, compared to 35.3% of people without a disability.
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Workforce participation is alarmingly low, with only 50.2% of working-age Autistic Australians actively engaged, and a mere 11.4% employed full-time.
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Autistic adults are 2.5 times more likely to experience depression than the general population and face higher rates of homelessness, discrimination and social isolation.
These barriers not only limit opportunities for Autistic individuals but also underscore the critical need for psychologists to support this community through accessible, evidence-based and neurodiversity-affirming care.
What the Strategy aims to achieve
The Strategy outlines a vision for a safe and inclusive society where Autistic Australians are empowered to thrive. It focuses on four reform areas:
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Social Inclusion
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Economic Inclusion
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Diagnosis, Services and Supports
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Health and Wellbeing
The government has laid out 22 specific commitments under these reform areas, with a detailed First Action Plan (2025–2026) outlining immediate priorities.
Phase one of the strategy includes the development of peer support programs to provide "lived-experience knowledge, empathy and culturally tailored advice" for Autistic Australians; the translation of research into evidence-based tools and guidance for service providers and policymakers; and community awareness and education initiatives.
It also calls for the evaluation of existing support programs; the development of pre-and post-diagnosis resources; and an epidemiological study to learn more about the true prevalence of autism in Australia, which was driven in part by APS's view that the ABS data regarding the prevalence of autism in Australia is likely an underestimation and requires further investigation.
For psychologists, the Strategy is a call to action. It highlights the need for mental health services, training and advocacy to address the unique challenges faced by Autistic Australians.
After consultation with our members, APS played a key role in advocating for changes that would directly impact the psychological profession and the Autistic community. Here is how the Strategy aligns – or falls short – of what our members told us they wanted to see in this Strategy.
1. Mental health and autism-affirming care
Broadly speaking, the APS Submission called for a range of initiatives that will support and strengthen the mental health and resilience of Autistic adult's mental health.
Outcome:
We were pleased to see that the Strategy has included an entire focus area to health and mental health outcomes for Autistic adults. This includes:
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Improving support for Autistic people, their families and carers, in health and mental health services.
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Improving the quality, safety and availability of autism-affirming health and mental health care across the lifespan.
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Building better connections between health, mental health, and other service sectors, including the NDIS.
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Improving autism education and training for health and disability professionals.
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Strengthening research and data on the health and mental health of Autistic people and their families and carers.
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Arrangements for oversight, monitoring and implementation of the Autism Health Roadmap.
2. Developing national assessment and diagnosis standards
On behalf of the profession, APS called for a thorough review of different screeners and diagnostic tools for use across the lifespan, including an evaluation of their strengths and limitations.
The psychology profession also wanted to see the development of a national standard for training in assessment and diagnosis of autism, and APS noted it would be well placed to lead/contribute to the development of such standards.
Outcome:
This recommendation was fully adopted. The Strategy includes a review of diagnostic tools and commits to developing standardised training in collaboration with professional bodies like the APS. This is a win for psychologists, as it sets the stage for more equitable and effective diagnostic practices. You can read more about this on pages 32-33 of the report.
3. Promoting an inclusive community for Autistic psychologists
The APS called for targeted support for Autistic healthcare professionals, including reviewing entry criteria for postgraduate programs and reducing workplace discrimination.
Outcome:
While the Strategy broadly addresses employment inclusion, it falls short of explicitly supporting Autistic healthcare professionals. This omission is a missed opportunity to foster diversity within the profession. However, broader initiatives – such as promoting neuro-inclusive hiring practices and increasing visibility of Autistic leaders and managers – may provide indirect benefits.
4. Ensure access to legal and advocacy services
APS recommended expanding access to legal services for Autistic people facing discrimination, abuse and exploitation.
Outcome:
The Strategy highlighted the fact that Autistic people, their families, carers and support networks often experience disproportionately high rates of social isolation, discrimination, abuse and violence. It focuses on increased advocacy support to address these issues rather than legal services.
However, this commitment to increased capacity for advocates and better education about rights and reporting pathways partially aligns with APS’s call and will be of great benefit to the Autistic community.
5. Supporting older Autistic adults
Older Autistic Australians were highlighted by the APS as a group requiring tailored support, particularly in aged care settings.
Outcome:
The Strategy briefly acknowledges barriers faced by older Autistic people, such as loneliness and sensory challenges due to the aging process but fails to include specific initiatives for aged care.
6. Autism prevalence study
The APS called for a comprehensive epidemiological study to determine the true prevalence of autism in Australia.
Outcome:
This recommendation was fully adopted, with the government committing $2.8 million over four years to conduct the study. This will address gaps in understanding autism prevalence, including misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis.
What else is included?
In addition to addressing APS’s key points, the Strategy includes several broader commitments relevant to psychologists:
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Intersectionality: The Strategy acknowledges that certain groups – such as First Nations Australians, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) individuals, and women, girls and gender-diverse people – face compounding barriers. Initiatives include culturally tailored peer support programs and education for government service providers.
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Peer support programs: A $19.9 million investment over four years will fund peer support networks led by individuals with lived experience. These programs aim to foster social connections, reduce stigma and empower Autistic people and their families.
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Employment initiatives: The Strategy commits to improving workplace inclusion through training for employers, removing hiring biases and supporting Autistic entrepreneurs. Specific attention will be given to increasing representation in leadership positions.
Notably, we commend the Strategy's focus on enhancing the experience of Autistic people accessing support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
For those with high support needs, autism can significantly impact communication, social interaction, behaviour regulation, sensory processing and the ability to navigate daily life independently. These challenges often affect Autistic adults' social and psychological wellbeing, areas where psychologists play an essential role in providing support.
Recognising the heightened vulnerability of Autistic individuals with high needs to exploitation, social isolation and broader wellbeing risks, the APS remains steadfast in advocating for the protection and enhancement of psychology services within the NDIS.
The Strategy reinforces the government's "commitment to continuous improvements of the services and supports available to Autistic people with very high support needs and their families and carers, including through the NDIS." The APS will continue working to ensure that these improvements include robust access to psychological services, safeguarding the wellbeing of this community.
Looking ahead
The government’s First Action Plan (2025–2026) outlines immediate priorities, including public education campaigns, peer support programs and a focus on knowledge translation. These steps lay the foundation for meaningful, long-term reform.
As implementation begins, the APS will play a critical role in ensuring the psychological profession remains central to advancing the Strategy’s vision. By integrating neurodiversity-affirming practices and staying engaged with policy developments, psychologists can help create a more inclusive and supportive society for Autistic Australians.
Further resources
Past submissions:
Further reading: