In January, the Australian Government launched the new National Autism Strategy for 2025-2031. The new strategy’s vision is to create “a safe and inclusive society where all Autistic people are supported and empowered to thrive in all aspects of life, in line with international human rights” (Department of Social Services, 2025).

One of the key focuses of this new strategy is unemployment, as “Autistic Australians are six times more likely to be unemployed” (Young and Campanella, 2025).

The strategy contains 22 commitments across four key areas including:

• Social inclusion
• Economic inclusion
• Diagnosis, services and supports
• Health and mental health.

Within these four areas, some of the commitments and projects include:

• Online platforms that are accessible and “sensory-friendly”
• Taking into consideration how feasible the current available screening tools are
• Finding more affordable ways to access assessment processes and diagnosis
• Assisting employers in the recruitment of autistic employees and how to retain these employees.

This new National Autism Strategy also provides $42.3 million in funding to support projects such as new peer support programs, as well as reviews of current initiatives. $19.9 million have been pledged towards the new peer support program which provides “lived-experience knowledge, empathy and culturally-tailored advice for autistic people in groups they resonate with” (Young and Campanella, 2025). As well as this, these funds are going towards other tools, studies, educational resources and other helpful resources that assist in creating “a safe and inclusive society” for all those with autism.

With this new strategy, Australia now joins countries including England, the United States and Canada, as they already have implemented a national autism strategy.

The Minister of Social Services and now new NDIS Minister Amanda Rishworth has praised this new National Autism Strategy, stating that “addressing the barriers autistic people face in areas like education, employment and diagnosis is long overdue and we are proud to deliver a strategy that will change lives for the better” (Young and Campanella, 2025).

At Ability Partners, we are proud to support this new national approach to supporting individuals with Autism. We have a great team of therapists experienced at working with this population group and working alongside them to achieve goals that really matter.