Statement regarding Aspect’s submission to the Senate Select Committee on Autism
Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) was surprised to hear comments made at the Senate Select Committee on Autism hearing in Canberra yesterday (Monday 27 July), suggesting that Aspect had not made a submission to the committee – when receipt of our submission had been acknowledged by the committee secretariat via email on the 17 July.
The Senate Select Committee secretariat has since acknowledged that our submission was received by them on the 16 July 2020, explained that submissions are currently being reviewed prior to being uploaded to the website, and emailed the chair of the committee, Senator Hollie Hughes, to clarify the position.
Aspect strongly believes in the importance of the Senate Select Committee on Autism, and spent a significant amount of energy on a submission strongly supporting the establishment of a National Autism Strategy, developed in partnership with Autistic people, their families and carers, and the autism community, to provide a national roadmap to urgently improve access to diagnosis and educational support, employment prospects, social inclusion and improved physical and mental health outcomes for Autistic people.
We look forward to our submission being published, and to seeing many positive outcomes from the Senate Select Committee.
