Autism Strategy Action Plan

Action 1

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.

Details:

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: The number of autism-related information sources developed, promoted and/or delivered to assist people and families to access autism-related services, such as assessment, diagnosis, counselling and parent supports. Sources include resources, online content, brochures, survey material.
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Event attendance log, website analytics, distribution logs

Action 1

Ensure in-person and online Autism Awareness and Understanding training is completed across the public sector workforce.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: The number of staff who undertook Autism Awareness and Understanding Training online and in-person
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: HR training management records

Action 1

Outline the initiatives completed to promote autism inclusion in the workplace.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: The number of initiatives completed to promote autism inclusion in the workplace.
  Note: this action aligns with State Disability Inclusion Plan Measure 1.2.1 - Total number of initiatives undertaken to promote disability inclusion and improve community attitudes towards people with a disability in the community
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Website analytics, survey material

Action 2

Engage Autistic employees and employees with disability to provide advice and inform inclusion activities, including to assist in promoting days of significance.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: The number and proportion of lived experience staff engaged to inform inclusion activities.
  Note: this action aligns with State Disability Inclusion Plan Measure 1.2.1 - Total number of initiatives undertaken to promote disability inclusion and improve community attitudes towards people with disability in the community.
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Survey and feedback material, event attendance, employee-led boards and committees

Action 1

Review recruitment policies and processes to ensure they support reasonable adjustments and are responsive to the alternative ways Autistic employees can engage throughout the recruitment and training processes.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: The number and proportion of recruitment and training policies and processes that are reviewed to ensure they support Autistic and/or neurodivergent staff
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Policy registers

Action 2

Review and implement reasonable adjustment procedures and flexible workplace arrangements that support all staff, including Autistic employees and parents and carers of Autistic people.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: The number and proportion of reasonable adjustment and flexible workplaces arrangement procedures to support staff, including Autistic staff, that are reviewed and implemented
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Procedure register

Action 3

Review and update, where applicable, new starter forms to include an opportunity to identify as Autistic and/or neurodivergent to enable more accurate reporting and awareness in the public sector workforce.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: The number of onboarding forms used to identify Autistic and/or neurodivergent staff that are reviewed and updated
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: HR Reporting records, employee lifecycle communication processes

Action 4

Review and update, where applicable, the Design Quality Handbook to support the inclusion of Autistic employees across public sector workspaces.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: Updating of document led by the Department for Housing and Urban Development (DHUD)
• Responsibility: DHUD and DIT's Property team
• Data source: DHUD

Action 1

Establish a Carers and Parents network within our Community of Practice employee groups to provide support to employees who are carers of Autistic people.

• Target date: 2026
• Measure: Network established
• Responsibility: DIT's Workforce Strategy and Culture team
• Data source: Network, intranet page and communication for visibility of network

Action 1

Identify appropriate mechanisms, including clear confidentiality, to ensure Autistic employees feel safe, supported and confident to disclose that they are Autistic at the commencement of employment and through the employment lifecycle.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: The number of support mechanisms available to ensure Autistic and/or neurodivergent staff can disclose confidentially
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: HR Reporting records, onboarding process communication

Action 2

Continue to promote and provide EAP services that are inclusive, culturally appropriate, neurodiversity-affirming and in a range of modes and formats to support the diverse communication styles of Autistic employees.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services are regularly promoted via multiple soft and hard communications methods
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Communications data

Action 3

Consult with the Aboriginal Employment Team and training providers about making the departmental Aboriginal Cultural Footprint program autism-inclusive and neurodiversity-affrming to provide tailored and specific supports for Autistic Aboriginal employees.

• Target date: 2026
• Measure: Training reviewed, consultation occurred and any identified adjustments implemented
• Responsibility: DIT's People Culture and Capability team
• Data source: Our HR learning and performance development system

Action 4

Consult with lived experience networks and stakeholders about how to provide tailored and specific supports for Autistic employees from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

• Target date: 2026
• Measure: Contacts established – ongoing consultation in line with our programs
• Responsibility: DIT's Communities of Practice employee network
• Data source: Consultation and employee feedback data

Action 5

In consultation with the Office for Autism, develop a toolbox resource for building designers to support inclusive design for employees with a disability and neurodivergent employees.

• Target date: 2029
• Measure: Toolbox developed and lived experience consultation has occurred
• Responsibility: DIT's Property team and Department for Housing and Urban Development
• Data source: Added to Inclusive SA website

Action 6

Review and update, where relevant, the SA Government Office Accommodation Guidelines and provide training to Department for Infrastructure and Transport staff to ensure public sector buildings are autism-inclusive.

• Target date: 2029
• Measure: Continued engagement with the Office for Autism and the review of guidelines where relevant, with outcomes captured in existing reporting mechanisms
• Responsibility: DIT's Property team
• Data source: Inclusive SA website, National Construction Code (NCC)
  

Action 1

Deliver programs that target diversity and inclusion for Autistic people to gain practical workplace experience while undertaking higher education to support them into employment long-term.

• Target date: 2029
• Measure: The number of programs that target diversity and inclusion for Autistic and/or neurodivergent people to gain practical workplace experience while undertaking higher education
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Departmental employment pathways data

Action 2

Review and implement opportunities for supported transition into employment programs for Autistic people transitioning into employment in the public sector to receive tailored supports, ensuring that Autistic people are supported initially and ongoing.

• Target date: 2029
• Measure: 
  • The number of employment transition programs that support Autistic and/or neurodivergent people are reviewed
  • The number of Autistic and/or neurodivergent people who accessed those programs
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Departmental employment pathways data

Action 3

Establish a Disability and Neurodivergence Employment Coordinator position to provide better outcomes for Autistic employees.

• Target date: 2029
• Measure: Role has been created and recruited
• Responsibility: DIT's People and Corporate Services team
• Data source: Organisation chart

Action 1

Review and implement alternative and accessible workplace training options to support Autistic employees, including in a range of accessible formats and learning styles.

• Target date: 2029
• Measure: The number of alternative and accessible workplace training options available to support Autistic and/or neurodivergent staff
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Departmental HR Learning and Development data

Action 2

Identify volunteering opportunities for Autistic people across all state government agencies.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: The number of volunteering opportunities for Autistic people
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Departmental volunteer data

Action 3

Review existing peer support or mentoring programs to ensure they are inclusive of Autistic employees.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: The total number of peer support and/or mentoring programs and, of those, the proportion reviewed to ensure they are inclusive of Autistic staff
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Departmental HR learning and development data

Action 1

Review existing graduate programs to expand pathways for Autistic graduates from education settings to employment.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: The number of expanded pathways for Autistic graduates engaging in graduate programs
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Entry level program data

Action 1

Deliver or review initiatives, platforms and systems to connect Autistic people with information in various accessible formats across Government of South Australia supports and services.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: The number of initiatives, platforms and systems made to connect Autistic people with information in various accessible formats. Initiatives, platforms and systems include website content, accessible formats such as Easy Read.
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Surveys and feedback

Action 1

Collaborate with autism-specific organisations, where relevant, when developing and implementing policies, supports and services for Autistic people.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: The number of autism-specific organisations engaged when developing and implementing policies, support and services for Autistic people
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Consultation data

Action 1

Consult with reference groups and lived experience groups, where relevant, on autism-related matters to provide insights and guidance on identifying and addressing barriers to accessing services provided by the Government of South Australia.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: The number of reference and/or lived experience groups engaged to identify and address barriers to accessing services on autism-related matters
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Consultation data

Action 1

Review and update, where relevant, the customer service areas and experiences to ensure Autistic people feel supported when accessing services.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: The number of customer service areas reviewed to ensure Autistic and/or neurodivergent people are supported when accessing services
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Surveys and feedback

Action 1

In the development of new strategies and initiatives, the State Autism Strategy and/or Autism Charter will be linked and referenced, where appropriate.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: The number of references made to the State Autism Strategy and/or the Autism Inclusion Charter in new strategies and initiatives
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Strategy and plan register

Action 1

When consulting to inform the development of new strategies and initiatives, personal identifying data will be collected, where appropriate, to capture and consider the specific perspectives of the Autistic community.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: Volume of data collected through consultation on new strategies and initiatives
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Surveys and feedback

Action 1

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.

• Target date: 2025 (publish 2026)
• Measure: Fit-out guidelines to be updated and toolbox established in collaboration with lived experience networks and consulted
• Responsibility: Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing and DIT's Property team
• Data source: Fit out guidelines, design quality handbook, toolbox

Action 1

Collaborate on the Driver Training Reform Bill to ensure the needs of the Autistic and autism community are considered during the reform process.

• Target date: 2025
• Measure: Consultation occurred, documented and informed strategy
• Responsibility: Office for Autism (Department of the Premier and Cabinet) and DIT's Transport Policy Regulation team
• Data source: Consultation data

Action 2

Collaborate on Disability Parking Reform to ensure the needs of the Autistic and autism communities are considered during the reform process.

• Target date: 2025
• Measure: Consultation occurred, documented and informed strategy
• Responsibility: Office for Autism (Department of the Premier and Cabinet) and DIT
• Data source: Consultation feedback data

Action 1

Review customer service areas and facilities, including Service SA, Public Transport Authority and Rider Safe, and make autism-inclusive supports available to customers accessing them.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: Continued engagement with the Office for Autism and the review of guidelines where relevant, with outcomes captured in existing reporting mechanisms
• Responsibility: DIT's Property team
• Data source: Inclusive SA website, National Construction Code (NCC)

Action 2

Consider alternative ways to manage physical queuing for services, such as Service SA, including o􀆯ering a virtual experience and/or access to sensory or quiet rooms.

• Target date: Ongoing
• Measure: Total number of customers who present on a Saturday between 4 to 5pm during "quiet hour"
• Responsibility: DIT's Service SA team
• Data source: Service SA queue ticketing machine

Action 1

Incorporate any relevant findings into the design and delivery of the Department of Human Services-funded Community Transport SA services to support access and inclusion of Autistic people.

• Target date: 2026
• Measure: Support Department for Human Services as appropriate
• Responsibility: Department of Human Services (DHS) and DIT
• Data source: Led by DHS

Action 2

Investigate the introduction of quiet carriages and/or services and spacious zones with window tinting, and fewer stickers and advertising on public transport.

• Target date: 2029
• Measure: Investigation outcome and, if feasible, identification of suitable carriages and/or services
• Responsibility: DIT's Public Transport South Australia: Customer Strategy & Inclusion team
• Data source: Recommendations provided to Executive Committee for consideration

Action 3

Investigate the introduction of seats on public transport that show not all disabilities are visible and the availability of badges that public transport users can wear to help promote understanding of hidden disabilities to other passengers that the individual may require additional support or consideration.

• Target date: 2029
• Measure: Identify and introduce hidden disability seating. Implement a tool for customers to show they require additional support or consideration easily and voluntarily.
• Responsibility: DIT's Public Transport South Australia: Network Asset Planning team
• Data source: Recommendations provided to Executive Committee

Action 4

Promote the Try Before You Ride initiative to provide Autistic people and/or people with disability who may not feel confident using public transport and their support people with a safe and supportive environment.

• Target date: 2029
• Measure: Establish communication strategy and plan with our Public Affairs team
• Responsibility: DIT's Public Transport South Australia: Customer Strategy & Inclusion team
• Data source: Marketing and communication data, engagement data

Action 1

Consult with the Autistic and autism community, where appropriate, when planning and organising events to ensure they are autism inclusive, such as the inclusion of breakout or sensory spaces.

• Target date: Ongoing
  
• Measure: The number and proportion of lived-experience people engaged to inform planning and organising of events
  
• Responsibility: All state government agencies
• Data source: Consultation schedule, event attendance