Autism Community

Autism SA’s vision is for each person on the autism spectrum to live the life they choose in an inclusive society. Alongside our range of supports and services, we drive a number of initiatives to support our vision. You can read more about these initiatives below.

Co-Creating Wellbeing Supports for Parents of Autistic Children

Together, we’re creating a stronger, more connected future.

About the project

Co-Creating Wellbeing Supports is a community led initiative by Autism SA, supported by a Spark Grant from the Fay Fuller Foundation. Autism SA aims to increase understanding of the well-being challenges faced by parents of autistic children by engaging in deep learning around the lived experiences of the autism community. A co-designed approach will then be used to develop a model that supports parents of autistic children to feel connected and supported. The hope is that this approach may be replicated across different communities and empower members of the autism community to thrive together.

Auitsm SA has heard that parents often feel isolated, overwhelmed, and left out of the systems designed to support their families. Together, we want to be able to create a support model that helps parents to feel connected and supported.

Our approach

Listening to the community – Conversations, surveys and group events

Inclusive participation – Flexible engagement e.g. online, in person

Co-design – Parents create, shape and test the model

Outcomes we’re working toward

Through your involvement in this project we can work towards:

Providing clarity on what supports are missing and what works

Designing a tested, adaptable support model co-designed with parents

Increased wellbeing and connection for families

A policy brief and model shared with the wider community

To make this work, we parents, carers, organisations, and allies to join the conversation and help shape what support should look like.

If you are interested in participating please contact Peta Richards by email, specialprojects@autismsa.org.au or prichards@autismsa.org.au

Supporting hospitality venues to hire autistic jobseekers

Be part of an exciting initiative, supporting hospitality venues to fill job shortages by utilising the talents of autistic job seekers

About the project

South Australia’s hospitality industry is facing a long-term workforce crisis, whilst in contrast, autistic people remain significantly underemployed. Autistic people can have many strengths such as high ability to focus, reliability and attention to detail. These strengths would be an asset for many hospitality roles. Despite having valuable skills, autistic individuals are often excluded due to inaccessible recruitment methods and unsupported workplace environments.

The ‘Unlocking Workforce Potential: Utilising Autistic Talent to Address Staff Shortages in South Australia’s Venues’ Project aims to unlock the talent pool of autistic job seekers by supporting hospitality venues to implement neuro-inclusive recruitment, onboarding, and workplace practices. This project, supported by a grant from the Office of Autism, Government of South Australia, is a 12 month initiative championed by Autism SA.

Participate in this exciting free initiative to utilise autistic talent and fill valuable positions at your venue.

Get involved

• Through your involvement in this project you may have the opportunity to:
• Co-design a neuro-inclusive recruitment campaign to attract autistic talent to your business
• Increase your knowledge, understanding and capacity to employ and retain autistic employees
• Gain support from an Autistic Advisory Officer to create an autism-friendly workplace
• Connect with autistic job seekers looking for roles in hospitality.

If you are interested in participating in this project please contact Hannah Badenhop by email, specialprojects@autismsa.org.au or scan the QR code below to fill out an enquiry form.

Autism SA Statement: in response to Speech from Minister Butler, National Press Club – 20 August 2025

Autism SA welcomes ongoing efforts to clarify the scope and purpose of foundational supports. We look forward to collaborating with both State and Commonwealth Governments to ensure that early childhood supports are designed to meet the needs identified by autistic people, their families, and the broader autism community.

While we are encouraged by this focus, we are concerned that recent commentary may not fully reflect the understanding that autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disability. It is essential that policy development recognises this reality and places emphasis on identifying and addressing support needs in genuine partnership with autistic people and the autism community. This will help ensure that new initiatives provide meaningful and appropriate support, rather than risk shifting responsibility away from the national disability support framework.

Autism SA encourages both the State and Commonwealth Governments to honour their commitment to co-design by working early, closely, and transparently with peak bodies, service providers, the sector, autistic people, and families who will be most directly impacted by these decisions.

As South Australia’s autism peak body, Autism SA is committed to ensuring that the voices of autistic people, children, and their families are heard. We will continue to engage constructively with government to influence the development of the Thriving Kids Program so that the needs of South Australian families and the broader autism community are fully represented and addressed.

Adelaide Fringe 2025

Autism SA is an Accessibility Partner for the Adelaide Fringe for a fourth year in a row!

As part of this, we welcome all artists and venues to participate in free online Autism Friendly training. Once this training is complete, there is also opportunity for venues or shows to be listed on the free Autism Friendly Charter Business Directory.

If you are a Fringe venue or artist, click the button below to get started with your free training.

Autism Friendly Dining

We’ve partnered with the Australian Hotels Association – SA Branch to help make South Australian venues more inclusive. Take a look at our Autism friendly dining directory to see what venues have come on board to hold inclusive dining experiences.

Autism friendly dining directory

Step by Step guide to inclusive venues 

We’ve just launched a step by step guide to enhancing accessibility and inclusion in venues.

Advocacy

Australian Autism Alliance

Autism SA is a member of the Australian Autism Alliance – a diverse national network of key autism organisations that works to influence and inform, educate and engage, connect and collaborate. You can learn more about this on the Alliance website.

Free Resources

Community Education

Community Projects

Support Groups

Autism SA maintains a register of support groups. These groups can be supportive, informative, and fun, giving you the opportunity for networking, find emotional support and a safe place to talk or listen. They can promote hope, empowerment, and strive to break down the barriers.

Please note these groups are not facilitated by Autism SA.