The year in review: 2024-25 Annual Report now available
2024-25 was another landmark year.
For Autism CRC, the year was marked by significant contributions to improved practice and policy-settings across Australia together with strengthening the national foundations for autism research and knowledge translation. For our stakeholder communities, it was a year of significant change, challenge, activity and promise.
We hope you share our pride in the breadth and impact of our national collaboration – one that continues to be shaped by the contributions of autistic people, families, carers, practitioners, researchers, service providers, and government partners, working together. As a result of their working together, again this year, Autism CRC’s role as the independent national source of evidence for best practice has both expanded and deepened. We are most grateful for that collective contribution and commitment.
With this Annual Report, we are pleased to release our refreshed vision to see equity and opportunity for autistic people and to support its realisation through our similarly refreshed mission to listen, learn, and lead the translation of evidence to create positive change for autistic people and the community. We look forward to continuing our work with you on that mission, towards that vision.
In 2024-25, activities included building upon existing national platforms both in terms of content and implementation, as well as developing new guidance and resources addressing areas of need. Highlights included:
- release of the National Framework for assessing children’s functional strengths and support needs
- work on the development of a National Guidance for best practice inclusive education for autistic students, for teachers, school leaders, medical and allied health professionals supporting social, emotional and academic outcomes for students in mainstream schools
- development of tailored resources in inclusionED for educators and other users in early childhood education, primary school and secondary.
Consistent with its objectives and those of the National Autism Strategy, Autism CRC also undertook a number of activities aimed at building community participation and leadership in autism-related research and knowledge translation. This included:
- co-design of a Roadmap for enhanced and increased co-production and leadership of autism research, identifying enablers, barriers, strategies and resources towards this end.
- development of an online Community of Practice focused on autism research and translation, to be piloted from late 2025.
- delivery of the Governance Program through the Sylvia Rodger Academy
- work to establish protocols and operations for two community consultation panels, one for First Nations communities and a second for individuals with high or complex support needs.
Once again and on behalf of the Autism CRC Board and team, we express our sincere gratitude to all who have contributed to our collaboration, our work and our successes over the past year – our Members, Affiliates and other project partners, government, and the many autistic individuals, family members and people working with them who have engaged with us this year.