This roadmap aims to address the breadth of issues faced by Autistic people in the Australian healthcare system. It outlines the path to improve the physical and mental health of Australia’s growing Autistic population.

The Roadmap aims to:

• improve support for Autistic people, their families and carers, in health and mental health services
• improve the quality, safety and availability of Autism Affirming health and mental health care across the lifespan of Autistic people
• build better connections between health, mental health, and other service sectors, including the NDIS
• improve autism education and training for health and disability professionals 
  Strengthen research and data on health and mental health of Autistic people and their families and carers.

The roadmap forms the fourth pillar of Australia’s National Autism Strategy 2025–2031 which sets out the broader vision for a safe and inclusive society for all Autistic people.

Guiding principles

• Recognise and support the diversity of Autistic experience.
• Understand, respect and promote the individualised and intersecting needs of Autistic individuals (and their families and carers) in health and mental health services.
• Recognise mental health and suicide prevention as integral to good health.
• Ensure that Autistic people are included and considered in the design and delivery of health and mental health services that affect them, including through co-design and co-production.
• Services and supports for Autistic people, their families and carers should be universally accessible, affordable and autism affirming.
• Uphold human rights, self-determination, and autonomy of Autistic people.
• Acknowledge and accommodate the needs of specific priority groups of Autistic people.