In 2023, The Social Deck was engaged by the Department of Social Services for two pieces of work to support the development of the National Autism Strategy – a communications strategy, branding and materials, and the design and delivery of national consultations to inform the new Strategy.
The Australian Government announced the development of a National Autism Strategy in 2022, in response to findings of the Senate Select Committee on Autism, which recommended a person and family-centred National Autism Strategy to improve life outcomes for Autistic people.
The Department of Social Services engaged The Social Deck to support communications to inform autistic people, their families and carers and other stakeholders about the development of the strategy and encourage them to be part of consultations, and to explain the importance of having a National Autism Strategy.
We developed a comprehensive communication and brand strategy, with supporting communication plans tailored to priority cohort audiences of First Nations people, multicultural communities, people with intellectual disability and LGBTIQA+ communities. Together with these plans we developed and helped to implement:
We were further engaged by the Department to plan, deliver and collect and analyse data from national consultations to inform the development of the National Autism Strategy. Consultation activity needed to be planned, promoted and delivered in tight timeframes, while still prioritising accessibility and inclusion for the full autism community.
Between September-November 2023 we conducted more than 100 separate engagement activities across Australia and online, with over 2000 participants. This included 20 different targeted discussions with people from intersectional and priority population groups. We provided a range of opportunities and formats for people to give input in ways that suited them, including
All events were delivered in partnership with autistic co-facilitators, and measures were taken to ensure that communications, materials and venues were accessible, safe and empowering.
We analysed and collated the data across all engagements to produce a final report which included recommendations for the development of the National Autism Strategy.
The National Autism Strategy was released by the Australian Government on 14 January 2025.
In 2023, The Social Deck was engaged by the Department of Social Services for two pieces of work to support the development of the National Autism Strategy – a communications strategy, branding and materials, and the design and delivery of national consultations to inform the new Strategy.
The Social Deck acknowledges the traditional custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. Our staff live and work on the lands of many First Nations peoples, including the Gubbi Gubbi or Kabi Kabi people, the Turrbal and Yuggera people, the Bundjalung people, the Ngarigo and Ngunnawal people and the Wadawurrung people. These peoples have lived on and cared for these lands for thousands of generations, and their sovereignty has never been ceded. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to elders past and present.
The Social Deck acknowledges the traditional custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. Our staff live and work on the lands of many First Nations peoples, including the Gubbi Gubbi or Kabi Kabi people, the Turrbal and Yuggera people, the Bundjalung people, the Ngarigo and Ngunnawal people and the Wadawurrung people. These peoples have lived on and cared for these lands for thousands of generations, and their sovereignty has never been ceded. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to elders past and present.
