Office for Autism leader Dr Emma to drive change across schools and public service

Change throughout schools and the public service will be spearheaded by the national-first appointment of an autistic leader for the state’s Office for Autism.

A national-first appointment of an autistic leader for the Office for Autism will spearhead change across the state’s biggest employer, the public service, and throughout schools.

Autistic educator and advocate Emma Goodall has been named the inaugural director of the office, based in the Premier and Cabinet Department.

Dr Goodall said she wanted to wanted to make “really specific improvements” across government to change the lives of people of all ages on the autism spectrum, helping them better participate in community life and the workforce.

This includes spearheading greater flexibility in the education system to help more autistic people complete school and go on to university.

Newly appointed Office for Autism director Dr Emma Goodall. Picture by Kelly Barnes

More than 200,000 Australians are autistic, one in four people has an autistic family member and 40 per cent of South Australian NDIS participants have autism.

“The situation at the moment is that it’s quite rare for people to have a really great life as an autistic person. It can be really difficult in school. It can be really difficult to have access to employment after school. It can be really difficult to participate in the community in the way that you want,” Dr Goodall told the Sunday Mail.

“We do have social communication difficulties. But other people not understanding us is a really big barrier and it’s so exciting to be in a position where they’re saying: ‘No, we’re hoping to remove those barriers across the state’.”

Dr Goodall said the introduction of autism inclusion teachers to almost all public primary schools had been a good start.

“I think if they’re (schools) just a little bit more flexible, the outcomes will be fantastic. For example, people not leaving before Year Ten, being able to complete SACE and access uni more easily,” she said.

The NDIS component for those with autism as a primary diagnosis is forecast to cost the federal budget $8.25bn in 2022-23.

Assistant Minister for Autism Emily Bourke and Dr Emma Goodall. Picture by Kelly Barnes

Dr Goodall’s installation follows the national-first appointment last August of Assistant Minister to the Premier Emily Bourke to the new role of Assistant Minister for Autism, charged with implementing autism-specific policies.

Ms Bourke said Dr Goodall, who starts on May 22, initially would be charged with leading change to make the public sector more inclusive.

She will lead the introduction of the state’s first Autism Strategy, now being developed, and an Autism Charter for government agencies.

“We are the biggest employer in South Australia, so if we can start making change to the biggest employment workforce in South Australia, that can trickle out throughout the community,” she said.