Inclusive education will be a core part of teaching degrees in South Australia, helped in part by the Albanese Labor Government's commitment to the Autism Cooperative Research Centre.
From September next year, the University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia and Tabor College will incorporate evidence-based resources developed by the Autism CRC to adopt best practice guidelines for their curriculum.
Flinders University, which already delivers inclusive and Specialised Education Degrees, will further incorporate the latest research from the Autism CRC into their curriculum.
Around 1 in 70 Australians have been diagnosed with autism. The Albanese Labor Government is committed to improving inclusivity and supports for autistic Australians, including just last month boosting funding to the Autism CRC by $4 million, on top of an earlier $2 million boost in February.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth welcomed the South Australian government's decision to implement the program and said this was an important step towards filling knowledge gaps in the education sector.
In February this year Minister Rishworth launched the National Guideline for supporting the learning, participation, and wellbeing of autistic children and their families, which has already attracted more than 6000 registered users.
New resources developed by the Autism CRC to support the uptake and implementation of this Guideline include undergraduate, graduate and professional development education and training resources which will be drawn on by these South Australian universities.
"We are equipping our future teachers with the skills to support children with disability from the beginning, so they can feel confident they can provide the right support in the classroom," Minister Rishworth said.
"All children deserve the same access to quality learning, and having inclusive education as a core part of teaching degrees will help ensure no child is left behind.
"It's terrific to see the our Albanese Labor Government's boosted funding for the Autism CRC already paying off, leading to better inclusion outcomes for people living with disability."
Building an inclusive society where all people can participate on an equal basis is central to the aims of both Australia's Disability Strategy 2021-2031 and to the development of the National Autism Strategy.
Public consultations on the development of a National Autism Strategy will remain open until late October 2023.
