Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Next Monday 13 February, commencing at 6 pm, the South Australian Assistant Minister for Autism, the Hon. Emily Bourke MLC; the member for King, Rhiannon Pearce; and the member for Newland, Oliva Savvas, will host an autism forum at the Modbury Bowling Club in the Makin electorate, in preparation for the state's first autism strategy.

It's estimated that one in 70 Australians are on the autism spectrum, and the numbers appear to be increasing. Autism impacts people differently and can make life very difficult for young people, their teachers and school communities. That is why I applaud the South Australian Malinauskas Labor government for delivering on its $28 million election commitment to provide access to an autism inclusion teacher in every public primary school, including reception to year 12 schools.

As part of the program, more than 400 autism inclusion teachers will begin their new roles from this week. Regrettably, I will be here in Canberra and unable to attend the forum, but I expect a strong turnout. I thank the state MPs for hosting it and I encourage people to attend and share their views on how we can better support those people diagnosed with autism and their families.

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