Speak Out June 2021

Invitation to participate Autism Guideline evaluation

You're invited to participate!

• understand how the guideline approach to assessment and diagnosis supports timely access to services, • improve the capacity of the health professions and their workforce involved in assessment and diagnosis. More information is available on AHA’s website . AHA invites speech pathologists, paediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, general practitioners, nurses, and social workers involved in the assessment and diagnosis of autism to participate in the evaluation by completing two online surveys. The first is available mid-late June 2021, and a follow- up survey, if you choose to participate, is to be completed in early 2022. Speech pathologists, please get involved, and share this information with your professional and inter-professional networks! We encourage your participation whether or not you were previously aware of the guideline . To be involved, please visit https:// austhealthcareassoc.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/ form/SV_5C7dKSoQGp41FfE to register your interest. The survey is now open and closes on 6 July, 2021. References: Taylor, L., Brown, P., Paynter, J., Williams, K., Brown, P., Paynter, J., Williams, K., & Whitehouse, A. (2016). Autism spectrum disorder diagnosis in Australia: Are we meeting best practice standards? Autism Co-operative Research Centre, Brisbane. https://www. a4.org.au/sites/default/files/Autism CRC Report - Diagnostic Standards for Autism (1).pdf Whitehouse, A., Evans, K., Eapen, V., & Wray, J (2018). A national guideline for the assessment and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders in Australia . Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism, Brisbane. https://www.autismcrc. com.au/access/

A 2014 review noted substantial variability in diagnostic practices for autism across Australia, and suggested that this was very likely to contribute to inequities in access to required health, education and disability supports for individuals (Taylor et al. 2016). This review provided the impetus for the development of the National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Australia (the Guideline), funded by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), developed by the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), and published in 2018 (Whitehouse et al., 2018). The Association has been involved in this process since 2017, with a steering committee and expert reference group of members providing feedback and submissions to the Autism CRC about the role of speech pathologists in autism diagnosis. In 2020 the Association was invited to sit on an expert reference group by the Department of Social Services to oversee the guideline implementation and evaluation activities. Associate Professor David Trembath is leading the Association’s subject matter input, and Amy Fitzpatrick Speech Pathology Australia Senior Advisor Disability, has been gathering input from members about their awareness and use of the Guideline. As a result of this input the Association is now developing some resources for speech pathologists to sit along the toolkit developed by the Autism CRC. Implementation activities are underway to support services and health professionals, including speech pathologists, to align their practice with the Guideline . The Federal Government Department of Social Services has engaged Australian Healthcare Associates (AHA) to undertake an evaluation of the Guideline’s implementation. The evaluation will inform work to • streamline assessment and diagnosis processes and systems by identifying bottlenecks and barriers, • achieve better outcomes for people on the autism spectrum, their families and carers,

43

June 2021 | Speak Out