1. Getting an autism diagnosis

A doctor talking to someone in their office.

A diagnosis is when a doctor:

  • checks your health
  • says what health condition they think you have.
A clock and an exclamation icon showing it is important.

Getting an autism diagnosis is an important step.

It should happen as soon as possible.

It can help Autistic people:
An Autistic person with a thought bubble showing a tick.
  • understand who they are
An Autistic person and another person with their thumbs up.
  • feel like they belong
Someone supporting an Autistic person.
  • get the support they need.
A doctor with a speech bubble showing a head with the brain highlighted and an infinity sign. There is a problem icon on in.

It can be hard for Autistic people to get an autism diagnosis.
A person shrugging with their hands raised.

This can be because it is not clear what Autistic people and their families need to do.
A stack of 3 calendars, and a person looking confused while reading a document.

Getting an autism diagnosis can:

  • take a long time
  • include steps that are hard to follow.

It can also focus too much on what Autistic people can’t do
3 health workers under a cross.

People also told us there are not enough people with the skills to make an autism diagnosis.
A wallet with money coming out of it, and a stack of coins.

Getting an autism diagnosis can also cost a lot of money.
A doctor with a speech bubble showing a head with the brain highlighted and an infinity sign. There is a problem icon on in. The doctor is talking to a woman.

It is also much harder for women and girls to get an autism diagnosis.
3 women standing together. Above them is a head with the brain highlighted and an infinity sign, with a cross on it.

This is because some people believe autism doesn’t happen to women and girls very often.

It can also be hard to get an autism diagnosis for:
3 Aboriginal people. They are pointing at themselves and have their other hand raised.
  • Aboriginal people
A group of people from different backgrounds. Some are pointing at themselves or have their hand raised.
  • culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people.
The Earth with 2 speech bubbles coming from it. One shows 'hello' in Chinese. The other shows 'hello' in French.

CALD people:

  • come from different cultures and backgrounds
  • speak languages other than English.

What we will do

A smiling man giving a thumbs up.

We will make sure there are clear ways for people to get an autism diagnosis.
A doctor with a speech bubble showing a head with the brain highlighted and an infinity sign.

This includes making sure everyone can get an autism diagnosis in the same way.
A house in a rural area.

We will also make sure people can get an autism diagnosis when they live far away from cities and towns.

3 women smiling, and a speech bubble showing a head with the brain highlighted and an infinity sign.

We will look into ways to make sure certain groups of people can get an autism diagnosis.

This includes Autistic:
Some Autistic girls sitting together.
  • women and girls
An Autistic Aboriginal person.
  • Aboriginal peoples
An Autistic person from a culturally and linguistically diverse community.
  • CALD people.
A worker supporting someone.

We will do more to make sure Autistic people know how to get support after they get an autism diagnosis.

A document with an information icon, and a thumbs up.

And we will make sure they can get good information about what their autism diagnosis means.