Autism Association 2022 Annual Report

President’s Report

This year we completed the transition to the NDIS and continued to advance our work to support individuals, families and the community. We also undertook a number of initiatives in collaboration with community organisations and businesses to enhance inclusion for people with Autism in their local community. We furthered our work with the disability sector in Western Australia, nationwide and internationally, including our work in East Java as part of the Sister State initiative. While COVID-19 has been an ever-present focus for the last 2 years, the opening of the Western Australian border in 2022 added considerable challenges that required us to adapt while ensuring ongoing support to individuals and families. Despite this, the demand for our services continued to grow, including individual and shared living, regional services, diagnostic services, and health-based and community advocacy services. However, responding fully to demand has been hampered by the workforce shortages experienced throughout the community. This year, we also took the opportunity to make substantial strategic commitments and expand the infrastructure necessary to support continuing growth of services in the coming years. I would like to acknowledge and give special thanks to all our stakeholders, including the State Government through the Department of Communities, the Commonwealth Government Department of Social Services and other funding bodies. In addition, I would like to extend my thanks to the Board for their dedication and work across the year and look forward to continuing our endeavours in the coming year. In concluding this report, I would also like to acknowledge and thank all of our staff, led by the Chief Executive Officer, Joan McKenna Kerr, for the significant work undertaken this year and their continued dedication to the Autism Association’s mission on behalf of people with Autism and their families

2021/2022 has been another year of successful achievement in service of people with Autism and their families.

Dr Rob Storer President and Chair of the Board

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