The Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers has announced an Australian-first social behaviour change campaign to promote better understanding and inclusion of autistic people.
Minister Luke Donnellan launched the $2.8 million public education campaign Change Your Reactions with Chief Executive for Amaze, Fiona Sharkie.
“Change Your Reactions encourages Victorians to recognise some of the challenges that autistic people face and to understand the impacts of community actions and reactions,” Mr Donnellan said.
“It focuses on helping Victorians to be more open to learning about autism and how to be supportive,” he said.
“A lack of community understanding is one of the main barriers that can lead to autistic Victorians missing out on opportunities in life.”
Mr Donnellan said Amaze was a peak body for autistic Victorians and their families and provided advocacy, services and supports.
He said a recent Amaze survey showed that despite widespread awareness of autism, only 29 per cent of people said they knew how to support an autistic person.
“Amaze worked with autistic Victorians and their families on the campaign which includes a mix of advertising across TV and radio, digital and social media and most importantly features actors with autism,” he said.
Mr Donnellan said the campaign was part of the Government’s Victorian Autism Plan, which set out actions to provide autistic Victorians greater opportunities for choice and community participation.
