Sydney, Australia - Aspect has been selected as the backbone organisation for the delivery of a major new national initiative under the Australian Government’s National Autism Strategy 2025-31. Funded by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the initiative aims to strengthen social connection, reduce isolation and build belonging for Autistic people, and their families and carers across Australia.
The four-year Improving Social Connections initiative will support the development of safe, inclusive and peer-led social connection opportunities across metropolitan, regional and remote communities.
The initiative will be nationally coordinated by Aspect, providing governance, coordination, shared resources, capacity building and evaluation, while enabling community-led delivery through funded Community Partners across Australia.
A key feature of the program is a formal partnership with Reframing Autism, an Autistic-led organisation and recognised thought leader in the autism sector. Reframing Autism will play a central role in governance, co-design and stakeholder engagement, helping ensure the program remains grounded in Autistic leadership, lived experience and neurodiversity-affirming practice.
Together, Aspect and Reframing Autism will work alongside Autistic people, peer leaders, community organisations and sector stakeholders to co-design a national approach that reflects community priorities and supports meaningful connection and participation.
The initiative will establish national infrastructure to support sustainable, community-led social connection opportunities, including:
- development of the Improving Social Connections Framework to guide quality, safety and inclusion
- practical tools, resources and micro-training to support peer facilitators and organisations
- a Self-Service Information Hub providing accessible resources, information and engagement opportunities
- a Community Partner funding model to support locally led activities and initiatives
- a National Autistic Peer Governance Group to guide program priorities and lived-experience leadership
- evaluation and continuous improvement aligned with the National Autism Strategy.
Aspect CEO Jacqui Borland said the initiative represents an important opportunity to strengthen connection and belonging for Autistic people and their families and carers across Australia.
“Social connection and belonging are fundamental to wellbeing, yet many Autistic people continue to experience barriers to community participation and meaningful connection,” said Ms Borland. “This initiative is about supporting safe, inclusive and community-led opportunities for connection that are shaped by Autistic people themselves.”
Reframing Autism CEO, Sharon Fraser said the partnership would help ensure Autistic leadership remained central throughout the life of the program.
“Autistic people must be meaningfully involved in shaping the systems, supports and opportunities that impact our lives,” said Ms Fraser. “This partnership presents an incredible opportunity to ensure genuine co-design that reflects the diversity, strengths and priorities of the Autistic community across Australia.”
The program will commence establishment activities in 2026, with opportunities for governance participation, co-design involvement and Community Partner engagement to be announced over the coming months.
Media contact:
Karen Keech karen@establishedpr.com.au 0411 052 408
About Aspect
Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia) is one of Australia’s largest autism-specific service providers, with one of the world’s most extensive autism-specific educational programs. Celebrating 60 years in 2026, we are a not-for-profit organisation working in partnership with people of all ages on the autism spectrum to co-develop, co-produce and co-deliver supports and services that are individualised, goal driven and grounded in evidence-based practices.
