From Schwartz Media. I'm Ruby Jones.

From Schwartz Media. I'm Ruby Jones.

This is seven AM. As a young child, Grace Tame often felt misunderstood. When later on she received an autism diagnosis, it helped explain that feeling. It's a common experience for autistic people who've long been misrepresented, misdiagnosed and mistreated. The government now hopes to fix that, unveiling Australia's first ever.

This is seven AM. As a young child, Grace Tame often felt misunderstood. When later on she received an autism diagnosis, it helped explain that feeling. It's a common experience for autistic people who've long been misrepresented, misdiagnosed and mistreated. The government now hopes to fix that, unveiling Australia's first ever.

National Autism Strategy, which it says.

National Autism Strategy, which it says.

We'll put the voices and experiences of autistic people front and center. There's plenty of hope and optimism, but with the plan stretching over six years, there are still questions as to whether it.

We'll put the voices and experiences of autistic people front and center. There's plenty of hope and optimism, but with the plan stretching over six years, there are still questions as to whether it.

Will bring about genuine change.

Will bring about genuine change.

Today, former Australian of the Year Grace Tame on what the success of the National Autism Strategy hinges on and what you'd like to see as an autistic person living in a neurotypical way world. It's Wednesday, January twenty nine. Grace, First of all, welcome to seven AM, Thanks for coming.

Today, former Australian of the Year Grace Tame on what the success of the National Autism Strategy hinges on and what you'd like to see as an autistic person living in a neurotypical way world. It's Wednesday, January twenty nine. Grace, First of all, welcome to seven AM, Thanks for coming.

On the show. Thanks for having me on so Grace.

On the show. Thanks for having me on so Grace.

The National Autism Strategy has just been released and this is the first time that we've ever had something like this in Australia. So to begin with, how significant is the moment of its release?

The National Autism Strategy has just been released and this is the first time that we've ever had something like this in Australia. So to begin with, how significant is the moment of its release?

That there's a strategy is a huge thing to celebrate. It's a starting point and we haven't had that before. As you just said, the.

That there's a strategy is a huge thing to celebrate. It's a starting point and we haven't had that before. As you just said, the.

Federal government has unveiled its seven year plan to improve the lives of Australians living with autism.

Federal government has unveiled its seven year plan to improve the lives of Australians living with autism.

And these sorts of government initiatives in their infancy are always a little messy, a little clunky, but they can be workshopped.

And these sorts of government initiatives in their infancy are always a little messy, a little clunky, but they can be workshopped.

The forty two point three million dollar National Strategy aims to create a safe and in inclusive society where all autistic people are supported and empowered to thrive.

The forty two point three million dollar National Strategy aims to create a safe and in inclusive society where all autistic people are supported and empowered to thrive.

And I remain hopeful that it'll be the point of leverage for a lot of advocates and people in the autism community and their families.

And I remain hopeful that it'll be the point of leverage for a lot of advocates and people in the autism community and their families.

And when you talk about the autism community and their families, what was your experience growing up and what assumptions did you come up against from other people about what they thought that it meant to be autistic.

And when you talk about the autism community and their families, what was your experience growing up and what assumptions did you come up against from other people about what they thought that it meant to be autistic.

What strikes me is interesting is that my mother, who's always been a huge advocate for me in many areas, was taking me to health professionals from a very early age because I was exhibiting signs of autism. I think I was about three years old when she took me to get my hearing tested because she thought I was deaf. But it's not that I'm deaf, it's that I can't filter out background noise, which a lot of autistic people also experience. And then when I was in my early teens, as a mean of asserting my own agency, I suppose or control and a sense of routine where I didn't have a lot of routine in my life because my parents separated when I was two and I lived between two houses, so, you know, to establish some agency for myself, I would eat safe foods, foods that made me feel comfortable, you know, And I still do that very much. So I eat at the same times, and I eat the same foods every day pretty much. And I developed an eating disorder. I became severely and arecxic to the point of involuntary hospitalization. And when I was actually in treatment, my mother flagged, or she attempted to flag with the professional team that I might be autistic, and she was actually dismissed and spoken to in a kind of condescending way. But as in recent years, probably over the last decade, especially more resources that have previously been in the silo of academia and understood by mental health professionals. As those resources have become more publicly available and more accessible and more broadly representative, not just of a narrow representation of autism, it's become easier, I think, while there's still obviously a lot of work that needs to be done, it's become easier to be recognized, to be identifiable as an autistic person.

What strikes me is interesting is that my mother, who's always been a huge advocate for me in many areas, was taking me to health professionals from a very early age because I was exhibiting signs of autism. I think I was about three years old when she took me to get my hearing tested because she thought I was deaf. But it's not that I'm deaf, it's that I can't filter out background noise, which a lot of autistic people also experience. And then when I was in my early teens, as a mean of asserting my own agency, I suppose or control and a sense of routine where I didn't have a lot of routine in my life because my parents separated when I was two and I lived between two houses, so, you know, to establish some agency for myself, I would eat safe foods, foods that made me feel comfortable, you know, And I still do that very much. So I eat at the same times, and I eat the same foods every day pretty much. And I developed an eating disorder. I became severely and arecxic to the point of involuntary hospitalization. And when I was actually in treatment, my mother flagged, or she attempted to flag with the professional team that I might be autistic, and she was actually dismissed and spoken to in a kind of condescending way. But as in recent years, probably over the last decade, especially more resources that have previously been in the silo of academia and understood by mental health professionals. As those resources have become more publicly available and more accessible and more broadly representative, not just of a narrow representation of autism, it's become easier, I think, while there's still obviously a lot of work that needs to be done, it's become easier to be recognized, to be identifiable as an autistic person.

Yeah, I'd like to talk a little bit more about the importance of diagnosis, because that is one thing that the strategy is designed to do to fund research into the true prevalence of autism. It's likely that there is a lot of people who are undiagnosed. So how important was it for you to get a diagnosis and how did that change your experience?

Yeah, I'd like to talk a little bit more about the importance of diagnosis, because that is one thing that the strategy is designed to do to fund research into the true prevalence of autism. It's likely that there is a lot of people who are undiagnosed. So how important was it for you to get a diagnosis and how did that change your experience?

It changed it in some ways. In other ways it's made it harder, you know, as a public figure who didn't choose the public life, I've received, you know, all sorts of negative comments about autism being a conspiracy, autism being you know, retardation, which is obviously a horrific thing to suggest, but it has helped me personally to in hindsight understand a lot of my childhood where I was sort of feeling quite osolated and misunderstood because it is so difficult to live as an autistic person in a neurotypical world. In other ways, I mean, I'm incredibly lucky my best friend Dominic, who I've been friends with since we were both seven years old, twenty three years of friendship under our belt. He's also autistic, and you know, thirty two percent of the autistic population don't actually make friends outside of their family. But I had this sort of social relief from dom you know, where we could be unmasked and free to be ourselves and reassure each other and be completely yeah, at ease.

It changed it in some ways. In other ways it's made it harder, you know, as a public figure who didn't choose the public life, I've received, you know, all sorts of negative comments about autism being a conspiracy, autism being you know, retardation, which is obviously a horrific thing to suggest, but it has helped me personally to in hindsight understand a lot of my childhood where I was sort of feeling quite osolated and misunderstood because it is so difficult to live as an autistic person in a neurotypical world. In other ways, I mean, I'm incredibly lucky my best friend Dominic, who I've been friends with since we were both seven years old, twenty three years of friendship under our belt. He's also autistic, and you know, thirty two percent of the autistic population don't actually make friends outside of their family. But I had this sort of social relief from dom you know, where we could be unmasked and free to be ourselves and reassure each other and be completely yeah, at ease.

One of the things that's in this plan is the need for sensory friendly spaces. So I wonder if you could talk to all more about what it's like to be in a world that is not set up with you in mind, and then for that to be changed, because I imagine that must come with a sense of relief to find.

One of the things that's in this plan is the need for sensory friendly spaces. So I wonder if you could talk to all more about what it's like to be in a world that is not set up with you in mind, and then for that to be changed, because I imagine that must come with a sense of relief to find.

Yourself in a space that is designed for you. Yeah.

Yourself in a space that is designed for you. Yeah.

Look, I think like if I go now to events that know that I'm autistic, or they're held by an autistic advocacy body. They will have a sensory room and you'll find me in there. I personally don't have a lack of energy, and I think that a lot of autistic people that I know experiences as well. It's not that we have a lack of energy or a lack of attention or a lack of it ability to participate in anything. It's that we've got so much of it. But it's really hard to organize when we're competing with this cacophony of sound and light and all of these other different sensory inputs that are just happening too rapidly for the autistic profile and.

Look, I think like if I go now to events that know that I'm autistic, or they're held by an autistic advocacy body. They will have a sensory room and you'll find me in there. I personally don't have a lack of energy, and I think that a lot of autistic people that I know experiences as well. It's not that we have a lack of energy or a lack of attention or a lack of it ability to participate in anything. It's that we've got so much of it. But it's really hard to organize when we're competing with this cacophony of sound and light and all of these other different sensory inputs that are just happening too rapidly for the autistic profile and.

The planets has been released.

The planets has been released.

There was one other area I wanted to kind of talk a bit more about unemployment. So autistic people are six times more likely to be unemployed. What kind of I guess practical measures would help.

There was one other area I wanted to kind of talk a bit more about unemployment. So autistic people are six times more likely to be unemployed. What kind of I guess practical measures would help.

Oh, that's a very big question because it entirely depends on the you know, the sector of the industry, and you know, the specific workplace environment as well, and the understanding from colleagues of what a particular individual's experience of autism is. And I think the conversation needs to start there because the neurotypical population I think could learn a lot from autistic people if they were given the understanding and that comfortability to actually express themselves and demonstrate their skills in their unique way. I think at that first point of contact, if someone says that they're autistic, they're going to often contend with stereotype of with received information that a particular person has about what autism means, and autism means something I think entirely different to the mainstream stereotype of autism. For example, my father was a public high school teacher for over thirty years. He worked in a Tasmanian education department, and in his the later part of his career, he was working exclusively with children who have higher needs, many of whom were autistic. When I was diagnosed as autistic, he was surprised, and you know, he was like, oh, but she's not autistic. I teach aut children every day, and she's nothing like those autistic children. And so I think, you know, as with any particular subject matter, we have a tendency as human beings to be very you know, sort of insular and focused on a particular thing, and we don't pay attention to other content until it is in its most desperate or extreme state, and then that's what we think of that thing as and we don't see a whole backstory or a whole spectrum that actually encompasses it. If people understood that fundamentally, I think that would be a great starting point for change. And if there's anything else that needs to be mentioned, it's that there are really great service providers out there who have that specialist knowledge of what it's like to be autistic, of autism itself and all its different nuances. They need to be funded properly.

Oh, that's a very big question because it entirely depends on the you know, the sector of the industry, and you know, the specific workplace environment as well, and the understanding from colleagues of what a particular individual's experience of autism is. And I think the conversation needs to start there because the neurotypical population I think could learn a lot from autistic people if they were given the understanding and that comfortability to actually express themselves and demonstrate their skills in their unique way. I think at that first point of contact, if someone says that they're autistic, they're going to often contend with stereotype of with received information that a particular person has about what autism means, and autism means something I think entirely different to the mainstream stereotype of autism. For example, my father was a public high school teacher for over thirty years. He worked in a Tasmanian education department, and in his the later part of his career, he was working exclusively with children who have higher needs, many of whom were autistic. When I was diagnosed as autistic, he was surprised, and you know, he was like, oh, but she's not autistic. I teach aut children every day, and she's nothing like those autistic children. And so I think, you know, as with any particular subject matter, we have a tendency as human beings to be very you know, sort of insular and focused on a particular thing, and we don't pay attention to other content until it is in its most desperate or extreme state, and then that's what we think of that thing as and we don't see a whole backstory or a whole spectrum that actually encompasses it. If people understood that fundamentally, I think that would be a great starting point for change. And if there's anything else that needs to be mentioned, it's that there are really great service providers out there who have that specialist knowledge of what it's like to be autistic, of autism itself and all its different nuances. They need to be funded properly.

So is the funding for the National Autism Strategy enough? That's coming up after the.

So is the funding for the National Autism Strategy enough? That's coming up after the.

Break, Grace.

Break, Grace.

Let's talk about the funding for the National Autism Strategy, because there are these twenty two commitments in the strategy and there's forty two point three million dollars at least initially set aside to fulfill the commitments.

Let's talk about the funding for the National Autism Strategy, because there are these twenty two commitments in the strategy and there's forty two point three million dollars at least initially set aside to fulfill the commitments.

Over a seven year period. Yeah, which breaks down to about six million per year.

Over a seven year period. Yeah, which breaks down to about six million per year.

Is that enough?

Is that enough?

It's funny because you know, for the average Joe public, it's it sounds like a lot of money, you know, and in a way it is, but it has to go not just a long way but to it a lot of different places and where there's a possibility to directly inject funds into frontline services that are equipped and they're knowledgeable, they're ready. Otherwise they're just waiting on money to get resources to be able to lift themselves beyond crisis point and.

It's funny because you know, for the average Joe public, it's it sounds like a lot of money, you know, and in a way it is, but it has to go not just a long way but to it a lot of different places and where there's a possibility to directly inject funds into frontline services that are equipped and they're knowledgeable, they're ready. Otherwise they're just waiting on money to get resources to be able to lift themselves beyond crisis point and.

Help more people.

Help more people.

That's a great immediate action I think that can be taken and grace.

That's a great immediate action I think that can be taken and grace.

This plan comes at a time when many people with autism are struggling to get the support that they need from the National Disability insurance schemes. So how should we be thinking about that?

This plan comes at a time when many people with autism are struggling to get the support that they need from the National Disability insurance schemes. So how should we be thinking about that?

So as we speak, there are autistic children and aalgick adults who are being puted off the NDAs, and the NDAs is facing cutbacks in funding, and that's an existing support mechanism nationwide. So I think that needs to be looked at because there are many autistic people who need that support to contend with the world as it is.

So as we speak, there are autistic children and aalgick adults who are being puted off the NDAs, and the NDAs is facing cutbacks in funding, and that's an existing support mechanism nationwide. So I think that needs to be looked at because there are many autistic people who need that support to contend with the world as it is.

Then there's also the.

Then there's also the.

Roadmap, you know, and this is more than anything, even though it's the Department of Social Services that are governing this particular initiative, really it is an issue of public health, you know. Part of why the situation is so dire for the autistic community is that we have been living so long in a neurotypical world and not being accommodated, and so our unmet needs are manifesting as a raft of different health issues. You know, mental and physical health are not separate. It's a whole body, holistic approach that needs to be taken.

Roadmap, you know, and this is more than anything, even though it's the Department of Social Services that are governing this particular initiative, really it is an issue of public health, you know. Part of why the situation is so dire for the autistic community is that we have been living so long in a neurotypical world and not being accommodated, and so our unmet needs are manifesting as a raft of different health issues. You know, mental and physical health are not separate. It's a whole body, holistic approach that needs to be taken.

Yeah, and you kind of touched on this, but do you think that there is this risk here that a strategy like this becomes too bureaucratic and isn't really focused enough on the practical.

Yeah, and you kind of touched on this, but do you think that there is this risk here that a strategy like this becomes too bureaucratic and isn't really focused enough on the practical.

Well, as an anarchist who's wearing a T shirt that literally tells you I'm an anarchist, I'm always going to say that a bureaucraatic document is too bureaucratic. There's lots of jargon that you've got to cut through to actually find the very direct actions and the ones that aren't just sort of you know, differently worded versions of a previous one, sort of wading through information that's interspersed with actions. You go like, all the actions are here, the information about autism is here, instead of it sort of like, you know, every point being given far too much context that's actually a repetition of context that's provided earlier in the document. I can't speak for the entire autistic community, but as a person who is autistic, I know that not just myself, but many close friends of mine who are also neurodivergent, we really appreciate that direct communication where there's no ambiguity, because there's a tendency, at least in my experience certainly, and I know that other friends in Minder like this as well, is that we will take things literally, we take things at face value, and we're not good at particularly reading subtext.

Well, as an anarchist who's wearing a T shirt that literally tells you I'm an anarchist, I'm always going to say that a bureaucraatic document is too bureaucratic. There's lots of jargon that you've got to cut through to actually find the very direct actions and the ones that aren't just sort of you know, differently worded versions of a previous one, sort of wading through information that's interspersed with actions. You go like, all the actions are here, the information about autism is here, instead of it sort of like, you know, every point being given far too much context that's actually a repetition of context that's provided earlier in the document. I can't speak for the entire autistic community, but as a person who is autistic, I know that not just myself, but many close friends of mine who are also neurodivergent, we really appreciate that direct communication where there's no ambiguity, because there's a tendency, at least in my experience certainly, and I know that other friends in Minder like this as well, is that we will take things literally, we take things at face value, and we're not good at particularly reading subtext.

Yeah, I mean, I think we could all be more direct.

Yeah, I mean, I think we could all be more direct.

I often think that it's easy to hide in ambiguity for people, but also for governments, and sometimes complexity is used as a way to kind of provide cover for inaction. So I hope that the National Autism Strategy really means that they will be real change.

I often think that it's easy to hide in ambiguity for people, but also for governments, and sometimes complexity is used as a way to kind of provide cover for inaction. So I hope that the National Autism Strategy really means that they will be real change.

I hope so as well. And again, even as an anarchist, I am very hopeful that this is this is at least a platform for change and for more specificity to be called for from the autistic community who really need to be leaders in this. And I think it also needs to be acknowledged that a lot of contributions have come from various autistic bodies and various autistic individuals, and that needs to be lauded, and that we need to make sure that the entirety of the spectrum, as best it can be, is represented, and that includes autistic people who are minimally speaking or in fact non speaking, you know, because there's a tendency to speak for them instead of speak to them and allow them to communicate in ways that are actually effective for them and accessible to them.

I hope so as well. And again, even as an anarchist, I am very hopeful that this is this is at least a platform for change and for more specificity to be called for from the autistic community who really need to be leaders in this. And I think it also needs to be acknowledged that a lot of contributions have come from various autistic bodies and various autistic individuals, and that needs to be lauded, and that we need to make sure that the entirety of the spectrum, as best it can be, is represented, and that includes autistic people who are minimally speaking or in fact non speaking, you know, because there's a tendency to speak for them instead of speak to them and allow them to communicate in ways that are actually effective for them and accessible to them.

Well, Grace, thank you so much for your time today. Yeah, thanks for having me. Also in the news today, the US markets are still recovering from a major crash in the tech sector sparked by growing concerns among investors about the future of AI technology. US tech company and VideA, known for producing the chips used in data centers, had almost one trillion dollars wiped off its value on Monday, the biggest one day loss in US history. The downturn was triggered by the launch of deep Seek, a China startups new AI model, which reportedly outperforms some of the US's leading models at a fraction of the cost. This development raised concerns about the potential impact on demand for nvidia's advanced chips and oceanographer and entrepreneur Tony Hayman has been appointed as Australia's new Chief Scientist. Professor Haymott will serve a three year term providing independent scientific advice to the government. When asked about the coalition's plans to pursue nuclear power, Professor Hayman said he thinks Australia should be open to any form of energy.

Well, Grace, thank you so much for your time today. Yeah, thanks for having me. Also in the news today, the US markets are still recovering from a major crash in the tech sector sparked by growing concerns among investors about the future of AI technology. US tech company and VideA, known for producing the chips used in data centers, had almost one trillion dollars wiped off its value on Monday, the biggest one day loss in US history. The downturn was triggered by the launch of deep Seek, a China startups new AI model, which reportedly outperforms some of the US's leading models at a fraction of the cost. This development raised concerns about the potential impact on demand for nvidia's advanced chips and oceanographer and entrepreneur Tony Hayman has been appointed as Australia's new Chief Scientist. Professor Haymott will serve a three year term providing independent scientific advice to the government. When asked about the coalition's plans to pursue nuclear power, Professor Hayman said he thinks Australia should be open to any form of energy.

I'm Ruby Jones. This is seven am. See you tomorrow.

I'm Ruby Jones. This is seven am. See you tomorrow.