The results of the 2025 National Autism Parent/Carer Survey from Autism Awareness Australia highlight the challenges many families face when seeking specialist help. 

"This report is more than a data snapshot. It's a call to reset. To stop patching holes and start designing systems around the people who use them," the report stated.

One-third of respondents said they waited over two years to receive a diagnosis for their child. 

The number of people who had to wait more than two years for a diagnosis increased by 70 percent in the past ten years. 

Photo: National Autism Parent/Carer Survey 2025 report

Over three-quarters of respondents said they opted to pay out-of-pocket to get a diagnosis. 

The federal government is working towards easing the pressure from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) by switching to Foundational Supports and offering targeted support however, many parents and carers are unfamiliar with the term. 

Only 2.4 percent said they have enough information to know how Foundational Supports will work. 

Half the respondents said funding only covers one to two hours of therapy per week. 

And while most parents say the support they receive is helping, 58.5 percent said they wish could do more, and 21.5 percent said they wished they could have started earlier. 

Long waiting times to see a paediatrician is nothing new for many rural and remote communities, especially when the patient's condition is 'non-medical' or 'non-urgent'. 

The Dubbo Hospital is still working on getting its Paediatric Outpatient Clinic to full capacity. 

"The Paediatric Outpatient Clinic at Dubbo Hospital remains open to new and existing patients and provides specialist services for children with medical, developmental, and behavioural problems who require a specialist but do not need hospital admission," a Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) spokesperson said. 

"Like many specialist services in public hospitals, the Paediatric Outpatient Clinic continues to experience significant and sustained demand.

"As such, new referrals continue to be triaged and prioritised based on urgency and acute clinical need.

"All vacant roles are identified as critical positions and advertised with incentives applied under the Rural Health Workforce Incentives Scheme. However, attracting and retaining the required workforce in regional areas, particularly specialist clinicians, remains an ongoing challenge across Australia." 

The Royal Far West (RFW) launched a week-long pilot of the paediatric developmental program (PDP) in Dubbo on Monday 7 April. 

The team consists of a paediatrician, social worker, occupational therapist, psychologist, speech therapist, and team leader. 

 RFW and WNSWLHD clinical team at Dubbo hospital at the start of the PDP. Photo: supplied.

Following a second pilot in June, RFW is looking at expanding its services in Dubbo which were previously only held in Manly. 

In Manly, the PDP sees around 500 children annually, 30 percent of whom come from Western NSW. 

"As part of our commitment to servicing the area where we're most need, we're delivering that service from Dubbo and removing the need to travel all the way to Manly," RFW General Manager of Strategy Claire Taylor said. 

Ms Taylor said all the families come from within a two-hour drive from Dubbo and have to be referred by a GP. 

In addition to the PDP, a senior RFW paediatrician will spend one day per week in Dubbo to supervise trainee doctors at the Western LHD. 

"The aim is to be able to support Dubbo to train more paediatricians and build capacity locally," Ms Taylor said.