Advisory Groups
Two advisory groups provide direction to Autism New Zealand to ensure our programmes and service delivery, projects and advocacy, serve the community we exist to support.
Role and function
Our advisory groups provide advice and support to Autism New Zealand in the following areas:
- Identification of needs, preferences, and arising issues in the autistic and autism communities
- Discussing the best means of delivering awareness, education and practical support for autistic people and their support networks
- Advising in the development of best practice policy and advocacy as concerns autistic people and their support networks
- Reviewing and developing programmes and services, and how these may impact our community
- Assisting with relevant media requests
- Any other matters seen as relevant.
Membership
Membership is intended to be representative of key stakeholder communities.
Autistic Advisory Group
The Autistic Advisory Group is for autistic people only. We aim to include autistic people from the following intersectional groups:
- High or complex needs and/or co-occurring conditions (e.g., high communication needs and/or non-speaking/unreliably speaking and/or AAC users; learning and intellectual disability)
- Māori
- Pasifika and/or wide-ranging ethnic groups
- LGBTIQA+ people
- Parents and/or professionals in the education/child development sector.
Community Advisory Group
The Community Advisory Group is for autistic people, family/whānau of autistic people, or professionals supporting autistic people. We aim to include people from the following groups:
- Autistic family/whānau member
- Autistic professional
- Māori
- Pasifika and/or wide-ranging ethnic groups
- Autism researcher
- Education professional (e.g., teacher, adult educator, school support staff)
- Health professional (e.g., paediatrician, psychiatrist, psychologist)
- Allied health professional (e.g., occupational therapist, speech language therapist)
- Support professional (e.g., support worker, caregiver)
Membership is voluntary. We thank our advisory group members for their expertise and dedication to the role.
Further Information
The Autism New Zealand advisory groups meet quarterly via online meetings and can also be asked to provide advice between meetings, primarily via email or additional meetings when necessary.
For further information about the Advisory Groups please contact our Research and Advocacy Advisor at: research@autismnz.org.nz