The Malinauskas Labor Government’s leading role in creating a more inclusive society has been recognised, with South Australia selected to host Asia Pacific Autism Conference (APAC) 2027.
APAC is the largest conference of its type in the region and brings together more than 1500 members of the autistic and autism communities including researchers, practitioners, educators, physicians and policymakers.
The event attracts keynote speakers from across the globe and provides an opportunity to share and promote world-leading autism inclusion policy and practice and South Australia.
The State Government, Autism SA, the Adelaide Convention Centre and Business Events Adelaide partnered as Team Adelaide to secure the APAC 2027 for South Australia. This will be the first time South Australia has hosted APAC since 2013.
The Malinauskas Labor Government has positioned South Australia as a national and world leader in autism awareness and inclusion.
Key achievements in this term of Government include:
- The creation of South Australia’s first Autism Strategy 2024-2029
- The establishment of the Office for Autism
- Developed and implemented the Autism Inclusion Charter
- Released the Autism Action Plan 2025-2029
- Funded access to an Autism Inclusion Teacher in every public primary school
- Partnered with industry to deliver more autism assessments
- Created Autism Works in the Community Grants Program
- Created the Sensory Bus to support inclusion at major events and festivals
Quotes
Attributable to Emily Bourke
South Australia is a leading force in autism inclusion, so I’m proud we have been selected to host the next Asia Pacific Autism Conference in 2027.
It will bring together more than a thousand members of the autistic and autism communities from the across the world, all focussed on building autism inclusion.
I look forward to welcoming everyone to South Australia and promoting all the excellent work that is being done to support the autistic and autism communities.
Attributable to Helen Graham, CEO Autism SA
Autism SA is proud to have partnered with the Government of South Australia, the Adelaide Convention Centre and Business Events Adelaide as Team Adelaide to secure the APAC 2027 for South Australia.
Hosting APAC 2027 in South Australia is incredibly exciting, bringing more than 1,500 delegates from over 30 countries to our doorstep and making this global conference far more accessible for South Australians, with lasting benefits for the community, sector and state.
Autism SA is committed to working closely with the Autistic and autism community and key stakeholders to plan and deliver an innovative, inclusive and accessible conference that is grounded in lived experience and sets a new benchmark for international autism conferences.
