Published on 17 Feb 2025

Unlocking better futures for autistic New Zealanders: Autism practical action plan

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7 CHARLENE 1x1 PORTRAIT 1
Charlene Harvey Regulatory Strategy + Practice Lead (NZ) Contact me

Autism NZ needed help turning their innovative care model into reality. We delivered a practical action plan that strengthened their advocacy for life-changing system improvements, creating both economic and social benefits for the 93,000 autistic people across New Zealand.

After 60 years supporting the autism community, Autism NZ had developed the Autism Pathway - Te Huanui Takiwātanga model to transform how autism is detected early, diagnosed and supported. Despite strong research backing, they couldn't implement it due to capacity limitations and funding gaps. That's where Allen + Clarke came in. 

We translated technical research into a compelling narrative, outlining the case for systemic change, economic and social benefits of each programme, and why Autism NZ is best placed to lead this change. Our approach paired compelling financial arguments with real-life stories and pictures, giving statistics a human face.

The need for change

The stakes are high. Approximately 93,000 autistic New Zealanders faced fragmented, uncoordinated care, lengthy diagnosis times, decreased family earning potential and inadequate educational support. 

Without systematic change, autistic people would continue missing opportunities to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society. 

We built on Autism NZ's existing work with a focus on creating actionable outputs. First, we conducted a comprehensive review of all strategic documents, the pathway itself and research. Next, we interviewed key personnel and facilitated a workshop to develop a preliminary implementation plan. Finally, we produced a clear report with findings, recommendations and a visual engagement pathway. 

Tangled line drawing forming brain shape above hanging lightbulb
Single yellow lightbulb glowing on black cord
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Deliverable Measurable Results

Our work delivered a practical action plan for 2024 with clear priorities, timeframes and ownership. The economic case was compelling - Autism NZ's EarlySteps programme alone delivers social value of NZ$2.10 for each dollar spent, with potential system-wide savings exceeding NZ$100 million annually. 

More importantly, the strategy and presentation pack positioned Autism NZ to effectively advocate for nationwide rollout of successful programmes that could transform thousands of lives. 

By providing a structured approach to stakeholder engagement we helped them navigate complex relationships while maintaining focus on their ultimate goal: enabling autistic people to live more independent, fulfilling lives. 

We recommended:

  • Developing a detailed cross-government engagement strategy targeting key decision-makers. 

  • Using Treasury's CBAx tool to demonstrate strong economic returns. 

  • Creating a yearly engagement calendar that prioritised key Ministers and officials. 

  • Documenting powerful case studies through videos and personal stories of service users. 

Interconnected coloured pathways forming abstract network diagram
Interconnected coloured pathways forming abstract network diagram

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