Our Origin Story
When we began, there were just a few of us.
There are now so many wonderful advocates and organisations working to support the Autistic and autism communities in so many neuroaffirming and Autistic-led ways. We are proud to continue having a place in this community!
For more than 20 years, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network of Australia and New Zealand has been the leading organisation for Autistic advocacy in Australia, and later New Zealand. We emerged as a rights-based, grassroots, systemic advocacy group that centred the voices of Autistic adults.
At the centre of the Autistic rights movement in Australia, we began with discussions on existing IRC (internet relay chat) channels between several Autistic advocates, including Tony Langdon, Geraldine Robertson and Katharine Annear. After connecting at the 2002 World Autism Congress in Melbourne, our advocates formed the Australian Autistic Network for Self Advocates (ANSA).
In 2008, Katharine contacted Ari Ne’eman, who founded the Autistic Self Advocacy Network in the USA (ASAN USA), and the decision was made to affiliate with ASAN USA. Katharine then negotiated funding for members of the ANSA committee to attend the Asia Pacific Autism Conference (APAC) 2013 in Adelaide, and to meet with Ari from ASAN USA. From there, ANSA evolved into ASAN AUNZ and became an incorporated advocacy association.
Since its formation, ASAN AUNZ members have been actively involved in systemic advocacy in Australia and New Zealand. Centring Autistic voices and lived experience, ASAN AUNZ advocated for improved community awareness and acceptance through shared stories and systemic advocacy.
ASAN AUNZ members have contributed to and advised on various state and national autistic programs and have been involved with government advisory bodies. Our founding members, particularly Katherine Annear, have been central figures in the Australian Autistic advocacy movement, working with local and national government bodies on systemic advocacy for our community. Other key ASAN AUNZ past and current members have had pivotal roles in our organisation, including past team member Tammy McGowan, past board member Jarad Andrew McLoughlin, past chair Joanne Dacombe and past treasurer Leeann Friday.
As we move into a new chapter, with new custodians, we continue to support our community through systemic advocacy. We empower our community with self advocacy skills, facilitate focus groups and autistic research groups, and collaborate with other disability justice-led organisations.
Building on the work of our founders, we continue to be run by Autistic people, for Autistic people. Aligning with the disability rights and neurodiversity movements and continuing ASAN AUNZ’s legacy, we work from these powerful, stated intentions:
and, stronger together!