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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-08-19 Daily Xml
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Sensory Bus

The Hon. T.T. NGO (16:30): My question is to the Minister for Autism. Can the minister tell the council about how South Australia is leading the way with its first sensory bus?

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Autism, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (16:30): I thank the honourable member for their question and interest in how SA is leading the way for the autistic and autism communities. I am excited to share that South Australia's first sensory bus will very soon be hitting the road and pulling up to a number of government and community events. As outlined in feedback received through consultation for South Australia's first autism strategy, we know that the autistic and autism communities have been calling for more support to participate in and attend community events.

We saw the success of a brand-new sensory space that received funding through the Autism Works in the Community Grants program at the Adelaide Oval for footy, cricket and events this year. Feedback from this space shows that just knowing the sensory space was available provided families with support, even if they didn't need to visit. Spaces like these also often mean families can attend as an entire family.

This idea of a sensory bus was born from the lived experience of Annie and Nathan Hall at the Carols by Candlelight sensory space. As parents and passionate advocates, Annie and Nathan shared their story with me about their son, Eli, who is autistic, vision impaired and can face challenges accessing public spaces. Annie and Nathan's vision for a mobile sensory unit has now become a reality. Their courage and insight have helped shape a project that will benefit countless families and people across our state.

Developed by the Malinauskas Labor government's Office for Autism, the sensory bus will provide a calming and supportive space at some of our biggest events, including the Adelaide 500, the Tour Down Under and multicultural festivals. The bus has been repurposed from an old Adelaide Metro vehicle and is being transformed by Cox Architecture and McMahon Services, with support from Torrens Transit.

I can also share that Autism SA will be operating the vehicle, ensuring the bus will be a space where autistic individuals can regulate, reset and rejoin the festivities with confidence, knowing support is close by. To ensure the bus reflects the community it serves, we have launched an artwork competition inviting autistic South Australians to submit designs for the bus wrap. Under the theme Spaces We Shape, these designs will celebrate identity, experience and sensory expressions, with separate categories for children aged five to 17 years of age and adults aged over 18. I encourage all autistic artists to visit the Office for Autism website to submit their designs or submit their paper form artwork in person at the State Administration Centre on Victoria Square. Artwork entries will close on Monday 25 August.

This purpose-built, mobile sensory space is more than just a bus, it is a symbol of understanding, inclusion and access, and I look forward to seeing the sensory bus at many of our events in the future.

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