This week, Football Victoria (FV) celebrated World Autism Understanding Day (WAUD), the annual day promoting a greater awareness of autism run by our partners Autism Spectrum Australia (ASPECT).
We are dedicated to making football—and sport in general—a welcoming environment for autistic players, coaches, officials, and supporters.
Here are some key facts and details about autism and autism awareness month in Australia:
- Marking the beginning of World Autism Month in April, WAUD is an internationally recognised United Nations (UN) day of observance annually on the 2nd of April
- This day is about more than just awareness—it’s about genuine understanding, meaningful action, and ensuring that everyone has access to spaces and opportunities where they feel valued and included.
- Around one in 100 Australians are autistic, with many undiagnosed. Autistic people are our family members, friends, colleagues and Neighbours.
- A YouGov survey in February 2025 revealed that only 50% of Australians believe they have a good understanding of autism, with a further 33% unsure how to respond if someone discloses being autistic.
Here are some things we at FV are doing to make football more welcoming and inclusive:
- Education - Last Saturday at The Home of the Matildas, ASPECT ran a workshop focused on how to create an inclusive environment for autistic people for our Victorian clubs. This session brought together coaches, club representatives, and community members to learn practical strategies for ensuring that sport is accessible, supportive, and enjoyable for autistic participants. By increasing understanding, we can break down barriers and make sure that football truly is for all.
- Spreading the message- Representation and visibility matter. That’s why we’ve been proudly displaying ASPECT's 2025 campaign posters and digital screen displays across our venues, sharing key messages about inclusion, acceptance, and the strengths autistic people bring to our sporting communities. These visual reminders help spark conversations, challenge misconceptions, and reinforce the importance of making every space more autism friendly.
- Social stories – FV have begun implementing social stories across programs. Social stories are a visual tool, in the form of a narrative which explains social expectations, situations in a clear way. This helps autistic people understand and navigate social interactions prior to attending an event or program. FV implemented this at the Football For All Gala Day and have continued to implement it across other programs like GoCamps.
- Resources & education - Inclusion isn’t something we can achieve alone—it requires collaboration, commitment, and continuous learning. We are proud to work alongside our partners to develop new resources that help clubs, coaches, and volunteers better support autistic participants. By equipping the football community with the right tools and knowledge, we can create environments where autistic people feel safe, respected, and empowered to thrive.
World Autism Understanding Day is a moment to reflect, but our work doesn’t stop here.
Inclusion is an ongoing effort, and we will continue to build on this momentum to ensure that football is truly welcoming for all. Together, we can create a sporting culture where diversity is celebrated, and every individual has the opportunity to participate in a way that suits their needs.
If you would like to learn more about the work Aspect does or get involved helping raise awareness about autism, reach out to our All-Abilities team via email or join the All-Abilities forum.
And if you would like to learn more about the work ASPECT does in the community and find out more about World Autism Understanding Day, head to their website now.
Let’s continue working together to make the world a more autism-friendly place - on and off the field.