In 2019 over 1,000 people responded to the Australian Autism Research Council's (AARC) community consultation survey. This helped the AARC to define 10 broad research priority areas for autism research in Australia. In 2020 the AARC is conducting focus groups for 5 of the 10 research priority areas to help better understand some of the specific questions or topics the community would like researched in each area.
The focus groups will bring a range of community members together (including autistic people, family members and relevant professionals) and involve a combination of online discussion groups and short surveys.
The 5 focus group areas selected are communication, education, employment, health & wellbeing and justice.
The focus groups will be conducted by ORIMA Research on behalf of the Australian Autism Research Council.
Expressions of interest closed at midnight on Tuesday 1 September 2020.
Priority Perspectives
The AARC would like to see a range of perspectives represented in each of the focus groups to get a good sense of what research questions and topics are important to the community.
For all focus groups the AARC particularly welcomed Expressions of Interest from:
- Autistic individuals who communicate in a non-traditional way (e.g. AAC or keyword sign);
- Individuals living in regional or remote areas; and,
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
- Autistic people (or their family members) who have experienced challenges due to a lack of communication supports or misunderstandings in this area
- Autistic people (or their family members) from non-English speaking backgrounds
- Professionals working with members of the autistic community in relevant fields
- Perspectives relevant to different stages of the education journey
- Perspectives relevant to different models of education
- Autistic people (or their family members) who have experienced school refusal and/or accessed an alternative form of education
- Autistic people (or their family members) who have worked or are working in different kinds of employment
- Autistic people (or their family members) who have been unsuccessful in finding sustainable employment or who are underemployed
- Employers who currently employ at least 1 autistic staff member and professionals working to assist autistic people to obtain and/or maintain employment
- Autistic people (or their family members) with 1 or more co-occurring health conditions, including mental health conditions
- Professionals who have worked with members of the autistic community in relevant fields
- Autistic people (or their family member) who have had previous contact with police and/or the justice system
- Professionals with experience working in the justice field
Contact us
If you have any questions, or would like to be kept informed about future opportunities to be involved in the work of the AARC you can email us:
AARC Secretariat
aarc@autismcrc.com.au