Our work

Autism CRC is the independent national source of evidence for best practice in relation to autism across the lifespan and the spectrum.

Throughout our work, we have identified many areas of need yet to be addressed with evidence-based understanding and practice – consistently across all levels of government and service systems – including for the most marginalised, such as those in regional and remote communities and those with complex needs.

We are committed to inclusive research practices and co-production with autistic people and their supporters, to ensure our research provides practical and tangible outputs that benefit the community.

Current projects (July 2022-present)

  • Guideline | Assessment and diagnosis | Health and wellbeing

    Assessing, differentiating, and reporting children’s functional strengths and support needs

    This project aims to develop an evidence-based framework for assessing, differentiating, and reporting children’s functional strengths and support needs.

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  • National Guidelines: Update and capacity building

    This project aims to support the development of guidelines to provide guidance for practitioners, families, service providers and policy-makers around evidence-based practice and to ensure consistency in the clinical pathway from diagnosis to supports.

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  • Health and wellbeing | Lifespan

    Investigating autism research priorities

    This project will advance the research priorities of the Australasian Autism Research Council (AARC), which operates under the auspices of Autism CRC. The AARC was established to review and define national priorities for autism research and identify areas of research needed for the autistic and autism communities.

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  • National Autism Strategy | Health and wellbeing | Lifespan

    National Autism Strategy

    The Australian Government has committed to the co-design and development of the National Autism Strategy. Autism CRC was commissioned by the Department of Social Services (DSS) to undertake foundational work to support the co-design and development of the Strategy.

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  • National Autism Strategy | Health and wellbeing | Lifespan

    Community insights and unheard perspectives

    This project aimed to develop a series of recommendations for inclusive community engagement in the development of the National Autism Strategy. Through a co-design process, several population groups that may require a tailored or adapted approach to actively participate in the development of the Strategy were identified.

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  • National Autism Strategy | Health and wellbeing | Lifespan

    Research evidence and policy landscape mapping

    This project aimed to provide a review and synthesis of community views, research evidence, and policy relating to key service areas to be addressed in the National Autism Strategy.

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  • Employment | Professional development

    Online training and resource package utilising the Integrated Employment Success Tool (IEST)

    This project is focussed on building capacity in employers to support evidence-based inclusive human resource and management practices. This will be achieved through the development and delivery of a co-produced online training and resource package utilising the IEST.

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  • Guideline | Assessment and diagnosis | Professional development

    Health sector capacity building – National best-practice assessment and diagnosis

    This project is developing resources and protocols to build the capacity of clinicians involved in the assessment and diagnosis of autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions to ensure service delivery consistent with the National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism in Australia.

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  • Education | School years

    Removing educational barriers in Australian schools for autistic students (REBAS)

    Autism CRC is working to address identified gaps in educational practice and provide policy, research and practice recommendations to progress our education system by ensuring that appropriately tailored inclusive practices are applied nationally.

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  • Health and wellbeing | Lifespan

    Quality of life and wellbeing of autistic individuals with complex support or communication needs

    This project explored how quality of life and wellbeing are defined by, and for, autistic individuals with complex support and communication needs. The project also looked at what factors may enhance or reduce wellbeing.

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  • Adulthood

    Strong and Resilient Communities – Autistic Identity and Connection Program

    The Autistic Identity and Connection Program is empowering autistic people in important areas of identity and resilience, advocacy, belonging and emotional wellbeing.

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  • Guideline | Assessment and diagnosis | Health and wellbeing

    Aotearoa New Zealand Autism Guideline implementation, supports and services

    Findings from the project will include recommendations for implementation of the Guideline as well future approaches to autism support in Aotearoa.

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  • Guideline | Assessment and diagnosis

    Update to Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism Guideline

    To ensure the National Guideline for Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism in Australia continues to be relevant and useful, Autism CRC is revising the current draft.

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  • Guideline | Health and wellbeing | Professional development

    Implementation of the Supporting Autistic Children Guideline

    This project is developing a range of implementation resources and professional learning courses for practitioners delivering supports in community and clinical settings consistent with the National Guideline for supporting the learning, participation and wellbeing of autistic children and their families in Australia

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  • Guideline | Assessment and diagnosis | Professional development

    Microcredential courses in autism assessment and diagnosis

    Autism CRC has developed a suite of credit-bearing microcredentials in autism assessment and diagnosis as part of our commitment to widespread implementation of the National Guideline for Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism in Australia.

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Past projects