Autism Association 2024 Annual Report

Our Therapy and Clinical Services team assisted individuals to maximise their independence and participate in preschool, school, at work, and in the community. We worked closely with families, carers, and other key people in the individual’s life. Across each age group, we provided a comprehensive range of therapy options to suit people’s needs, circumstances and preferences. Over the last 12 months, the First Steps for Autism Early Intervention program provided multidisciplinary support to children up to 7 years of age. Children were supported to learn new skills and prepare for the transition to preschool, school, and other mainstream settings through one-on-one and group sessions. Throughout the year, School Age services supported children and adolescents aged 8 to 17 years of age at school, at home, and in the community. We continued working closely with educators and schools to embed goals and strategies into each individual’s education plan to deliver the best outcomes for students. We also ran a number of important social skills groups that focused on learning and practicing social skills, communication, and confidence in a fun environment. These programs included KONTAKT ® Teens, PEERS ® for adolescents and young adults, and Social Magic. To support young adults and their families to prepare for life after school and navigate the wide range of options, we introduced our Stepping Out for School Leavers and Young Adults program. This program is led by therapists with specific knowledge of how to support young adults to succeed in areas such as community engagement, tertiary education, traineeships, employment, and recreation. Our Adult therapy team focused this year on skill development, community inclusion, work-readiness, and improving personal resilience. Each individual was supported to maximise their independence and participate in the communities important to them, focusing on increasing social opportunities, and improving overall quality of life. In all service areas, our TASTEE team collaborated with our Registered Nurses to develop online and face-to-face mealtime and dysphagia training for staff. This ensured high quality support to individuals and their families’ mealtime needs. This year, our Therapy and Clinical Services team supported 2,534 individuals across Early Intervention, School Age, Adult therapy services, and Positive Behaviour Support.

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