For the early years

For families and caregivers of young autistic children (or showing early signs) and the professionals who support them.

Resources produced by OTARC researchers

PROMOTING SOCAIL ATTENTION, INTERACTION AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS BOOKLET

PROMOTING SOCAIL ATTENTION, INTERACTION AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS BOOKLET

A booklet  for parents containing learning activities for children aged 11 to 30 month old. Comes in 10 languages.

Promoting social attention booklet

SIGNS OF AUTISM POSTER

SIGNS OF AUTISM POSTER

For health services

This poster is suitable for display in health service waiting rooms.

SIGNS poster [PDF 2.1MB]

KNOWLEDGE AND DIAGNOSIS OF AUTISM IN NEPAL

KNOWLEDGE AND DIAGNOSIS OF AUTISM IN NEPAL

A plain language online peer-reviewed paper summary.

View online presentation

CURRENT APPROACHES AND BARRIERS TO BEST PRACTICE AUTISM DIAGNOSIS

CURRENT APPROACHES AND BARRIERS TO BEST PRACTICE AUTISM DIAGNOSIS

A plain language online presentation summarising the early years content from OTARC's response to the Senate Select Committee on Autism (2020).

View online presentation

HOW CAN WE DIAGNOSE AUTISTIC GIRLS EARLIER?

HOW CAN WE DIAGNOSE AUTISTIC GIRLS EARLIER?

A plain language online peer-reviewed paper summary.

View online presentation

THE SOCIAL ATTENTION AND COMMUNICATION SURVEILLANCE-REVISED (SACS-R) AND SACS - PRESCHOOL

THE SOCIAL ATTENTION AND COMMUNICATION SURVEILLANCE-REVISED (SACS-R) AND SACS - PRESCHOOL

Training to equip professionals working with infants, toddlers, and pre-schoolers with the necessary skills to effectively identify children on the Autism spectrum, discuss their findings with families as part of routine care, and provide a streamlined referral pathway for families.

SACS website

ASDetect

ASDetect

ASDetect is a free mobile app that guides parents through age-appropriate assessments of children aged 11 to 30 months, using videos of Autistic and non-autistic children.

ASDetect website

NEURODIVERSITY AND NEURODIVERGENCE: A GUIDE FOR FAMILES

NEURODIVERSITY AND NEURODIVERGENCE: A GUIDE FOR FAMILES

This RCN guide to neurodiversity and neurodivergence was developed in collaboration with Yael Clark, Beth Radulski, and Associate Professor Josephine Barbaro.

RCN website

“MAYBE NO ONE KNOWS WE NEED HELP”

“MAYBE NO ONE KNOWS WE NEED HELP”

This online presentation is a summary of the latest paper by PhD candidate Kate Gore as part of their Masters of Clinical Psychology.

View online presentation

HAS THE SHIFT TO INDIVIDUALISED NDIS FUNDING CHANGED THE PROFILES OF CHILDREN ACCESSING SUPPORTS?

HAS THE SHIFT TO INDIVIDUALISED NDIS FUNDING CHANGED THE PROFILES OF CHILDREN ACCESSING SUPPORTS?

A plain language online peer-reviewed paper summary.

View the presentation

AUTISM PREVALENCE IN AUSTRALIA: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

AUTISM PREVALENCE IN AUSTRALIA: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

A blog post summarising OTARC's research on Autism prevalence in Australia

OTARC Blog

Autistic Girls in the Early Childhood

This free five-part video series produced by Yellow Ladybugs in collaboration with the Uniting Preschool Field Officer Program explores:

  • Autism and girls in early childhood
  • Autistic girls in the early childhood environment
  • ‘Behaviour’ and Autistic girls in early childhood
  • Neuro-affirming ways early childhood educators can support Autistic girls
  • Transitioning into an early learning setting and/or school for Autistic girls.

Access the video playlist


Autism 101: What does it mean for an Autism intervention to be evidence-based?

Explore this complex issue by looking at history, approaches, as well as areas of ongoing debate in the establishment of evidence-based interventions for Autism.

Autism 101 website


Healthy Mothers Healthy Families (HMHF)

Access a free online course for mothers to help you find balance in your physical and mental wellbeing.

HMHF website


What is Autism?

A free online course for people who interact or engage with Autistic people and communities, created by AMAZE.

Access the course


Autism: What Next?

A clear and concise website with step-by-step content for each stage of the Autism journey, including:

  • road to diagnosis
  • early intervention
  • NDIS & funding
  • choosing a school.

Autism: What Next website


Introduction to Neurodiversity

This website, aimed at young Autistic people, provides an understanding of neurodiversity, the natural differences in types of brains, and how they work.

Autism Understood website


Raising Children Network – parent guide to therapies

OTARC researchers contributed content to this Federal Government-supported parenting website. This section guides parents through the process of choosing the most appropriate therapies for their children.

RCN parent guide


We CareTM Workshops

We CareTM workshops are an evidence-based and proven support program for parents / caregivers who have a child who is recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, neurodevelopmental conditions or developmental delays.

We CareTM website


Yellow Ladybugs

The Yellow Ladybugs are a an Australian charity run by and for Autistic girls, women, and gender-diverse folks, and their families. They have lots of resources including fact sheets, videos, podcasts, online learning, books and info-graphics.

Yellow Ladybugs resources web page


Autism Community Network (ACN)

ACN embodies inclusion and respect at its core, with a focus on the Autism community providing an array of events, workshops and support groups catering to different interests, hobbies, activities, and needs. In person events are in New South Wales however they also offer events online.

ACN events website


Child and parent disability services

This page provides links to a range of child and parent disability services, resources and support organisations.

Child and parent disability services


Help is in your Hands website – intervention at home

This free website contains 16 video modules to help parents add simple intervention practices to their everyday routines at home. Based on the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), developed by Sally Rogers and Geraldine Dawson, these videos demonstrate simple but effective strategies that parents can use in their daily care of children.


Free Online Course – for parents and carers

Aimed at parents, family members and support people, this comprehensive self-paced free online course, has resources and activities designed to be completed over six weeks. It was created by Swinburne University and launched in 2015.

Study the Autism MOOC


Support groups for carers - Victoria

A list of support groups in Victoria for carers maintained by Amaze.

Amaze website


Positive Partnerships

Providing current, relevant and evidence informed information through workshops and online resources. Includes a comprehensive section of resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as well as CALD communities.

Positive Partnerships website


Early intervention options

Autism Awareness Australia outlines the types of interventions available and provides brief reviews of the main evidence-based kinds

Autism Awareness Australia website

Explore resources for other ages