Updated with links to webinar pages for on-demand viewing and resources
Join us in April for our Autism Month webinar series
Our collaborative network of researchers and experts are back for another series of webinars to celebrate Autism Month 2021. With more than six years of research and development behind us there is so much to talk about. Join us as we share the latest research, resources and outputs for autistic people across the lifespan and across the spectrum.
Launch of the Australian Autism Research Council 2020-21 Research Priority Update
Thursday 15 April 11am (AEST)
The Australian Autism Research Council (AARC) was established to review and define national priorities for autism research and identify areas of research needed for the autistic and autism communities.
In 2019, the AARC conducted the first community consultation to identify priorities for Australian autism research. This consultation reached more than 1,100 community members from across Australia. Following the publication of the resulting Research Priorities Report, the AARC recommended that further community consultation was necessary to identify more detailed research questions under these broad areas. The key objective of the AARC community consultation in 2020 was to hold focus groups of community members to identify and prioritise specific research questions for five of the top ten broad research areas. The two reports being launched provide the outcomes of that consultation and discusses how the research questions identified can be deployed into practice.
Presented by AARC members Prof Liz Pellicano and Dr Wenn Lawson, and Autism CRC Project Coordinator Tori Haar:
- A special event to launch the AARC 2020-21 Research Priority Update including the fifty research topics which were developed by community members through the focus groups held in 2020
Facilitated by Prof Andrew Whitehouse, Autism CRC, Telethon Kids Institute and University of Western Australia.
Writing and transitions
Monday 19 April 1pm AEST
Hear the latest from researchers and education experts on:
- a co-designed app to help kids with their writing
- enabling support with transition planning for students – an educator’s guide to myWAY Employability
Speakers:
- Prof Peta Wyeth , Queensland University of Technology
- A/Prof Marina Ciccarelli, Curtin University
Facilitated by Cheryl Mangan, Autism CRC.
Health, assessment and diagnosis
Tuesday 20 April 1pm AEST
HealthPathways is a web-based health information site that assists health practitioners, particularly General Practitioners (GPs), to guide patients through the health system. Autism HealthPathways are now available for adoption and adaptation in 43 health regions, across Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Find out more about these new resources and how to adapt or adopt Autism HealthPathways for your health region.
The newly released National Guideline Implementation Toolkit is designed to help clinicians to upskill and deliver the recommendations in the National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Australia. Find out more about the available resources and practical tools to ensure your practice aligns to the latest guidelines.
Hear the latest from experts on:
- localising health information for health practitioners – Autism HealthPathways
- new resources for clinicians – National Guideline Implementation Toolkit
Speakers:
- Toni Simmons, Mackay Hospital and Health Services
- Dr Aaron Kennedy, Mackay Hospital and Health Services
- Dr Kiah Evans, Telethon Kids Institute
Facilitated by Prof Andrew Whitehouse, Autism CRC, Telethon Kids Institute and University of Western Australia.
Interventions for children on the autism spectrum
Tuesday 20 April 3pm AEST
Published in November 2020, the landmark Autism CRC report Interventions for children on the autism spectrum: A synthesis of research evidence provides families and clinicians with the latest in quality evidence for early intervention approaches, supporting informed decisions when choosing interventions. This report is critical because it provides families and clinicians with the best opportunity to make informed decisions when choosing interventions.
Hear from the authors of the report:
- how they synthesised the research evidence
- what the report found
- how service providers and families can use the report to guide decision making
Speakers
- A/Prof David Trembath, Griffith University
- Dr Emma Goodall, Healthy Possibilities
Facilitated by Prof Andrew Whitehouse, Autism CRC, Telethon Kids Institute and University of Western Australia.
Autism at work
Thursday 22 April 10am AEST
Hear the latest from researchers and autistic employees on:
- new insights on effective employment practices from our global study
- release of the Integrated Employment Success Tool for employers
- experiences of employment from autistic employees
Speakers:
- A/Prof Anna Krzeminska, Macquarie University
- Prof Charmine Hartel, Monash University
- Prof Sonya Girdler, Curtin University
- Darien Judge, Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Daniel Slaven, SunPork Farms
Facilitated by Prof Andrew Whitehouse, Autism CRC, Telethon Kids Institute and University of Western Australia.
Autistic scholars panel
Friday 23 April 10am AEST
Hear from autistic scholars Pia Bradshaw, Rebecca Poulsen & Dr. Matthew Bennett sharing their insights on:
- highlights and challenges of being a researcher
- studying autism as an autistic adult
- advice for supervisors of autistic researchers
Facilitated by Dr Jac den Houting, Macquarie University.