2024 Autism CRC Awards for Achievement in Autism Research

We're proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Autism CRC Awards for Achievement in Autism Research.

Three projects have received recognition for their outstanding commitment to inclusive research practices and translation of autism research:

• Autism from menstruation to Menopause
• E-QoL-ity: Enhancing the quality of life and wellbeing of young autistic children 
• Research evidence and policy landscape mapping to inform the National Autism Strategy.

The awards were announced at the Autism CRC Annual General Meeting in Brisbane on November 27, 2024.

The awards acknowledge initiatives that exemplify Autism CRC’s vision, mission and values. In particular, they recognise achievements in inclusive research practice and the translation of autism research into practice, products, policy and programs that benefit the autistic and broader autism communities.

This year we received a high number of applications both nationally and internationally. The awardees demonstrated high levels of engagement with autistic individuals and the autism community across three very diverse projects that have the capacity to realise long term benefits.

We congratulate all of our 2024 award recipients and look forward to seeing the positive impact of their work.

Inclusive research practice award (jointly awarded)

Autism from menstruation to menopause

Led by Dr Aimee Grant (Swansea University, UK), with research partners Autistic UK and Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales. 

This study aimed to co-develop a quality improvement intervention for use in healthcare settings to improve the reproductive health services provided to autistic people.

The project established Wales’ first participatory Autistic Research Community Council and used qualitative longitudinal methods to understand autistic people with wombs (women, non-binary and trans men), reproductive health experiences across the life course, including interactions with healthcare services and their unmet needs.

A broad range of reproductive health conditions from teenage years to menopause, including maternity, endometriosis, infertility and gynaecological symptoms were investigated.

The study has completed first interviews with 75 autistic people and has been ongoing for almost two years at time of writing and will complete in late 2030.

One reviewer for the project said: “This highly impactful project addresses a lack of understanding the reproductive health experiences of autistic people, particularly menstruation and menopause. It embodies true co-production but also capitalises on opportunities to establish infrastructure for future co-designed projects to support an ongoing and sustainable model".

E-QoL-ity: Enhancing the quality of life and wellbeing of young autistic children

Led by Prof Dawn Adams (Griffith University), with research partners Reframing Autism, Queensland Health, STEPS Group Australia, Giant Steps, University College, London, Olga Tennison Research Centre, La Trobe University and Macquarie University.

The autistic and autism communities have identified improving Quality of Life (QoL) and wellbeing as a key priority. Despite this, there are no evidence-based supports for autistic children which specifically focuses on improving these areas. The E-QoL-ity project addresses this by aiming to co-design, implement and evaluate a parent program consisting of three stages:

1. learning from lived experience
2. co-developing a parent program called Bloom, and
3. collaborating to evaluate.

The first study involved interviewing 28 autistic adults and 29 parents of autistic children.

The second study asked 42 autistic youth to provide their views on what helps them to “live their best life”.

Bloom is an innovative parent group program that consists of eight sessions delivered in person or online for two hours per week. Each session is co-delivered by an allied health professional and an autistic adult to ensure an autistic perspective is integrated throughout program delivery. Every parent was asked to complete measures before and after the group and at a three-month follow up to collect feedback on the group content, delivery and format.

The body of work informing Bloom and the acceptability and feasibility study of Bloom is an important step towards addressing the critical need for wellbeing supports at this early stage of development. 

One reviewer for the project said: “This project goes beyond the usual consultative model to not only ensure that the research is guided by autistic people, but to centre and involve the voices of autistic children. The project team incorporates a number of universities, professional organisations, and community groups and principles of co-design are strongly embedded”.

Translation of autism research into practice award

Research evidence and policy landscape mapping to inform the National Autism Strategy

Led by Prof Dawn Adams (Griffith University), with research partners Curtin University and Dr Wenn Lawson.

The Australian Government committed to the co-design and development of a National Autism Strategy (the Strategy) that is grounded in evidence and informed by the experiences of autistic people, their families and carers, and those who work to support them.

The 'Landscape mapping' report combined the findings of an umbrella review, policy review and “1,000 insights” community views survey to highlight gaps, and provide a strong foundation to clearly identify needs, issues and potential solutions for the strategy to address.

The research review used an umbrella review method to screen over 16,000 systematic reviews to identify the 185 relevant the service domains within this report. Collectively these report on over 700 research studies and over 2,500,000 participants.

The report from this project was delivered to the Department of Social Services in early July 2023. It was well received by the Department, and was cited in National Autism Strategy Discussion paper, which went on to inform the National Autism Strategy.

One reviewer for the project said the benefits and impact of the project were “Extremely relevant and findings will directly impact community”.

Once again, congratulations to all involved in these important research projects.