Resources for Australian parents

Designed for parents and caregivers of children aged 11 to 30 months, ASDetect is based on research conducted at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre at La Trobe University, Australia. The autism surveillance method developed in this research is 83% accurate, which is more than 13 times more accurate than the next best tool. Available in English, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish.


INFORMATION ABOUT CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Raising Children Network
Research-based information about autism and general child development:
✪ http://raisingchildren.net.au/

Talk with me baby
✪ http://www.talkwithmebaby.org/

Maternal and Child Health

My Health Learning and development
✪ https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/services-for-parents/Pages/mch-green-book.aspx

Key Ages and Stages Handouts - Play Learn Grow
✪ https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/childhood/parents/mch/2015_PLG_postcard_12month_web.PDF

✪ https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/childhood/parents/mch/2015_PLG_postcard_18month_web.PDF

✪ https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/childhood/parents/mch/2015_PLG_postcard_2year_web.PDF


INFORMATION ABOUT AUTISM

Amaze (Autism Victoria) is the peak body for autism in Victoria, providing information and resources connecting individuals, families and professionals to supports for autism. 
✪ http://www.amaze.org.au/

Amaze – The Autism Spectrum Information Booklet Guide for Victorian Families
✪ http://www.amaze.org.au/uploads/2016/04/Amaze-Info-Booklet-April-2016-web.pdf

Raising Children Network – Research-based information about autism and general child development.
✪ https://raisingchildren.net.au/autism

Autism Awareness Australia is a not-for-profit autism education and awareness organisation.
✪ https://www.autismawareness.com.au/

Autism Navigator
✪ https://autismnavigator.com/

Ned – Understanding Autism Short Film for Indigenous Families
✪ https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=bQcWvYi5EqY

Autism and Girls

Yellow Ladybugs
✪ https://www.yellowladybugs.com.au/

Spotlight on girls with autism
✪ https://www.yellowladybugs.com.au/school

Autism traits in females
✪ https://www.yellowladybugs.com.au/img/YLB_GirlTraits_A3.pdf


ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS

National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Australia
✪ https://www.autismcrc.com.au/knowledge-centre/resource/national-guideline

Amaze – The assessment and diagnosis process
✪ http://www.amaze.org.au/discover/about-autism-spectrum-disorder/assessment-diagnosis/

Amaze – Autism Assessment Teams in Victoria (for Children and Young People)
✪ http://www.amaze.org.au/uploads/2016/05/Autism-Assessment-Teams-in-Victoria-May-2016.pdf

Raising Children’s Network – Government-funded ASD diagnostic services
✪ https://raisingchildren.net.au/autism/therapies-services/services/government-funded-asd-diagnosis

Raising Children’s Network – Understanding the system
✪ https://raisingchildren.net.au/autism/therapies-services/services/asd-services

Royal Children’s Hospital – Autism assessment ages 0-6
✪ https://www.rch.org.au/autism/autism_assessment/Autism_assessment_ages_0-6/

Medicare

Amaze – Medicare benefits information sheet
✪ http://www.amaze.org.au/uploads/2018/09/3-Medicare-Benefits-InfoSheet-20170816.pdf

Books

Talking with your child about their autism diagnosis – Raelene Dundon
✪ https://www.bookdepository.com/Talking-with-Your-Child-about-Their-Autism-Diagnosis-Raelene-Dundon/9781785922770

Other

Amaze – Sharing an autism diagnosis info sheet
✪ http://www.amaze.org.au/uploads/2011/08/Fact-Sheet-Sharing-the-Diagnosis-of-Autism-Spectrum-Disorder-Aug-20111.pdf


THERAPY AND EARLY INTERVENTION

Therapy Connect
Information about therapies and services via this website
✪ http://www.therapyconnect.amaze.org.au/

Raising Children Network Therapy Guide
✪ https://raisingchildren.net.au/autism/therapies-guide

NDIS

The NDIS provides support and funding for people with a disability. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is the government agency that operates the NDIS. The Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) approach is designed to provide funding and support for all children under the age of 7 who have a developmental delay or disability.

For information about referral services and supports, and eligibility for the NDIS contact your local Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) partner office.
✪ https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/locations.html#vic

NDIS Factsheets
✪ https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/publications/booklets-and-factsheets

Booklet 1: Understanding the NDIS
Booklet 2: Planning
Booklet 3: Using your NDIS plan

NDIS Planning Workbook
✪ https://www.acd.org.au/ndis-support/ndis-planning-workbook/

Allied Health

Speech Therapy Private speech pathologists may be found on the Speech Pathology Australia website:
✪ https://tinyurl.com/y8gvehen

Occupational Therapy Private occupational therapists in your area can be found on the Occupational Therapy Australia website:
✪ http://www.otaus.com.au/find-an-occupational-therapist

Psychologist  A psychologist can be found on the Australian Psychological Society website:
✪ http://www.psychology.org.au/findapsychologist/, or through a referral by your GP/Paediatrician.

Strategies at home

An Early Start for your Child with Autism – Geraldine Dawson, Laurie A. Vismara, & Sally J. Rogers
An early intervention program that provides parents with practical strategies they can use with their child on a daily basis. It provides vivid examples that illustrate evidence-based techniques for promoting play, language, and engagement to give your child the tools to explore and enjoy the world.
✪ https://www.booktopia.com.au/an-early-start-for-your-child-with-autism-sally-j-rogers/prod9781609184704.html

More than Words – Fern Sussmann (Hanen Program).
A practical evidence-based guide that helps parents promote communication and social skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
✪ http://www.hanen.org/Guidebooks—DVDs/Parents/More-Than-Words.aspx

It Takes Two to Talk – Elaine Weitzman (Hanen Program).
A practical evidence-based guide designed for parents of children with language delays. In a comfortable small group setting, you’ll learn how you can build your child’s language skills naturally during everyday routines and activities.
✪ http://www.hanen.org/Guidebooks—DVDs/Parents/It-Takes-Two-to-Talk.aspx

Talk Ability – Fern Sussman (Hanen Program).
A practical evidence-based designed for parents of verbal children with high-functioning autism, including Asperger Syndrome, and other social communication difficulties.
✪ http://www.hanen.org/Guidebooks—DVDs/Parents/TalkAbility.aspx

Other

Amaze – Questions to ask service providers info sheet
✪ http://www.amaze.org.au/uploads/2011/08/Amaze-Information-Sheet-Questions-to-ask-Service-Providers.pdf

Amaze – Creating a positive environment for people on the autism spectrum
✪ http://www.amaze.org.au/uploads/2017/04/Information-sheet-4-Creating-a-positive-environment-for-people-on-the-autism-spectrum.pdf


SERVICES AND SUPPORTS

Workshops and support groups

Early Days – Amaze has free workshops about autism
✪ http://www.amaze.org.au/events-home/early-days/early-days-workshop-dates/

PlayConnect is a network of autism-specific play groups by PlayGroups Australia.
✪ https://playgroupaustralia.org.au/national-programs/playconnect/

My Time is a parent support program for parents and carers of children with a disability, developmental delay or chronic medical condition.
✪ https://www.mytime.net.au/

Small Talk Supported Play Groups
✪ https://www.smalltalk.net.au/

Carers Victoria offer low cost counselling
✪ http://www.carersvictoria.org.au/

Association for Children with a Disability
✪ https://www.acd.org.au/

Amaze list of Victorian Support groups
✪ http://www.amaze.org.au/victorian-support-groups/


HELPLINES

Amaze autism information advisor service. 1300 308 699

Maternal and Child Health Line. 13 22 29

Parent Line. 13 22 89


MANAGING CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR

Signposts
✪ http://www.signposts.net.au/

Stepping Stones Triple P
✪ https://www.triplep-parenting.net.au/au-uken/triple-p/

Amaze – behaviour support strategies for people on the autism spectrum
✪ http://www.amaze.org.au/uploads/2017/05/NewInformation-sheet-1-Behaviour-support-strategies-for-people-on-the-autism-spectrum.pdf


THE AUTISM COMMUNITY

Yellow Ladybugs (Autistic women and girls)
✪ https://www.yellowladybugs.com.au/

I CAN Network
✪ https://www.icannetwork.com.au/

Autism Actually
✪ https://www.autismactually.com.au/


ABORIGINAL TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER AND CALD RESOURCES

The Early Intervention Indigenous Liaison Officer (EI ILO) Program
Provides families in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with the tools, language and information to ensure they are confident to visit a GP or paediatrician.www.eiilo.com.au

DHHS Help in your language
✪ https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Pages/translation.aspx

Australian Parents from different cultures: videos
✪ https://raisingchildren.net.au/for-professionals/working-with-parents/cultural-diversity/different-cultures-videos

Multicultural autism resources
✪ http://www.positivepartnerships.com.au/multicultural-resources


MOBILE APPLICATIONS

ASDetect
✪ http://asdetect.org/

Maternal and Child Health Line App
✪ https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/services-for-parents/Pages/mch.aspx

Háblame Bebé app
Download for iPhone

Download for Android


OTHER

The Parenting Spectrum Podcast
✪ https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/the-parenting-spectrum/

What we wished we’d known when our son was diagnosed on the autism spectrum
✪ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-14/what-we-needed-to-hear-when-our-son-diagnosed-autism-spectrum/10890204

DAD – Autism and Fatherhood film by Autism Awareness Australia
✪ https://dadfilm.com.au/

Hanen Centre – Why Interaction Matters
PART One – ✪ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAFcJVJHLCU

PART Two – ✪ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJAgWdYM_og

8 Common Early Signs of Autism
✪ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJEqIZbv87Y

Creating More Learning Opportunities for Your Child with Autism
✪ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEEBcaplgNo


TALK

Speak to your child in the language you know best!

✪ http://bit.ly/2Gp02hp

The Hanen Centre – It’s never too early to have conversations with your child
✪ http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Articles/It-s-Never-Too-Early-to-Have-Conversations-with-Yo.aspx

The Hanen Centre – Tips for parents of young children who communicate without words
✪ http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Parent-Tips/Parent-Tips—Without-Words.aspx

The Hanen Centre -Tips for parents of children who have just started talking
✪ http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Parent-Tips/Parent-Tips—Started-Talking.aspx

The Hanen Centre -ips for parents of children who talk in sentences
✪ http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Parent-Tips/Parent-Tips—Sentences.aspx


SHOW

For more information about the different approaches to teaching skills to children visit:


PLAY

You can borrow fun and educational toys, games, puzzles and activities from a Toy Library!
✪ https://www.toylibraries.org.au/

Attend a community playgroup or a supported play group. Contact Play Group Australia to find out about groups in your area:

✪ https://www.smalltalk.net.au/

The Hanen Centre – Encouraging Joint Engagement with Children with ASD
✪ https://www.hanen.org/SiteAssets/Helpful-Info/Articles/Printer-friendly_Joint-engagement-with-children-wi.aspx

The Hanen Centre – 10 People games for playing with children with ASD
✪ http://web1.nbed.nb.ca/sites/ASD-W/ecs/Documents/Hanen%20-%2010%20People%20Games%20for%20kids%20with%20autism.pdf

The Hanen Centre – Six Steps to Follow the Child’s lead
✪ http://www.hanen.org/Images-for-public-site/Links—Sample-PDFs/TTS_1-ENS.aspx


SING

Visit the Raising Children’s Network Baby Karaoke page, which has animated videos with lyrics:

For popular nursery rhymes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages:
✪ http://bit.ly/2Zdqlyr

The Hanen Centre –How to sing with babies
✪ http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Fun-Activities/How-to-Sing-with-Babies-The-Hanen-Way.aspx

The Hanen Centre – How to sing with toddlers
✪ http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Fun-Activities/How-to-Sing-with-Toddlers-The-Hanen-Way.aspx


READ

Visit your local library to borrow a range of children’s books for free or attend a story time session:

For more information about appropriate books to read with your child visit:
✪ http://bit.ly/2Ghydq4

The Hanen Centre –Sharing books with toddlers
✪ http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Fun-Activities/Sharing-Books-with-Toddlers,-The-Hanen-Way.aspx