April is World Autism Month!

The Hopkins Centre would like to take the opportunity to share our research in this space, with the goal to improve lives of all Australians on the autism spectrum and the families who love them. The research team would like to take the opportunity to sincerely thank the hundreds of individuals on the spectrum, family members, those working to support them, and who partner with us in research every year.

The Hopkins Centre warmly encourage people to ‘have your say’ on the consultation paper on Interventions for children on the autism spectrum recently published by the National Disability Insurance Agency. The consultation builds on the world-first synthesis of research evidence completed in November 2020 by a cross-institutional team that included A/Prof David Trembath, Dr Kandice Varcin, and Dr Rhylee Sulek from The Hopkins Centre. It is essential that the NDIA hear a broad range of community views and perspectives regarding how best to optimise supports, particularly from individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. Click here to read more.

Watch Hopkins Researcher, Dr Jessica Paynter, a Senior Lecturer and Clinical Psychologist at Griffith University, as she shares her insights into the value of assessment in understanding each individual on the autism spectrum: 

World Autism Awareness Month 2021: Assess don't Assume

Australian Psychological Society Modules on Autism Spectrum Disorder:
Dr Paynter was a member on an expert reference group to develop modules for the APS that may be of interest to psychologists in the group. Click below for more information on each online module: 

• Module 1: Autism Spectrum Foundations
• Module 2: Assessment and Diagnosis
• Module 3: Identifying Common Co-morbidities
• Module 4: Evidence-based Practice

Supporting acceptance- debunking myths in autism
Introduction to the Forum: Literacy in Autism—Across the Spectrum

Read more about the other Hopkins research projects and collaborations in this area:

• CHLD Network: Child Health, Learning and Disability
• Advance Queensland Telehealth project: Use reseach to guide Autism Queensland rapid transition to organisation-wide telehealth delivery to clients and their families across Queensland
• Clinical Guides: Supporting children on the Autism Spectrum with minimal verbal language
• Nerang Alliance: Research focussed on transition to school and early language development
• Profiles of Vocalisation Change in Children with Autism receiving Early Intervention