Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre

This week, both the Victorian Government and the Victorian Opposition made significant announcements about new programs to screen for autism and developmental delay in children.

We know many of you will want to understand what these mean, so here's a quick summary.

As part of the Thriving Kids program, which will launch in October this year, the Victorian Government has announced two new developmental assessments that will be available for every child: one before kinder and one before primary school. These won't be formal autism diagnoses, but trained clinicians and allied health professionals will identify developmental delays and connect families with support. They'll be based in maternal and child health centres, kinders and early parenting centres.

The Victorian Opposition has announced 'Successful School Starters'. Under the plan, occupational therapists and speech pathologists would be embedded in the existing Primary School Nursing Program from Term 1, 2028. Starting in Prep, specialists would observe students, help identify learning and developmental needs, and guide families toward assessment and diagnosis. The plan also includes a $500 subsidy toward a first specialist appointment if a formal diagnosis is needed.

We welcome the Government's clarity on Thriving Kids, and we welcome the Opposition's focus on supporting neurodivergent children and their families at school.

We'll continue to work with the Government as it rolls out Thriving Kids, keeping you informed along the way. 🩵

We would like to extend an invite to any healthcare professionals in our network to attend the first workshop of the span.toolkit, developed at La Trobe University

The Su***de Prevention for Autism Neuro-affirming Toolkit (span.toolkit) workshops will be free and will outline how the toolkit can be used for those within healthcare settings.

The first workshop will take place online at 12pm 9th July 2026.

You can register for the event at the following link: https://events.humanitix.com/span-toolkit-workshop

You can find out more about the span.toolkit here: https://www.spantoolkit.com/

If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Early autism screening is expanding across Tasmania, with key services now trained in the Social Attention & Communication Surveillance (SACS) tool developed at OTARC.

Created by Associate Professor Josephine Barbaro, SACS is the world’s most accurate early autism screening tool, identifying early signs in children aged 11–60 months - helping families access support sooner.

Over 18 months, we've worked with organisations across Tasmania to expand SACS training across multiple sectors:

• 21 Tasmanian GPs trained through a Royal Australian College of General Practitioners-funded primary care research initiative
• SACS integrated into the University of Tasmania Master of Speech Pathology program
• Allied health staff across three major hospital sites completed training in 2025
• Growing interest from disability and community services providers

Read more on our blog: https://otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/tassie-strengthening-autism-screening-across-the-state/

Why can the same sound feel manageable one day and unbearable the next? According to emerging research, the answer may involve far more than volume alone…

Read our latest blog article to find out why: https://otarc.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/understanding-sound-intolerance-through-neurodivergent-experience/

We can't wait to attend the Yellow Ladybugs conference next week!
The Yellow Ladybugs are an Australian charity with a global reach, run by and for Autistic girls, women, and gender-diverse folks, and their families.

See more: https://ylb2026.vfairs.com/

Big thanks to our SILVER sponsor OTARC at the 2026 Yellow Ladybugs Conference!

OTARC work together with the Autistic and autism communities to produce research and to translate their research into practice. Examples of their research translation initiatives include evidence-based support programs, training for health professionals, and best-practice early autism assessment.
Their researchers collaborate with autism advocacy organisations and with autism research centres in Australia and overseas.
Thier research aims to support Autistic people and their families in actively participating in their community, education, and employment, finding enjoyment in life, and making meaningful contributions aligned with their goals.

Sponsorships are the reason why we are able to run our conference, pay our speakers, and staff, and create an immersive and interactive conference experience.

Our conference allows us to continue our mission to help teachers, parents, allied health professionals better support and understand our ladybugs.

Join us for this in-person community event highlighting the experiences of immigrant and refugee communities in Australia, with a focus on East African children and families navigating the autism diagnosis and support journey. 'Taageero H**e' is Somalian for 'Early Supports' and the project is led by Honorary Research Fellow Dr Ifrah Abdullahi.

This is an opportunity to listen, learn, connect, and contribute to conversations that can help shape more culturally responsive autism supports in culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Register for the event at the link here: https://events.humanitix.com/taageero-hore-community-event

Note: this event will not be recorded.

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Taageero H**e Community Event a research project focused on sharing the experiences of immigrant and refugee communities in Australia, particularly East African children & families

The Victorian Government wants to celebrate people who help make Victoria fairer and more inclusive by recognising their achievements over the past year.

Do you know someone that:
• makes everyday activities easier and more accessible for everyone
• stands up for the rights of people with disability
• builds more inclusive workplaces and communities
• promotes and celebrates diversity.

You can nominate:
• a person with disability
• family members
• volunteers
• a person working in the sector
• an organisation that provides programs, advocacy or services.

Take the time to nominate a person or a group who are making a real difference.

Nominations are open until 5pm, Friday 26 June 2026. The nomination period will not be extended.

For award categories and to nominate, visit the Victorian Disability Awards webpage, https://www.dffh.vic.gov.au/victorian-disability-awards.

Is your baby aged 6–18 months communicating or interacting differently?

We’re running a study to learn how young children with different ways of communicating are supported in the community.

Taking part involves answering questionnaires, taking short videos of you and your child interacting, and recording the support services you use over one year.

You’ll receive a gift card and families will be able to access a free autism assessment at the end of the study.⭐

Follow the link for more information: https://redcap.latrobe.edu.au/redcap/surveys/?s=MHPNAPNAX7PF7JLW