Secret Agent Society - Solving the Mystery of Social Encounters

Many families choose to homeschool. For neurodivergent kids, this can be about choosing learning environments that work for them.

If that's part of your family's situation, you might be wondering if a program like Secret Agent Society can work outside of a traditional school setting.

The good news? It does! SAS was designed to include parents from the start, which means the learning journey your child goes on isn't dependent on a classroom. The fun, spy-themed missions "Cadets" go on can be reinforced at home, with you involved throughout the process.

Whether your child is in a mainstream classroom, homeschooled, or somewhere in between, the goal is the same. Building a social-emotional toolkit that travels with kids throughout life, whatever school happens to look like this year.

If you're navigating homeschool or a hybrid setup and wondering how SAS could work for your family, then find a Provider via the link below and start the conversation!

https://www.sst-institute.net/find-sas-provider

Image description: A smiling person holds a tablet next to a cartoon character of a boy with blonde hair, against a plain light background.

A great feature for anyone wanting to support their kids in exploring connections that help them feel happier and calmer more often.

Do you or someone neurodivergent in your life share a deep bond with animals? Share with us in the comments. 🐣🧡

Neurodivergent individuals (like those with autism or ADHD) often share a profound natural affinity with animals because pets offer non-judgmental, non-verbal, and predictable companionship, reducing the anxiety of human social demands.

Fizzy and Suds — stream now on ABC iview.

Want to help a child you support get involved in more community activities? Check out this great initiative from Different Journeys. You could also share our new free community activity resources with their coaches, instructors, or club leaders to help them make the group even more inclusive!

https://www.secretagentsociety.com/community-intel

Kids Voucher Program | Get Active Victoria Eligible children may receive up to $200 to cover the costs for membership and registration fees. Applications are closed.

"More screen time is the last thing a neurodivergent child needs." We understand where this sentiment comes from. Screen time is a challenging topic for families, and there are valid concerns about kids spending too much time isolated behind digital devices.

But, it's also worth distinguishing two different things: Excessive screen time as passive entertainment and screen-based engagement tools used with intention. For a lot of neurodivergent kids, screens make learning possible. They can lower the social pressure of a face-to-face group setting and overcome distance or time barriers for parents.

Screen time concerns are legitimate and worth thinking about for every family. However, used with purpose and paired with real-world clinicians, educators, and community members, digital devices can be the right tool for children who find it hard to learn any other way.

That's why Secret Agent Society incorporates technology. It provides another way to experience the program, making it more flexible and able to accommodate different families.

Image description: A smiling child sits at a table with a tablet in a yellow case, with another child on a couch behind them.

Let's talk about masking, because we hear this question a lot: Does emotion regulation teach kids to mask?

The concern behind the question is real and important. So, let's start by unpacking what masking is and isn't.

🔍 Masking is when a child suppresses or hides their natural responses. For example, their authentic reactions, stims, and distress in order to appear "fine" or fit in. It could look like coping on the outside, but on the inside, it is exhausting.

🔍 Masking is not the same as learning what helps you feel calmer and choosing to use it. A child who learns interoception and that a fidget spinner settles them, or that jumping on a trampoline burns off excess energy, isn't hiding anything. They're building self-awareness.

This distinction is built into Secret Agent Society's approach to emotion regulation. Kids go on spy-themed missions where they try out different tools and figure out what works for them. Some kids find calm in a favourite video game; others discover that they need to move. There is no one "right" tool.

If you've wondered where SAS lands when it comes to masking and emotion regulation, then we hope this clears it up. Want to take a deeper dive? Check out this explainer on how the program covers emotion regulation.

https://www.secretagentsociety.com/emotion-regulation

Image description: Green graphic with text "Is emotion regulation masking?" above a cartoon spy character wearing sunglasses, with the Secret Agent Society logo.

A lot happens in Secret Agent Society Parent Group Meetings. Caregivers then often want to take what they've learnt home and share it. Perhaps with a co-parent who couldn't make the session, a grandparent who regularly looks after the child, or a support worker who is reinforcing these learnings in another setting.

That's why we've added Parent Tip Sheets to the program. Developed collaboratively, each one summarises the key content and actions from Parent Group Meetings in an understandable format that's easy to share with whoever needs it after a session.

Supporting a neurodivergent child was never meant to rest on one adult's shoulders. The more people around your child who are working from the same page, the more consistent it gets for everyone, including you.

Image description: An adult holds a laptop beside a cartoon character, surrounded by circular images of app screens, a chart, and people in group and coaching sessions.

How much of a child's week is spent with adults who aren't clinicians, teachers, or therapists? The soccer coach, the dance instructor, the scout leader, the swim teacher. So much of childhood happens in the community, and the leaders of these groups haven't necessarily been given the tools to make them inclusive for everyone.

That's why we've put together Community Activity Leader resources. These are simple, practical resources for coaches, instructors, and group leaders (no clinical background required).

Just the knowledge of a few small adjustments can make a real difference to how children experience group settings. If you know a community leader who might find this useful, share it with them. It's free and ready to use!

https://www.secretagentsociety.com/community-intel

Image description: A child in a green jersey kicks a soccer ball while a child in yellow chases, with spectators watching from the sideline.

Does your child hold it together all day at school, then fall apart at home? They might be managing with instructions, noise, people, expectations, and emotions all day, then come apart once they come home.

Some people call it the 'after-school restraint collapse'. If you're watching your child go through it, you know how confusing it can feel. Teachers say your child is doing great, and then at home you see them unsettled, exhausted or distressed.

We know that this takes a toll on kids and parents. That's why Secret Agent Society is designed to be a parent and teacher-inclusive program. Not only does your child discover new social-emotional tools that they can use to feel better more often, but you also get to go on the learning journey with them.

You get to learn about the signs that your child needs support and explore a variety of ideas that could work for your family.

Learn more about what SAS covers via the link below!
https://www.secretagentsociety.com/social-emotional-learning-program

Image description: A child in a hoodie rests their head on folded arms atop open textbooks at a desk, looking exhausted.

Exciting news! A new national hub dedicated to turning autism research into real-world change is being established. Congratulations to the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, we can't wait to see the impact!

We have some exciting news - The Australian Government has announced the establishment of the Australian Autism Knowledge Hub at La Trobe University’s Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre.

The Hub is a new national initiative with a clear goal: turning autism research into real-world change for Autistic people, families, carers, practitioners, policymakers and communities.

The Hub will support Autistic-led and co-produced research, help identify what works, highlight gaps in knowledge, and develop tools, frameworks and guidance that can be used in policy and practice.

It will bring together Autistic people, families, researchers, service providers, governments and community organisations to make autism research more useful, accessible and practical.

Most importantly, the Hub will be co-designed with Autistic people and the broader autism community, so lived experience is central to its priorities, decisions and outcomes.

We’re proud that OTARC will help lead this important national work from La Trobe University, building on our long-standing commitment to research that makes a practical difference.

Read the announcement here: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2026/release/autism-hub-turns-research-into-real-world-support