Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this website may contain images and voices of people who have passed away.

Children from all backgrounds, countries and levels of society can be diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Current data shows that autism is under-diagnosed among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. In many areas, autism is unheard of. Other challenges include lack of access to local services or diagnostic assessment tools, an absence of trusted relationships, or the fear of shame and blame.

Positive Partnerships worked together with the First Peoples Disability Network to set up a National Aboriginal Reference Group to help improve diagnosis rates and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with Autistic children. After whole-of-community consultations, Positive Partnerships developed a range of tools and resources designed for, written and developed alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, schools and communities across the country.

Voices of Aboriginal Parents Across Australia

We are proud to offer a new resource called: Autism, Our Kids, Our Stories: Voices of Aboriginal Parents Across Australia.

This book is a collection of 10 interviews and reveals valuable insights into the journey experienced by Aboriginal families, including women and girls, when parenting a child on the autism spectrum.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities face ongoing and increasing difficulties around disability in general, but of particular interest to Positive Partnerships is the lack of awareness or recognition of autism. Lack of appropriate services, appropriate diagnostic assessments and tools, the absence of trusted relationships, and the fear of shame and blame have led to lower numbers of children formally diagnosed with autism. This book aims to connect with community and raise awareness through the authentic voice of lived experience.

Yarning cards

Positive Partnerships have developed these cards in consultation with their First Nations National Reference Group. The cards can support families and educators to get conversations started about the young person.

My Child's Storyboard and Story Circle

Every young person is different. We need to get to know them to support them effectively.

Understanding some key areas related to Autistic people's independence, strengths and support needs is important.

Our young people on the autism spectrum are all different. This circle helps us to think about six areas that are important in understanding the strengths and support needs of our young people.

These strengths and support needs can look different at home, in the community and at school.

The Storyboard is used to gather a child’s individual story. The Storyboard ensures that everyone is able to work together to support the child and it links to the My Child’s Story Circle.

Positive Partnerships developed this Storyboard to help gather all the relevant information about your child and share it with those that need it. This Storyboard can capture the characteristics of your young person, the impacts of these characteristics, as well as strategies and supports. The Storyboard may guide priority areas at school and home.

It is important that the Storyboard also captures strengths of the individual. The Storyboard can be completed by a team of people including family members and the individual themselves.