Autism Support for Children and Adults in Brisbane

There is no single best therapy for every autistic person. Australia's national guideline for supporting autistic children and their families found that no one type of support works better than all others for every child, so support should be chosen around the person's strengths, needs and goals, and the family's preferences. In practice, that often means a mix: speech pathology for communication, occupational therapy for sensory needs and daily living, and behaviour support when behaviour is getting in the way of wellbeing. We plan this with you after an assessment and review it as needs change.

It depends on the person's age and goals. For young children, sessions are usually play-based and follow the child's interests, so they can practise communication, play and everyday skills in a way that feels natural. For older children and adults, sessions focus on the goals they choose, such as communication, managing sensory needs, routines, or taking part at school, work or in the community. Sessions can run at our Runcorn clinic or at home, kindy or school, and we share strategies with families and educators so they can be used between sessions.

No. You can book with us without a diagnosis or a referral, and private clients are welcome, so therapy can start based on your child's needs while you work out next steps. A diagnosis can matter for funding, though. NDIS access usually needs evidence of disability, and for children younger than 9, an NDIS early childhood partner can help your family even if your child is not eligible for the NDIS. If you're not sure where to start, call us and we'll talk through your options.

It can. Autistic people who meet the NDIS access requirements can have therapy funded in their plan when it relates to their goals. Speech pathology and occupational therapy are usually paid for from the Capacity Building budget, under Improved Daily Living. For children younger than 9, the NDIS early childhood approach connects families with an early childhood partner. As a registered NDIS provider, we can work with participants whose plans are self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA-managed. If you're unsure what your plan covers, your support coordinator or plan manager can check, and you're welcome to call us before you book.

Thriving Kids is a new program, outside the NDIS, for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism and low to moderate support needs. It began rolling out on 1 October 2026 and is due to be fully in place by 1 January 2028, when NDIS access arrangements for children are also due to change. Services are still being set up in each state and details may change, so check the latest information from the NDIS or your early childhood partner. If you're unsure how it affects your child, call us and we'll talk it through.

We see children from age 2. Many families get in touch when they notice differences in their child's communication, play or behaviour, or soon after a diagnosis. You don't need to wait for a diagnosis or the start of a school year: an assessment can show what support would help now. For young children, therapy is play-based and can happen at home or kindy, where your child spends their day. Call us to talk about your child, and we'll suggest where to begin.

Yes. We support autistic teenagers and adults as well as children, including people diagnosed later in life. Support can include communication, managing sensory needs, daily living skills, routines, and taking part in study, work and the community. Sessions can take place at our Runcorn clinic or at home, and we can work with your support network if you'd like us to. Adults with an NDIS plan can usually use their Capacity Building funding for therapy, and private clients are welcome.

Yes. As well as seeing clients at our clinic in Runcorn, our team visits homes, schools and kindies across Brisbane's southside, including Logan, Underwood, Springwood, Woodridge, Inala, Stretton, Calamvale, Browns Plains and Acacia Ridge. Working where everyday life happens helps us see what is going well and what gets in the way, and lets us share strategies with families, teachers and educators. Tell us where you'd like sessions to happen when you get in touch, and we'll confirm what we can offer in your area.

Families are part of every step. We ask about your child's strengths, interests and what matters to your family, and set goals together. During sessions we show you strategies you can use in daily routines, and we check in regularly about what is working. With your permission, we also work with your child's kindy, school, support workers and other therapists so everyone uses a consistent approach. Adults choose how involved their family or support network is.

Yes. Our team includes speech pathologists, an OT team and behaviour support, so an autistic child or adult who needs more than one kind of support can be seen in one place. One team makes it easier to set shared goals, such as communicating during play, managing sensory needs at school or a calmer morning routine, and to keep everyone working the same way. Let us know which areas you'd like help with when you get in touch.

Our fees follow the NDIS price limits for therapy, which are set for each financial year. Clients without NDIS funding are welcome and pay the same rates. The total cost depends on the kind of therapy, how often sessions run and how long they are, which we agree with you after the assessment. For NDIS participants, sessions are claimed from your plan's funding. Contact us before you book and we'll tell you the current rate and what it includes, so there are no surprises.