The Curtin Autism Research Group and Telethon Kids Institute Autism Research Team are pleased to invite you to our annual Autism Open Day.

Event details

Location: Technology Park Function Centre, 2 Brodie Hall Drive, Bentley, WA 6102
Date: Sunday, 9 September 2018
Time: 10.00 am – 3.00 pm

Join us for discussions on programs that support people with autism and booths that provide information on autism. There will be discussions on programs that support people with autism, focusing on ‘tapping their talents’. We welcome all adults and children with autism, their families and anyone who is interested in autism research.

The exhibition area will have stalls with information on key areas such as:

• Pathway planning for school leavers with autism
• Social skills training for teenagers with autism
• Emotion recognition training computer games
• Peer mentoring program for university students with autism
• Autism Academy for Software Quality Assurance
• Getting around the community
• National guideline for autism assessment and diagnosis
• Autism Register

Autism Open Day Program – Sunday 9 September 2018

10.00am – 3.00pm: Exhibition area open

10.30am: Official Welcome by Professor Deborah Terry AO, Vice-Chancellor, Curtin University

10.40am – 10.50am: “The launch of Neurodiversity Hub” by Hon. Stephen Dawson MLC, Minister for Environment and Disability Services

10.50am – 11.20am: “Tapping the talents of people with autism” Keynote by Professor Lyn Beazley AO, Ambassador of the Autism Academy for Software Quality Assurance (AASQA) and past Chief Scientist of Western Australia

11.20am – 11.40am: “A strength based IT-program for adolescents with autism, what works?” presented by Matthew Jones, PhD Candidate, Curtin University

11.40pm – 12.40pm: Break

12.40pm – 12.55pm: “Kontakt” presented by Professor Sonya Girdler, Director of Curtin Autism Research Group, Curtin University, and Ms Filipa Scott, parent of a child with autism.

12.55pm – 1.25pm: “Consensus-based recommendations for assessing and diagnosing autism spectrum disorders in Australia” presented by Professor Andrew Whitehouse, Head of Autism Research, Telethon Kids Institute, and Dr Kiah Evans, Program Manager – Autism & Related Disorders Team, Telethon Kids Institute

1.25pm – 1.35pm: “The misnomer of ‘high-functioning autism’: IQ is a weak predictor of functional abilities in autism spectrum disorder“ presented by Dr Gail Alvares, Postdoctoral Research Fellow,  Telethon Kids Institute

1.35pm – 2.05pm: Break

2.05pm – 2.35pm: “Determining neurotypical knowledge about attitudes towards autism through co-production” presented by Mr Joel Wilson, Research Assistant, Curtin University, and Ms Rebecca Kuzminski, PhD candidate, Curtin University

2.35pm – 2.55pm: 3-minute PhD presentations

• “Promoting social interactions in newborn babies at risk of autism” – Dominique Cleary, UWA and Telethon Kids Institute
• “Developing and evaluating an assessment of functioning tool for school-aged children with autism spectrum disorders” – Maya Hayden-Evans, Curtin University and Telethon Kids Institute
• “Beyond childhood: Understanding autism in adolescence and adulthood” – Kendra Dommisse, UWA and Telethon Kids Institute
• “Developing an autism specific quality of life assessment for autistic adults” – Rebecca Kuzminski, Curtin University
• “Barriers and facilitators impacting clinician uptake of guideline recommendations” – Anindita Karajagi, UWA and Telethon Kids Institute

3.00pm: Event close