Table 2 Psychosocial resources developed for Indigenous people with ASD characteristics, and/or their caregivers
Resource | Developers | Type | Targeted population | Registration requirements | Assistance required | Cost and accessibility | Evaluated? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples psychoeducation and support | Positive Partnerships | Website offering online psychoeducation with downloadable resources. | Parents, teachers and community engaged with children with ASD | Webinar access and community programs | Community programs are run by Positive Partnerships staff | Free. Online resources easily accessible. Must register for community program. | Yes |
2 | Alert Program Study | Telethon Kids Institute, Communities of the Fitzroy Valley, and Bree Wagner (lead researcher) | A school-based intervention program delivered through school curriculum that teaches students about self-regulation and provides them with strategies to improve focus and emotion regulation. | The program is delivered by teachers to all students, with a particular research focus on outcomes for students with FASD | Initial research has finished recruitment | Initial training delivered to teachers by researchers, teachers continue to implement the curriculum in the Fitzroy Valley | Free. Currently delivered only in the rural area of Fitzroy Valley, Western Australia as this area is disproportionately affected by FASD. | Yes – see Article F in systematic review for pilot study outcomes |
3 | Autism Aboriginal Way | Community Facebook Group | Online group providing support for Aboriginal people that identify as Autistic | Caregivers of Aboriginal children and adolescents with a diagnosis of ASD | Users must request to join the group and complete a short survey | No | Free. Access requires a Facebook account and internet access. | No |
4 | Autism Spectrum Australia Cultural and Indigenous Support | Autism Spectrum Australia | Resource providing psychoeducation and support for caregivers. | Parents or carers of Indigenous children with ASD | No | No | Free. Access requires internet access. | No |
5 | Autism Teen Wellbeing website | Lead researchers Ian Shochet and Beth Saggers in collaboration with Autism CRC, Positive Partnerships, & Queensland University of Technology | Website providing psychoeducation, resources, and cultural considerations for building resilience among teenagers with ASD within a multi-level approach. | Using a multi-level approach highlighting parents, carers, teachers, support staff, schools, and the wider community as supports for teens with ASD | No | No | Free. Access requires internet access. | No |
6 | Be My Koorda Support Group | Community Facebook Group and Online Website | Online group for caregivers. Shares information and strategies, and holds face-to-face meetings in Koorda, Western Australia. | Parents or carers of Indigenous children with ASD and other disabilities | Users must request to join the social media group | No | Free. Access requires a Facebook account and/or internet access. Meetings restricted to Koorda, Western Australia. | No |
7 | Early Days Workshops for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families | Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) and Early Days – Promoting Development of Young Children on the Autism Spectrum | Educational workshops (online and face-to-face) to build resilience and provide information about Autism and intervention approaches. Access to local services during assessment and after diagnosis. | Parents or carers of young children with ASD, up to 6 years of age | Registration required | Yes, face-to-face workshops are delivered by Early Days staff in each state and territory to compliment online workshops | Free. Online workshops available to all. Face-to-face workshops have to be organised with the Early Days Team in each state or territory. | Yes: by Aboriginal parent, child care worker, and SNAICC. Ongoing post-workshop parent evaluations. |
8 | Early Intervention: Indigenous Liaison Officer Program (EI ILO) | Autism Queensland | Resource increasing awareness of childhood disability and diagnosis, benefits of early intervention, and links to culturally relevant services. | Parents, carers, families and communities of Indigenous children with ASD | No | No | Free. Available to all seeking support and information. Requires internet access | No |
9 | Four Directions Autism website | Volunteer-run support group | Website providing psychoeducational resources and support for parents. | Parents of First Nations children with ASD | No | No | Free. Online resources easily accessible. | No |
10 | Paediatric Child Health and Education Services (PATCHES) | PATCHES | Diagnostic and neuropsychology assessments for FASD, ASD, and other developmental disorders; a range of therapy services; and outreach programs. | Uniting schools and families with clinicians to support those with FASD, ASD, or other learning or developmental difficulties who live in remote and regional areas | Registration required | Yes | Free. Available in key communities in Western Australia, Northern Territory, New South Wales, and Tasmania. | No |
11 | Takiwātanga Māori Autism Support Group | Community Facebook Group | Online support for whānau (family) who have a child with ‘Takiwātanga’ (Autism) through the diagnosis system. | Whānau (family) who have a child or family member with ‘Takiwātanga’ (Autism) | Users must request to join the social media group | No | Free. Access requires a Facebook account and internet access. | No |