Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) is Australia’s largest service provider for people on the autism spectrum. They work with autistic people of all ages, delivering evidence informed solutions that are person centred, family focused, and customer driven.

​

They run nine autism specific schools across Australia providing special education and support to children on the autism spectrum with many of them having complex support needs. In addition, they provide a range of other services to autistic individuals and their families including diagnostic assessments, therapy, employment support, autism awareness and advisory workshops for parents, carers and professionals as well as a service for autistic adults with high support needs.

 

Many Autistic students have little or no interactions with Autistic people who have experienced success and a strong sense of connectedness to self and community to look up to. Therefore, Aspect are piloting an Autistic Mentor Program at their Aspect MacArthur School to provide positive role models for students and to offer an exciting employment opportunity to an Autistic young adult at the same time. The Autistic Mentor would be a “Big Brother” or “Big Sister” with lived autism experience who would also connect with the parent community and provide professional learning training to our teachers and school staff from an autism perspective.

​

If the 2-year pilot program is successful, Aspect would like to roll the Autistic Mentor Program out across other Aspect schools as well.

​

Waratah Education supported the employment of an Autistic Mentor