Adolescent/Adult Goal Setting Tool (AAGST)

The AAGST is not a standardised test, but a flexible, person-centred card-sorting tool co-designed by autistic people, for autistic people, with lived experience at the heart of its development. Its goals, illustrations, and resources were shaped by input from autistic people and their families through surveys, interviews, and focus groups, alongside contributions from autistic illustrators and members of the Australia and New Zealand Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN).

The tool builds on the legacy Family Goal Setting Tool (FGST), combining existing research and person-centred planning approaches with evidence-informed practices and feedback from teachers, allied health professionals and researchers. Trials with autistic people, alongside interviews with autistic people and their families, helped refine the cards to ensure the goals were clear, relevant and comprehensive. The result is a flexible tool grounded in autistic perspectives, designed to support meaningful goal setting that reflects each person’s individual priorities, preferences and aspirations.

• Inclusive & accessible: Supports a wide range of communication, language, and cognitive styles and strengths. It combines simple language, visual supports, and flexible sorting. The tool is grounded by lived experience and supported by evidence-informed practice.
• Visual & engaging: The illustrated goal cards were created by an autistic artist. Each card pairs illustration with simple wording to describe goals, coded into nine categories.
• Person-centred & flexible: Whilst providing structure, the tool is adaptable across a variety of demographics and service settings (therapy, education, employment). The sorting process allows for autonomy and self-advocacy, allowing room for additional ideas to be captured outside of the base set of cards.

The AAGST is ideal for use in:

• NDIS planning and reviews
• School and tertiary education transition supports
• Allied health, disability, mental health, and wellbeing services
• Supported living and other lifestyle support settings
• Employment, training programs, peer mentoring, and advocacy programs
• Self-directed planning families or other professionals.

Autism Queensland wishes to acknowledge all involved in the development of the AAGST:

• Special thanks to Judy Jones, whose pioneering work as lead researcher and developer of the legacy Family Goal Setting Tool (FGST) laid the foundation for the development of the AAGST.
• Research and development team: Dr Jill Ashburner, BOccThy, PhD; Judy Jones, BOccThy; Victoria Tomkins, BOccThy (Hons); Natasha Bobir, BSc (Hons) (Psych), MPsych (Clin); Raechel McLucas, BEd, GCert Autism; Jennifer Taylor, BPsychSc (Hons); and Jessica Lister, BA (Hons), BSc.
• Research participants and lived experience contributors: Sincere thanks to all participants who contributed to the evaluation and refinement of the AAGST and a special recognition to those who shared their lived experience of autism to help shape a meaningful and valuable tool, particularly members of the Australia and New Zealand Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), led by Ms Katharine Annear.
• Evaluation funding: We extend great thanks to the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC) for funding the evaluation of the AAGST.
• Creativity and illustrations: Finally, we thank the 2018-19 members and facilitators of AQ’s own Studio G program (then led by Mr David McCartney), and illustrators David Smith, Jermu Hautsolo and Elissa Pirnie for their contributions.

Adult/Adolescent Goal Setting Tool (AAGST)
© Copyright Autism Queensland Limited
All Rights Reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner and publisher, except for the following permitted uses:

• Reproducing relevant forms, worksheets and other designated recording materials for the express purpose of documenting individual responses, experiences, goals, strategies, support needs, plans or progress associated with the use of this tool.
• Reproducing designated guidance materials, information sheets and supporting resources for the purpose of facilitating the purchaser’s use of the tool with individuals, families and relevant support networks.
• Photographing or otherwise visually documenting completed activities or material arrangements where expressly intended to record individual responses, experiences or outcomes associated with the use of this tool.

All permitted reproductions must be limited to these purposes. No other part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or adapted without the prior written permission.

Published: 2019
Rebranded: 2022