Family Goal Setting Tool (FGST)
The Family Goal Setting Tool (FGST) is a child-centred, card sort scaffold developed by Autism Queensland (AQ) to help families of children with disability identify, communicate, and prioritise goals and support opportunity.
The FGST is a collaborative, family-centred planning resource designed to support families with young autistic children, from diagnosis through to the early school years. Available in two versions (one for families of children with disability and one specific to autism), the FGST provides flexible options for practitioners to facilitate collaborative goal setting across different early childhood intervention contexts. Using a structured card-sorting approach, the tool helps families identify, communicate and prioritise their goals, aspirations and support needs, ensuring their perspectives remain central to the planning process.
The FGST recognises that goal setting extends beyond the individual child to encompass the needs of the whole family. It provides a framework for exploring child-focused goals alongside the family’s need for information, guidance, support and opportunities for active participation in their community. By facilitating meaningful conversations between families and professionals, the tool helps develop a holistic understanding of what matters most and supports more personalised, relevant and meaningful goals.
Designed primarily for use within interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary early childhood intervention teams, the FGST can also be used by individual practitioners, therapists, educators, social workers, planners and case managers working with young children and their families.
The FGST was developed and piloted across a range of early childhood intervention teams, with feedback from families, educators and therapists informing its refinement and finalisation. It is available in two versions to support its use across different early childhood intervention contexts and to support families of children with varied disabilities.
The invaluable FGST led to the development of the Adolescent/Adult Goal Setting Tool (AAGST) which was awarded the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC) 2018 Award for Achievement in Autism Spectrum Research, recognising outstanding commitment to inclusive research practices.
Holistic, co-designed, and evidence-informed
The FGST: Autism Spectrum Disorder Version was developed between 2009–2012 to support collaborative, family-centred goal setting within early childhood support services. Developed in response to challenges experienced by both families and practitioners, the tool uses illustrated goal cards to help families identify, communicate and prioritise their child’s and family’s needs, strengths and aspirations, while providing practitioners with a structured approach to collaborative planning.
Following positive pilot research, the tool was adapted into the FGST: For Families with Children with Disabilities Version between 2012–2013, with input from multidisciplinary practitioners and families. The adaptation retained a holistic approach, recognising that meaningful goals extend beyond a child’s development to include family relationships, wellbeing, information and support needs. Research evaluations found that the tool made goal setting more accessible and engaging, encouraged collaboration, supported a broader understanding of available possibilities and helped families feel more empowered and confident in identifying their priorities.
The development of both FGST versions represent the foundation for the later development of the award-winning Adolescent/Adult Goal Setting Tool (AAGST).
Why professionals choose the FGST?
- Inclusive & accessible: Supports a wide range of communication, language, and cognitive styles and strengths. It combines simple language, visual supports, andflexible 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.
- Child/family-centred & flexible: Whilst providing structure, the tool is adaptable across a variety of service settings (therapy, early childhood education etc.). The sorting process allows families to voice the goals and priorities of their child and family.
The FGST is ideal for use in:
- NDIS planning and reviews.
- Early childhood transition supports.
- Allied health and disability support planning.
- Mental health, wellbeing services and other settings supporting families with children with disabilities.
The FGST includes 80 categorised and illustrated goal cards (68 cards in the ASD Version), helping explore interests, identify what matters most, and communicate family goals. To help guide the process, the kit includes sorting plates, goal explanation cards, a detailed user manual and quick-start guide to support therapists and facilitators, and a resource booklet with practical tips, suggested scripts, and reproducible templates for recording and planning priority goals.
Acknowledgements & thanks
Autism Queensland wishes to acknowledge all involved in the development of the AAGST:
- Special thanks to Judy Jones, lead researcher and developer of the legacy Family Goal Setting Tools (FGST).
- ASD Version research and development team: Judy Jones, BOccThy; Professor Sylvia Rodger, BOccThy., MEdSt.,PhD; Anna Walpole, BOccThy (Hons).
- Disabilities Version research and development team: Judy Jones, BOccThy; Professor Sylvia Rodger, BOccThy., MEdSt.,PhD; Madonna Cook, BOccThy; Amy O’Keefe, BOccThy (Hons).
- Disabilities Version early childhood support team: Claire Andersen, BSpTher (Hons); Julia Beck, BPthy; Sonya Berry, BOccThy; Elissa Dunstan, BPThy; Sue Ellis, BSocWk; Kathy Leadbetter, DipCRec; Lesley Meehan, BSpTher; David Rusterholz, BBus., BSocWk; Lindy Saunders, BPhty; Judy Spetch, BSocWk; Amanda Taylor, BTeach (ECE).
- Research participants and lived experience contributors: Sincere thanks to all participants who contributed to the evaluation and refinement of the FGST and a special recognition to those who shared their lived experience of autism to help shape meaningful and valuable tools.
- Illustrations: Finally, we thank illustrator Anne Ketchion, BOccThy for the illustrations.
Copyright©
Family Goal Setting Tool (FGST): ASD Version and For Families with Children with Disabilities Version
© 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: 2013
Rebranded: 2022
The FGST is an Aspirations Self-Determination Publication. All proceeds support AQ’s work to enrich lives and strengthen communities by empowering autistic people to reach their potential, including through research and the development of tools and strategies that support autistic and neurodivergent children, adolescents, and adults to live a life of participation, opportunity and choice.
For media enquiries, interview requests, or permission to reproduce content, please contact us. Information published on this website is provided for general informational purposes and should not be taken as a substitute for individualised advice.
