AQ has proudly delivered quality services and supports for autistic Queenslanders since 1967.
Experience, insight & knowledge gained over these 56 years has led to effective state & national support services guided by a vision of a life of participation, opportunity & choice.
As Queensland’s peak autism service and support provider, AQ’s extensive community includes our individual clients, their families and others working/supporting them including educators and professionals, government agencies, support groups & other disability supports for autistic people.
Our strength is our experience and person-centred approach. Our service delivery is evidence-informed, and we understand and value the contributions made by all people. This diversity strengthens our purpose & governance.
Our Vision
A life of participation, opportunity and choice.
Our Purpose
Enriching lives and strengthening communities by empowering autistic people to reach their potential.
Our Values
Our core values represent who we are and what is important to us. They embody what we do every day.
Integrity & Authenticity: We are genuine, honest and accountable in all that we do.
Diversity & Inclusion: We respect and celebrate all people and their right to participate and belong.
Strengths Focus: We strive to support the development of every person’s potential, recognising that a strengths focus enables growth and empowers decision-making and self-advocacy.
Safety & Wellbeing: We provide and promote safe, respectful, caring and engaging people and environments that support positive development and relationships.
Evidence-Informed Practice: We use professional reasoning to bring together current high quality research evidence and the values, strengths and preferences of individuals and families to optimise outcomes.
AQ is represented in national & state reference groups & research councils including the Australian Advisory Board on Autism, Australian Autism Alliance, Queensland Disability Advisory Council, Autism CRC, Autism Hub and others. An Advisory Committee ensures we are aware of issues important to autistic Queenslanders & their families.
AQ’s extensive service offering includes but is not limited to: individual therapy and mental health services, therapy groups, diagnostic assessments, early childhood services including EarlyAQtion early childhood intervention groups, an independent autism-friendly school, supported independent living, inclusion consultancy services, employment services, professional and parent education.
It takes many people with specialist skills to deliver this suite of services. At AQ they include therapists (speech pathologists, occupational therapists), psychologists, early childhood and school-age educators, behaviour support practitioners, wellbeing facilitators, lifestyle support workers, inclusion consultants, social workers and mentors.
As a truly statewide organisation we deliver our services from eight centres located in South-East, Central, North and Far North Queensland. We also offer telepractice and distance education to others who are unable to access face to face supports.
A registered provider of NDIS supports, AQ also serves the autism community with a selection of specialist supports under State and Federal Government grant schemes. We are funded by the Queensland’s Government’s Specialist Disability Support in Schools (SDSS) Program to deliver a School Advisory Service for children with a diagnosis of ASD attending a Queensland School, Kindy Uplift and the Kindergarten Inclusion Service. Staff within specialist teams also deliver bespoke grant-funded programs including mental health, employment and others.
The organisation is governed by a practice excellence framework reflecting the synergy between the values and ethos of the organisation, current best practice research & active collaboration with people with lived experience. It is supported & guided in practice by international, national & state-based legislation & guidelines that consider the rights of the person as paramount and seek to ensure access & equality of opportunity for all autistic people.
Established networks within the industry, including those established as the lead organisation for the national PlayConnect Plus playgroup program for children with disability or developmental concerns and their families will strengthen the reach and immediate trust and confidence of early childhood sector in the AQ service.
Representation in reference groups and research councils including the Australian Advisory Board on Autism, Australian Autism Alliance, Queensland Disability Advisory Council (QDAC), Autism Cooperative Research Council (CRC), and Autism Hub ensure AQ is aware of issues important to the early childhood and disability sector, individuals and their communities of support.
Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland was sworn in as the 27th Governor of Queensland on 1 November 2021. Autism Queensland is honoured to have her patronage. Click the below button to visit the Government House website.
Autism Queensland acknowledges that individuals and their families determine the language used when speaking about themselves or a loved one.
Due to a growing preference for identity-first language (eg autistic person/child/student) Autism Queensland is adopting this language in new documents, promotional materials and other external communications or where preference is unclear. Existing documents will gradually be updated.
Please note, when referring to the diagnosis, we may use ‘Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)’, as this is terminology in the Diagnostic Statistician’s Manual (Fifth Edition) and within the National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Australia. Additionally, when referencing verification in the education system we may refer also Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD.
