AQ Brighton
The specialist therapy and teaching team at our Brighton centre provide the following services for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families living in Brisbane's northside, Caboolture, Pine Rivers and the Sunshine Coast.
Services include:
- Allied Health and Diagnostic Assessment Services (all ages)
- Autism Queensland School
- Behaviour Support Services (all ages)
- EarlyAQtion Kindi
- Groups for Young Children – (0-7 years)
- Individual Therapy (all ages)
- Groups for Children & Adolescents (7-17 years)
- School Advisory Service
- Support Coordination Services
- Vacation Care Groups
- Professional Development and Parent Education
Autism Queensland is a registered provider of NDIS supports.
Earlyaqtion early childhood services
EarlyAQtion Kindi
EarlyAQtion Kindi supports children up to school entry age to develop the skills necessary for successful participation in-home and community life and transition into the next stage of their education.
These are small group programs, with 4 to 12 children in each group, depending on the needs of the children and centre facilities.
The program is holistic, family-focused and transdisciplinary, with all areas of your child’s life being addressed and with all staff having expertise and input across all areas of functioning.
Staffing varies according to the number and support needs of children in the group:
- There is at least one professional (Occupational Therapist, Teacher or Speech Pathologist) who is the Group Leader (Key Worker).
- Each group has at least two Program Assistants.
- Weekly support from one or more other professionals (Occupational Therapist, Teacher, Psychologist or Speech Pathologist) occurs depending on the support needs of the children in the group.
EarlyAQtion Kindi:
- Recognises the specific needs of young children on the autism spectrum
- Recognises parents are crucial members of the team who will help your child achieve success
- Uses the child’s individual strengths and interests to motivate learning and develop skills
- Teaches your child skills that are meaningful and useful
- Utilises a positive approach to behaviour support that focuses on understanding the reasons for undesirable behaviour.
For more information about accessing a place for your child, fees, NDIS funding etc please complete the service request form.
Please note: Autism Queensland group fees are charged under the Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living section of your NDIS Plan. If you do not have funding in this specific Support Category, please discuss with your NDIS Local Area Coordinator or phone the NDIS on 1800 800 110.
NB: A waitlist may apply to some groups.
GROUPS
The following groups are available to families of young children on the autism spectrum living in Brisbane and South East Queensland. They are delivered by members of our multidisciplinary team including teachers & program assistants, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and psychologists.
Please note: Autism Queensland group fees are charged under the Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living section of your NDIS Plan. If you do not have funding in this specific Support Category, please discuss with your NDIS Local Area Coordinator or phone the NDIS on 1800 800 110.
If you are interested in having your child participate in any of the following groups, please follow the link below to access a service request form.
Food School
This nine-week group for children 4-7 years follows the principles of the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding to help children develop positive eating habits and reduce anxiety around mealtimes. It aims to help children have positive experiences with food, learn about mealtime routines, decrease resistance to touching, tasting, and swallowing food, and expand the range of foods they will try.
Locations and dates:
Autism Queensland Brighton
- Wednesday 13 October – Wednesday 8 December
- 3:30pm – 4:45pm
Food School Holiday Group
This week-long group follows the principles of the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding to help children develop positive eating habits and reduce anxiety around mealtimes. It aims to help children have positive experiences with food, learn about mealtime routines, decrease resistance to touching, tasting, and swallowing food, and expand the range of foods they will try.
Fun, Friends & Feelings
A four-day, small group delivered during school holidays for children aged 4–7 years and their parents that focuses on using the group environment to teach and reinforce a range of social skills including coping with stress and frustration, communicating and making friends. Available during school holidays, sessions run for 2.5 hours each day.
Locations and dates:
Autism Queensland Brighton
- Monday 20 September – Friday 24 September
- 9am – 11:30am
Happy Hands Group
A group to develop the handwriting and fine motor skills of young children (3-7 years) on the autism spectrum.
LEGO® Club
Groups offered for children aged 5-7 years.
A six-week group designed to help children on the spectrum develop their social skills. This group uses LEGO®, alongside the expertise of an experienced allied health professional, to facilitate and build on your child’s social skills within a structured small group. Children will work collaboratively in groups of three, following assigned roles to complete LEGO® sets.
LEGO® Club Holiday Group
A five-day intensive version of the above group.
Preparation Station
PREParation Station is a group for children on the autism spectrum and their parents that help prepare for a successful transition to mainstream Prep. Children will have the opportunity to participate in a group education setting, and build their pre-academic skills including handwriting, cutting and fine motor skills. Parents will also gain greater knowledge and understanding of their child’s individual needs and be better equipped to support their child’s transition to Prep.
GRoups FOR Children & Adolescents (7-17 years)
These groups are delivered by members of our multidisciplinary team including teachers & teacher aides, speech pathologists and occupational therapists.
Please note: if there are no group dates listed for a particular group you are encouraged to submit a request for service. We will be in contact immediately a date is scheduled for that group.
To register your interest in any of our groups, please complete the service request form below.
Holiday Hangout
Previously known as Cool Conversations, the Holiday Hangout is a group to support your child develop their skills and confidence in having conversations with peers within fun, motivating, and meaningful activities.
Participants will have the opportunity to work together over five days to practise a range of skills including having conversations, being part of a team, planning, and negotiating.
This group is facilitated by our therapists and teachers who will support participants to work towards their goals.
For ages 8 – 12 and 13 – 15.
Locations and dates:
Autism Queensland Brighton
- Monday 27 September – Friday 1 October
- 9:30am – 12pm
Cool Kids Group
A 10-week group that teaches children (6-12 years) and their parents how to better manage their child’s anxiety. The group is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), involves the participation of children and parents and focuses on teaching practical skills. Topics covered include: Learning about anxiety; Learning to think realistically; Parenting an anxious child; Facing fears using stepladders; Learning coping skills such as assertiveness or problem-solving.
The Cool Kids group was developed by Macquarie University and has been running since 1993. It has undergone continual scientific evaluation and development to include the latest understanding of anxiety and its treatment. The group has been translated into a number of languages and today is used in clinics, schools and hospitals around the world.
Food Scientists
A nine-week group to help children (7-9 years) develop positive eating habits and reduce anxiety around mealtimes. The group aims to help children learn about the ‘science’ of food (using food for energy, learning about digestion), have positive experiences with food and learn about the properties of food, learn simple recipes they can use at home and expand the range of foods they will try.
LEGO® Club
Groups offered for children aged 8-12 years.
An eight-week group designed to help children on the spectrum develop their social skills. This group uses LEGO®, alongside the expertise of an experienced allied health professional, to facilitate and build on your child’s social skills within a structured small group. Children will work collaboratively in groups of three, following assigned roles to complete LEGO® sets.
Locations and dates:
Autism Queensland Brighton
- Monday 11 October – Monday 29 November
- 3:30pm – 4:45pm
LEGO® Club Holiday Group
A five-day intensive version of the above group.
Movie Club
A school holiday group for teenagers on the autism spectrum aged 12-14 & 15-17 years who enjoy movies and would benefit from practicing their social skills in a small group setting (3-6 participants). This evidence-informed group provides a friendly and supportive environment for participants to enjoy movies together, join in group discussions, and engage in structured activities to explore and develop social skills.
On-The-GO
On-The-GO is a nine-week group for individuals interested in learning more about train, taxi, bus travel and more, or would like to start using public transport. Participants will have lots of opportunities to use public transport with support from our staff. Participants will learn about public transport etiquette and safety, how to plan a journey, back up plans and how to plan for the unexpected.
Locations and dates:
- The Hub – 141 Merton Rd, Woolloongabba
- Monday 11 October – Monday 6 December
- 9am – 11am weeks 1-3
- 9am – 12pm weeks 4-9
PEERS® for Adolescents
PEERS® is an 18-week evidence-based social skills intervention for motivated adolescents (13-17 years) who are interested in learning ways to help them make and keep friends. During this interactive group, adolescents will learn important social skills and will be given the opportunity to practice these skills in session during socialisation activities (e.g. playing board games).
Secret Agent Society (SAS)
SAS is a fun, espionage themed group program which helps children ages 8-12 to develop the skills to feel happier, calmer, and braver, while also teaching them how to make friends and keep them. SAS Club Cadets will learn these skills through engaging in a fun computer game alongside weekly group sessions with peers, and weekly take home missions to develop their communication and emotional regulation skills.
Parents and Caregivers will be supported to make use of strategies in between group sessions through weekly parent group sessions, and resources will be included to support with the transition of strategies to school and home.
Teen Tech Shed
Teen Tech Shed is a 10-week group for young people on the autism spectrum aged 13-17 years. It encourages appropriate socialising around technology while encouraging students to extend their knowledge of programming, coding and digital media. Sessions are facilitated in a safe and nurturing online environment that is moderated by group mentors during sessions. Teen Tech Shed mentors are current students or recent graduates in Creative Industries programs that have a strong IT focus such as Game Design, Coding, Illustration, Animation and Film and Television. They work with the participants to encourage social skills and create opportunities for the students to learn more about technology. All software and technology support is provided, however, participants are required to have access to a laptop or computer with an internet connection to take part in the group.
