AQ Rockhampton
Autism Queensland Rockhampton is located at The John Villiers Centre of Excellence Central Queensland, Koongal. Our specialist therapy and teaching team provide the following services for people on the autism spectrum and their families living in Rockhampton, Emerald and surrounding areas.
Services include:
- Early Childhood Groups
- Behaviour Support Services (all ages)
- Groups for School Ages and Adolescents
- Individual Therapy (all ages)
- School Advisory Service
The following services are also available:
- Professional Development & Parent Education
- Parent Coaching: ESDM, Circle of Security and Learn to Play Therapy
Autism Queensland is a registered provider of NDIS supports.
This service was made possible thanks to the financial support of The John Villiers Trust, in conjunction with funding provided by Department of Communities – Disability Services. John Villiers was a lifelong member of Autism Queensland and emphasised the importance of accessibility of services in Central Queensland.
AQ Rockhampton
The John Villiers Centre of Excellence Central Queensland
373 Lakes Creek Road, Koongal QLD 4700
EARLY CHILDHOOD GROUPs
Autism Queensland Rockhampton is located at The John Villiers Centre of Excellence Central Queensland at Koongal. Our team provide groups for children under seven years of age with a diagnosis of ASD and their families living in Rockhampton, Emerald and surrounding areas.
Please note: Autism Queensland group program 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.
To register your interest in any of our groups, please complete the service request form below.
ECI Groups
ECI groups support children to develop the skills necessary for successful participation in-home and community life and for successful transition into the next stage of their education. They focus on the development of functional communication and social skills, sensory processing, attention, comprehension, problem-solving, self-care and increased independence. For 6-8 children who attend three days per week for a minimum of 12 months. Suitable for children aged 3-6 years.
Early Start Denver Model
The ESDM is a model designed to target the key features of autism involving intensive teaching within a play-based curriculum. Read more.
ESDM Parent Coaching is also available.
Food School
A group for children aged under 7 years that aims to help them have positive experiences with food and learn mealtime routines and cues while decreasing resistance to touching, tasting and swallowing food. Delivered during school terms.
Social Skills
A short term group to develop children’s functional abilities in the area of social skills including turn-taking and sharing, play, social communication and friendship.
Learn to Play Therapy
Learn to Play focusses on pretend play as this is the most complex and mature form of play. Pretend play also impacts on language (particularly narrative language), social interaction, and emotional integration of the child’s experiences. The play skills that are the focus of Learn to Play Therapy are: ability to spontaneously self-initiate play, sequencing play actions logically, using objects as something else (object substitution or symbols in play), engaging with a doll or teddy character outside of themselves, integrating their play so a clear play script is evident, role play and socially interacting using play.
Learn to Play Therapy is offered as a group and as individual therapy. Parent Coaching is also available.
Lego® Club
Lego is often a motivating activity for children and is used as a tool to teach social and communication skills in this 10 week, small group for children aged 7-12 years. Children who do not have a diagnosis but have challenges with social and communications skills are welcome to attend this group.
Cool Conversations
A group to help your child develop their communication skills alongside peers within fun, motivating, and meaningful activities.
Participants will have the opportunity to work together throughout the week long group to practise a range of skills including having conversations, working together as a team, planning, and negotiating, all within a group setting.
This group is facilitated by our specialist therapists and teachers, who will support group participants to work towards their goals.
Food School
A program for children aged 8-10 years that aims to help them have positive experiences with food and learn mealtime routines and cues while decreasing resistance to touching, tasting and swallowing food. Delivered during school terms.
Secret Agent Society (SAS) Social Skills Group
A revolutionary social skills group for children aged 8-12 years with social and emotional challenges. The Secret Agent Society (SAS) social skills group creates a fun, non-threatening environment in which children can learn the skills they need to become happy, well-adjusted and valued members of our society. This flexible group helps parents and professionals to improve children’s emotional understanding and social skills.
Cool Kids Anxiety Group
A 10-week group that teaches children (7-11 & 12-17 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.
Make a Meal of It: Teens in the Kitchen
Make a Meal of It: Teens in the Kitchen is a four-day group for adolescents (13-17 years) that aims to prepare young people for the journey to adulthood through activities including cooking, budgeting, shopping and social participation. Participants will be grouped according to their ability.
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 are given the opportunity to practice these skills in session during socialisation activities (e.g. playing board games).
