Therapy Groups
For Children & Adolescents (approx. 6-17 Years)
Our range of evidence-informed therapy groups are designed for school-aged children and adolescents and focus on individual goals and key elements including behaviour, developmental and social participation, anxiety and more. These therapy groups are delivered in a safe and welcoming space.
Jump to: Request Service | Short-Term Groups
Our therapy groups are designed to meet the needs of participants and their families and are delivered by members of our multidisciplinary team including teachers, teacher aides, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and psychologists.
We encourage you to express your interest in a therapy group service even if there are no current offerings or availabilities (or if your child is not within the age demographic) as it will help us gauge whether to run new or additional therapy programs or introduce the group in new locations. Have a younger child? Check out our therapy and kindi groups for young children here.
Please note that fees apply to AQ therapy groups and waitlists may apply. Autism Queensland therapy 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.
Group Formats & Waitlists
Group Formats
- Group formats may vary by location.
- Group age demographic may vary based on the needs of participants at time of group offering.
- Not all groups are available in all locations.
- Groups vary in duration during school terms or holiday periods. This may also vary by location.
Waitlists
Please note that waitlists may apply for some groups and that not all groups are available at all locations.
We encourage you to express your interest in a therapy group service even if there are no current offerings or availabilities as it will help us gauge whether to run new or additional therapy programs or introduce in new locations.
For questions regarding group formats and availabilities, please contact: [email protected].
Short-Term Groups
For school-aged children and adolescents approximately 17 years and under.*
AQ offers a range of short-term and holiday groups for school-aged children and adolescents and their families focusing on key elements including behaviour, anxiety, developmental and social participation designed to meet the needs of participants.
Important information:
- Please note that fees apply to AQ therapy groups and waitlists may apply.
- Therapy groups are run in selected locations and throughout select times of the year only.
- *Age eligibility may vary depending on the group and location held, please contact us for group suitability.
- We encourage you to express your interest in a therapy group service even if there are no current offerings or availabilities (or if your child is not within the age demographic) as it will help us gauge whether to run new or additional therapy programs or introduce the group in new locations.
AQ therapy groups are available at applicable AQ Centres across Queensland (Gold Coast, Brisbane, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay and Cairns). Additionally, some groups may be offered online.
Allies & Adventures
A popular role-playing game-based therapy group using the tabletop game Dungeons & Dragons®.
Allies & Adventures (A&A) is a fun group for teens who like to play Dungeons & Dragons. In this group, you can make friends and learn new skills while playing games. An experienced mentor and therapist will be there to help teens to work with others, solve problems, and have fun with fellow players.
We welcome expressions of interest at any time for this group.
Jump To: Request Service/Make Enquiry
B-ME Club
A therapy group designed around self-discovery and expression.
Participants will join our autism specialists & mentors in this therapy group structured around self-discovery and learning. Each participant will be supported to identify key goals they wish to work on and achieve across the program.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to express themselves. This may include but not limited to making new friends, makeup and clothing, and practicing conversation skills.
We welcome expressions of interest at any time for this group.
Jump To: Request Service/Make Enquiry
Cool Conversations
Designed to support your child develop skills and confidence in having conversations with peers.
This exciting and fun-filled group aims to develop and encourage social participation through fun, motivating, and meaningful activities. Participants will have the opportunity to make connections with others through exploring shared interests.
Participants will engage in social interactions through structured and unstructured activities, increase their participation in group activities and learn to understand the perspectives of others.
We welcome expressions of interest at any time for this group.
Jump To: Request Service/Make Enquiry
Food Scientists
Create positive experiences around food and mealtime anxiety and expand the range of food your child will try.
In this therapy group children will learn about the ‘science’ of food (using food for energy, learning about digestion and the properties of food) and have positive experiences with food and around mealtimes. Learn simple recipes they can use at home and and expand the range of foods they will try.
We welcome expressions of interest at any time for this group.
Jump To: Request Service/Make Enquiry
Fun, Friends & Feelings
A therapy group for children and their parents to help with social development and participation.
Using a group environment we will teach and reinforce a range of skills including coping with stress and frustration, making friends, and communicating effectively with peers, family and staff at school/childcare.
We welcome expressions of interest at any time for this group.
Jump To: Request Service/Make Enquiry
Gamers Club
An exciting and fun-filled Minecraft®-themed therapy group aimed at developing social participation.
An exciting and fun-filled Minecraft-themed therapy group aimed at developing social participation. Participants will have the opportunity to make connections with others through shared interests, engage in social interactions through structured and unstructured activities, increase their participation in group activities and learn to understand the perspective of others.
Please note: children should have a base level knowledge of Minecraft and PlayStation 4 before commencing this group.
We welcome expressions of interest at any time for this group.
Jump To: Request Service/Make Enquiry
Happy Hands
A therapy group designed to help develop handwriting and fine motor skills.
Occupational therapists leading the sessions will use a play-based approach to help participants develop skills to support handwriting skills and abilities including: pencil grasp, drawing, colouring, creating artwork, maintaining attention, and forming shapes/letters.
We welcome expressions of interest at any time for this group.
Jump To: Request Service/Make Enquiry
Holiday Hangout
Designed to support and develop confidence in having conversations with peers.
Holiday Hangout is a week-long program for children, which focuses on social participation and allows participants to connect with others who share similar interests. Through structured and unstructured activities, participants can explore different perspectives and learn new skills.
We welcome expressions of interest at any time for this group.
Jump To: Request Service/Make Enquiry
KONTAKT - NEW!!
NEW!!!
A program from Sweden designed to support autistic children and teens to learn more about communicating, socialising, and working with others.
Over 16 weeks, your child will engage in guided discovery to design the content, identify their strengths, set their own goals, and develop skills.
This is a different approach to many other programs, and one we are excited to explore through a neurodiversity-affirming lens.
Participants may choose to focus on some of the following topics:
- Meeting and connecting with new people
- Self-advocacy and being your authentic self
- Setting boundaries
- Handling difficult situations when they arise
- Staying in touch with friends.
Sessions run weekly for 1.5 hours.
Commencing 2024 at AQ Brighton.
Jump To: Request Service/Make Enquiry
LEGO® Club
Our allied health professionals will facilitate and build on your child’s social development.
Lego Club is a fun and creative environment where participants can showcase their Lego Master skills. Participants will work together to negotiate a project and support each other to complete the build within the timeframe of the group.
We welcome expressions of interest at any time for this group.
Jump To: Request Service/Make Enquiry
Make A Meal Of It: Teens In The Kitchen
For teens and adolescents to prepare their journey to adulthood.
Teens will participate in activities including cooking, budgeting, shopping and social participation. This therapy group is developed by our experienced occupational therapists and is delivered in a fun, relaxed and secure environment.
We welcome expressions of interest at any time for this group.
Jump To: Request Service/Make Enquiry
Movie Club
For those who enjoy movies and would benefit from small groups participation and engagement.
This therapy group provides a friendly and supportive environment in which participants will enjoy movies together and then join in group discussions and activities around social participation.
We welcome expressions of interest at any time for this group.
Jump To: Request Service/Make Enquiry
On-The-Go
For teens and adolescents wanting to learn more about using public transport.
Participants will learn more about train, taxi, bus travel and more. 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.
We welcome expressions of interest at any time for this group.
Jump To: Request Service/Make Enquiry
PEERS® For Adolescents
PEERS® is an evidence-based intervention group for motivated adolescents.
This therapy group is for those interested in learning ways to help them make and keep friends and encourage social participation. During this interactive program, adolescents will learn important life skills and are given the opportunity to practice these skills in session during social activities (e.g. playing board games).
We welcome expressions of interest at any time for this group.
Jump To: Request Service/Make Enquiry
Secret Agent Society (SAS)
Secret Agent Society (SAS) is an espionage-themed group aimed to help participants feel happier, calmer, braver and teach them how to make friends.
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 across nine weekly 45-minute parent group sessions, and resources will be included to support with the transition of strategies to school.
We welcome expressions of interest at any time for this group.
Jump To: Request Service/Make Enquiry
Social Connections
Scaffolded around opportunities to make friends and develop social participation skills.
This therapy group is delivered by specialist therapists and educators. Participants will participate in structured individual and group activities to allow for observation, informal assessment and goal-setting. Group activities differ depending on the time of year and participant goals, but may include; making friends, school transitioning, communication and sharing interests etc.
Our team structure the sessions around common interests and will help participants cope with stress and frustration, learn how to communicate more effectively and more. Participants are grouped according to age, skills, interests and individual goals.
We welcome expressions of interest at any time for this group.
Jump To: Request Service/Make Enquiry
Teen Tech Shed
Enjoy group socialising around activities involving creative arts, digital media and technology.
Participants do not need any specific experience or training in these areas, just an interest to explore! Facilitated by experienced mentors and therapists, participants at Teen Tech Shed have opportunities to connect with peers around shared interests in technology, gaming, art, design, creative writing, music, film and more.
The Teen Tech Shed community provides participants with a supportive and creative space to develop and practice a range of skills including building confidence in their own potential to achieve goals through working on creative passions, being part of a group, engaging and collaborating with others, planning and undertaking different activities, and exploring post-school transitions and opportunities.
We welcome expressions of interest at any time for this group.
Jump To: Request Service/Make Enquiry
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