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Autism Peer Assist Program

Information and Referral

Autism Peer Assist (APA) is a free, national one-to-one peer support program designed for carers of Autistic people, with a focus on assisting families who are experiencing challenges with their caring responsibilities. Carers are invited to take part in several sessions where they can openly discuss their challenges with a trusted Peer Mentor who also share lived experience of caring for an Autistic person/s.

What do we mean by challenges?

Challenges can refer to a single factor or a combination of multiple less-severe factors that may impact a carer’s ability to cope with their given circumstance. Such factors may include:

  • Carer being Autistic themselves and/or having a disability, mental health challenge or chronic health condition.
  • Carer is from a marginalised background (e.g., low socioeconomic status, identifies as LGBTQIA+, multicultural background or speaks English as a second language).
  • Carer experiences social isolation and/or lacking a support network.
  • Complexity within a living arrangement (e.g., share house, residential care, social housing, regional living, etc.).
  • Complexity within the family unit (e.g., being a sole carer, blended family, multiple children).
  • Carer of an Autistic person/s engaging in behaviours of concern which may put themselves or others at risk or harm.
  • Carer of an Autistic person/s that has a Level 3 diagnosis.
  • Caring for someone with a recent autism diagnosis.

The APA program also offers translating and interpreting services (TIS) for those who speak a language other than English.

Important: this program is not a counselling service and mentors are not health care practitioners.

To refer someone into the Autism Peer Assist program, please contact Autism Connect. 

Please note, making contact with Autism Connect does not guarantee access into the APA program. An Advisor will assess the carer’s circumstances based on the information provided and they will then determine if a referral into the APA program is the most suitable course of action, or if another recommended support or service would be better suited. 

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