Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre

Our vision is for a world where Autistic people, their families and their carers thrive.

Our mission is to enrich the lives of Autistic people, their families and their carers through high-quality scientific research, innovation and translation.

Located at La Trobe University, the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre is Australia’s first centre dedicated to autism research, established in 2008. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the late Mrs Olga Tennison AO, our core operating funding is assured in perpetuity.

We are the premier autism research centre in the southern hemisphere.

We work together with the Autistic and autism communities to produce research and to translate our research into practice. Examples of our research translation initiatives include evidence-based support programs, training for health professionals, and best-practice early autism assessment.

Our researchers collaborate with autism advocacy organisations and with autism research centres in Australia and overseas. The majority of our staff are neurodivergent, and we also support two Autistic PhD students with scholarships. Our hiring practices and workplace environment are neurodiversity-affirming.

Our research aims to support Autistic people and their families in actively participating in their community, education, and employment, finding enjoyment in life, and making meaningful contributions aligned with their goals.

You can read our 2023-28 Strategic plan here.

Read about our the impact our research is having here.

Research leadership team

A woman in a red coat and scarf stands in a park, surrounded by trees and grass
Professor Alison Lane
A woman in a black suit and shirt smiles confidently at the camera
Professor Nora Shields
A woman with a bright smile sitting comfortably in a chair
Professor Dawn Adams
A woman wearing a pink shirt stands in a park, surrounded by greenery and trees
Associate Professor Josephine Barbaro
An Asian woman in a suit and tie stands confidently in a park, surrounded by greenery and trees
Associate Professor Jennifer Spoor
A man in a blue jacket stands in front of a majestic castle, showcasing its architectural details in the background
Associate professor Darren Hedley

Acknowledgement of Country

OTARC acknowledges that we work on the unceded lands of many traditional Indigenous custodians in Victoria and across Australia. 

We recognise their ongoing connection to the land and value their unique contribution to our research, to La Trobe University and to wider Australian society.

We pay our respects to Elders past and present and thank them for their ongoing care of this beautiful country’s land, skies, and waterways.

Diversity

OTARC is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination. We will develop and sustain a culture where access, diversity and inclusivity are recognised, valued and celebrated. OTARC welcomes all people irrespective of neurotype, ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Lived Experience

Our research could not happen without the individual and collective contributions of those with lived experience of neurodivergence, and those who love and care for them. We acknowledge and value their unique expertise. Their perspectives are crucial to our mission to enrich the lives of Autistic people, their families and their carers through high-quality scientific research, innovation and translation and our vision for a world where Autistic people, their families and their carers thrive.