sunflower in a field with clear skies
Posted inEducational and vocational engagement Employment Impact stories

In-Person Training Boosts Autism Support in Darling Downs

Darling Downs Health (DDH) has taken an important step in strengthening early autism-screening supports for young children across the region by hosting in-person training for their staff in the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance (SACS) tool, developed by the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC) at La Trobe University.
Two women seated at a table, each holding paint brushes, engaged in a creative painting activity
Posted inAutism and gender Health and wellbeing

Like many women, I didn’t know I was autistic until adulthood –how late diagnosis can hurt mental health and self image

For many women, an adult autism diagnosis feels like a "lightbulb moment" of self-understanding. For Dr Moseley, their own came in their late 20s, reshaping how they viewed their lifelong struggles to fit in. While autism in girls often goes unnoticed, growing awareness is helping more women to find clarity and community.
A man in a maroon shirt stands in front of lush green trees, creating a natural backdrop
Posted inAcademic Neurodiversity

Dr Patrick Dwyer, OTARC Research Fellow

Explore Dr Patrick Dwyer's groundbreaking work on the interplay of attention and sensory experiences in Autistic individuals, centered on the understudied monotropism theory. Learn about Patrick's commitment to advancing neurodiversity, his insights on the diversity within autism, and his personal interests in alternate histories.