CliniKids

02/03/2026

Have you heard of autistic burnout? Many autistic people report a sense of profound fatigue. Now, new research uncovers more understanding around what autistic burnout feels like, and what causes it.

💡 Here, autism researcher Dr Jack Brett discusses the recent study, which reviewed 48 studies with 4,000 autistic people – and highlights that autistic burnout is not a personal failure, it’s a systemic issue.

📖 Read the paper here: https://shorturl.at/8z34H

The Kids Research Institute Australia

27/02/2026

Welcome to our new registrar clinical psychologist, Sophie! ⭐

Sophie Naumovski completed a Master of Clinical Psychology from Charles Darwin University and comes with experience working with neurodiversity across the lifespan.

She has a strong interest in working with people who identify as neurodivergent or LGBTQIA+.

Sophie has experience delivering evidence-based psychological interventions, including positive behaviour support, in both education and private practice settings. She is passionate about early intervention and holistic, client-centred care.

Sophie is currently taking on new clients. To enquire: https://shorturl.at/Dm6CG

The Kids Research Institute Australia |

26/02/2026

🚀 Research Opportunity
Researchers from the University of Western Australia and The Kids Research Institute Australia are looking for families to help inform psychological research.

💡 What’s the Purpose of this Research?
We want to further understand the social preferences of autistic children by exploring how they feel about moving with others.

📋 What’s Involved?
We’ve designed a short survey, but we need your help to make sure it is clear and accessible! If you’re interested, you and your child will be invited to the University of Western Australia to give feedback on our survey.

❔ Who Can Participate?
Autistic children aged between 7 and 16 years (and their parents).

For more information or to register your interest, please email matthew.mcqueen@research.uwa.edu.au.

To complete the eligibility questionnaire: https://uwa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2slUiaP01D6Uflk

23/02/2026

Come join us at Family Frangipani Day 🌼- a free community event for young neurodivergent children and their families - on March 28.

Designed to be fun, safe and relaxing for families, the event includes:
🌼 Sensory-friendly activities
🌼 Science experiments, face painting, giant bubbles, and craft chill-out zone
🌼 Fenced playground
🌼 Sausage sizzle and light refreshments (or bring a picnic)

Attendee numbers are capped, so please register: https://shorturl.at/EafJZ

The Kids Research Institute Australia |

22/02/2026

There’s something about routines that kids and adults alike love - whether it’s your weekly Sunday morning coffee and croissant treat, or reading a story before bed. And, research shows that often, the best outcomes for communication development in kids involve practicing skills in routine activities and situations.

So, we asked CliniKids Senior Speech Pathologist Sally Grauaug and Speech Pathology Clinical Lead Aria May how you can use daily routines to support communication skills.

💚 When singing a song, pause at the most exciting point and wait to encourage your child to keep the interaction going. They may smile, show excitement in their body, or make a sound.

💛 Once you have a routine and do it in the same way every time, mix things up to encourage your child to respond. For example, during your ‘getting dressed’ routine, put a sock on your child’s hand, instead of their foot. This unexpected step will hopefully encourage your child to notice and communicate.

Read more about using daily routines to support communication: https://shorturl.at/A9eE8

19/02/2026

Registrations are now open for CliniKids’ latest webinar 💡 Hosted by Professor David Trembath (Head of Autism Research, Senior Principal Research Fellow, CliniKids) and Rachelle Wicks (Research Fellow, CliniKids).

'Assessing children's functional strengths and support needs: An individualised approach.'

🗓️ Date: Tuesday, March 17
⏰ Time: 5-6pm (AWST)
⭐Register: https://shorturl.at/JrtGd

CliniKids webinars draw on the latest in autism research and are designed for professionals who work with autistic children and their families, as well as parents and family members.

Register to receive the live webinar link, Q&A access and a link to the recording.


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11/02/2026

Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science! 🧪 Did you know, at CliniKids we have:

💡 21 female researchers
💡 14 female clinical staff; including clinical psychologists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists
💡 10 women in operations; spanning management, client support, communications, education & training and more.

Translating research into practice is stronger when everyone has a seat at the lab bench, in the clinic, at the desk, out in the field, and in every space where discovery happens.

Pictured here is Associate Professor Gail Alvares, Principal Research Fellow at CliniKids, who leads a program of research into mental health and wellbeing in autistic children and young people, and is achieving many incredible things as a woman in science.

Read more about our talented team: https://shorturl.at/1qh8s

09/02/2026

There has been lots of discussion recently about paracetamol use in pregnancy, and claims made about the potential impacts on the likelihood of an autism diagnosis.

Now, a study has been published which provides much stronger evidence supporting the lack of link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism.

💡 In this video, Associate Professor Gail Alvares discusses the new research – and highlights the importance of continuing to support autistic people to be recognised as equal and equally valued members of our community.

📖 Read the article: https://bit.ly/3LYT0Vn

| The Kids Research Institute Australia

04/02/2026

The transition to school can be exciting, but also uncertain – and we know many autistic kids may be more sensitive to transitions, so may need some extra supports in the coming weeks.

So, we asked CliniKids Speech Pathology Lead Aria May for some evidence-based advice on the transition to school for autistic children:

💛 Set up routines 💛 Think about morning and afternoon routines - you can use a visual schedule if this is a support your child responds to. Other kids may benefit from having a transition object – something from home that they pack in their schoolbag to help them feel more comfortable.

💛 Zzzzzs 💛 Periods of transition can be exhausting, and you may find your child needs extra sleep at these times.

💛 Self-care 💛 Change can be tiring for parents and caregivers too. Think about what supports your wellbeing, and acknowledge any emotions the transition brings up for you. Everyone feels different - it may be the first time your little one has been away for you for a prolonged period, or you may be excited for this new chapter. Either way, look after yourself!

Read the rest of Aria’s expert advice for starting school: https://clinikids.thekids.org.au/information-hub/blog/starting-or-returning-to-school-after-the-holidays/

03/02/2026

Welcome to our new speech pathologist, Lucy! ⭐

Lucy Donovan brings more than 15 years of passion and clinical experience in the disability sector, in particular working with children using neurodiversity-affirming approaches.

She has training in approaches including SCERTS (Social Communication – Emotional Regulation – Transactional Supports) Model for Autism, HANEN, AAC and Positive Behaviour Support.

Lucy is passionate about empowering families to build confidence and understanding of the vital role they play in nurturing their child's communication.

Lucy is currently taking on new clients. To enquire: (08) 6319 1133 or clinikids.reception@thekids.org.au

30/01/2026

Is your little one starting school this year? ✐ Having your child start Kindy or School is a huge milestone, and naturally evokes many emotions – excitement, nervousness and the feeling that your baby is growing up wayyy too quickly!

We all want our kids to transition into school as smoothly as possible - so we asked CliniKids Speech Pathologist Mikali Kluver to give us a little expert guidance on helping your little star shine at school.

⭐

“As a Speech Pathologist, I’m often asked how parents can best support their child to transition into school as smoothly as possible,” Mikali said. “One thing I suggest is to share your child’s strengths with the school.”

Parents and caregivers understand their child best. An ‘All About Me’ or a 'My Child cheat sheet' that summarises your child’s strengths can be a way to ensure that your child is understood and celebrated at school. This may include:

💙 What your child likes / their interests
💙 What they don’t like
💙 How they communicate
💙 How they regulate / calm

With this information, schools can support learning by incorporating your child’s interests into activities, using strategies that support readiness for learning, and interpreting and responding to communication and behaviour unique to your child.

Read the rest of Mikali’s expert tips for starting school in our Latest News – link in bio.

29/01/2026

Looking to sort your PD for 2026?

CliniKids is running NU-CUES© (Coping with Uncertainty in Everyday Situations) online training on April 23 and 30.

Ideal for anyone who works with autistic children experiencing anxiety, the two-session workshop is designed to provide clinicians and professionals with a greater understanding of why uncertainty is a challenge for some children and how to deliver this group program in clinical settings.

At only $495 (inclusive GST) per participant for training and all materials, it's an affordable way to support the mental health of autistic children in your care.

Discover more: https://bit.ly/3FxPqO1

CliniKids is the first clinical service of The Kids Research Institute Australia, providing autism therapies and supports for young children.