Psychologist Tonéya is a registered psychologist and a clinical psychology registrar. She completed her Master of Clinical Psychology at Macquarie University in Sydney, and her undergraduate and Honours degrees at the University of Adelaide. During her Honours year of study, Tonéya worked as an in-home Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) therapist…

I grew up in a small rural mining town surrounded by my extended family. After graduating from university, working as a teacher and then a Guidance Officer in QLD, I lived for 12 years in London and worked as an Educational Psychologist. I now work at Minds and Hearts and…

By Amy Cleator, Provisional Psychologist Children and young people with ASD typically report higher rates of victimization and bullying than their typically developing (TD) peers. For many young people with ASD, difficulties in understanding others, interacting with peers, and reading social cues can lead to a misunderstanding of social interactions.…

Lizaan gained her BA and BPsych in psychology from South Africa 2015. When Lizaan was completing her undergraduate and Honours degree in psychology between 2011 and 2015 she volunteered as a teacher assistant (Golden-Key program) at an autism-specific school in South Africa. She supported teachers and children on the spectrum…

Tony is a clinical psychologist who has specialised in Autism Spectrum Disorders since 1975. He completed his studies in England and received his PhD from the University of London in 1984. His fellow PhD students included Simon Baron-Cohen and Francesca Happe. His book Asperger’s Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and…

By Ally Kingston About the author: When Tony and I were in Oxford, UK, in January, we were privileged to present with the Autism Oxford Speakers. Presenting her debut speech for Autism Oxford was Ally Kingston, a young autistic woman of 15 years old (pictured above). We found out that…

by Dr Wesley Turner, Clinical Psychologist The development of self-identity and gender identity can be a confusing time for most adolescents. This can be especially true for adolescents on the Autism Spectrum, as they are typically slower to develop self-concept than their neurotypical peers. In helping AS clients explore their…

A Personal Account By Dan Trott The truth is I spent most of my childhood imagining I was anything other than the person that I was. I had two sisters, one brother and parents that divorced when I was around 7. If I wasn’t glued to the TV, I was…

By Ms Radhika Tanksale, Clinical Psychologist Leaving school is a big change in an adolescence’s life, with many avenues and options often needing to be explored and considered. Given the common executive function difficulties that arise in some individuals on the autism spectrum (e.g., preparing, planning, organising, goal setting, decision-making,…

By Ms. Toneya Ashby, Psychologist Individuals on the Autism Spectrum often present with additional diagnoses, which are referred to as comorbidities. One of the most common comorbid diagnoses for an individual with ASD is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Research suggests that between 37-85% of individuals with ASD will also present with…