Our staff conduct on-site training workshops for families, therapists and teachers throughout Australia and New Zealand. These workshops are designed to provide you with the necessary skills to implement a behavioural treatment program for your child. Training includes an overview of autism, principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis, a description of the treatment program for autistic children, a review of research findings, and demonstration of teaching with your child. The emphasis of the workshops, however, is to provide participants with practical experience so that at the conclusion you will be able to understand and use the treatment techniques successfully with your child. During the workshop, each person will have numerous opportunities to practice implementing the teaching programs under the kind, but watchful, eye of an expert and receive feedback to improve their skills. We will carefully assess the strengths and weaknesses of your child and leave you with a detailed curriculum to follow over the ensuing months. We will be available by phone or email to answer questions and give guidance as your child progresses in treatment. We will return for ongoing follow-up as mutually agreed.

After the initial workshop has been undertaken, our staff provide Program Supervision for home-based intensive behavioural intervention programs. These services include ongoing program development, evaluation and refinement. Our Supervisor meets with parents and staff for 4-8 hours per month. During meetings questions are addressed regarding teaching and general behaviours. This meeting includes tutors, supervisor, parents and child. The meetings consist of discussions concerning treatment progress, brainstorming, program evaluation and refinement, and continued training for the treatment team, including parents. A portion of the meeting includes an observation of current programs and direct feedback to the treatment team. This is an essential part of treatment for every child. When a child is also in an educational placement, the Program Supervisor will also provide training and consultation with school staff. 

Autism Partnership have a number of trained ‘Program Specialists’ who can provide direct instruction for those children who are receiving our supervision services. This is especially recommended during the first six months of a child's therapy program. The role of the Program Specialist is to:

• Provide ongoing therapy sessions, or school integration services directly with your child
• Observe and record student behaviours
• Communicate with Autism Partnership supervisory staff
• Participate in supervision/consultation meetings
• Provide ongoing therapist training and feedback to more junior staff
• Maintain the student’s program folders
• Revise curriculum
• Implement additional components of behavioural programming, such as running playdates

When the demand is high, Autism Partnership runs a “Social Club”, which meets for two hours once a week. Social Club is aimed at school age children. Participation in Social Club provides:

• Opportunity to participate in large group activities such as tabloid sports, charades, bowling, ball games, water balloon races, etc.
• Small group activities where children are divided according to an area of focus (eg. social initiation, conversation, commenting, motor skills).
• An emphasis on Observational Learning and focus on picking up natural / environmental cues.
• Generalisation of skills mastered in the child’s home program (eg. exposure to different therapists, materials, language, format of teaching).
• Community outings (last years’ bowling session was fantastic!!)
• An enjoyable way to practice skills required for school (e.g., raising hand, waiting turn).
• A way for home therapists to learn from experienced therapists and supervisors.
• Individualised objectives and goals that are reviewed after each session (e.g., behavioural strategies, reinforcement systems).
• Social skills training (e.g., "cool/not cool" program).

Autism Partnership has worked in a consultative role with schools throughout Australia and New Zealand, providing strategies to maximise learning in the school setting. Our staff have many years experience in working collaboratively with teachers in pre-school and school settings.
Our service ranges from brief intensive intervention (e.g., four to six meetings) to ongoing consultation for an individual student, classroom or whole school.

Two to three times a year, an overseas consultant from Autism Partnership visits our Australian and New Zealand sites. Dr John McEachin, the Director of Autism Partnership, heads the consultation visits. He visits each site once a year. Other senior staff supplement these visits. All families who receive Program Supervision from Autism Partnership will also participate in these consultation meetings.

In Melbourne, our resident psychologists complete regular psychological assessment. This provides our staff and the child’s parents with objective information regarding the child’s progress and areas of strength and deficit.
Autism Partnership also offers services to families who are not running intensive behavioural intervention programs, but who require some assistance with the management of behavioural issues and social skills development, along with discussion of educational concerns and emotional development.