CASD in the Community

CASD is committed to engaging in community support and partnership through research, consultation and education. Our links with local, State, National and International bodies are strong and designed to generate positive and sustainable benefits for individuals with an ASD, their families and the professionals who care for them.

CASD IN THE COMMUNITY IN 2013

Visiting Scholars

This programme brings together international experts and community members through a series of seminars and presentations offered by the Centre at no cost to attendees. All visiting scholars have outstanding reputations as researchers in ASD and have shared their insights and expertise generously. The Centre hosted Professor Digby Tantam as visiting scholar in 2011 and Professor John Sweeney in 2012. We will announcing the 2013 visiting scholar in the next several weeks together with a plan for the community activities (s)he will be involved in.

Conferences and Seminars

In January of this year, Professor Bitsika travelled to Brisbane to present a seminar that discussed the findings of a 2012 research project which examined methods for assessing anxiety in children and adolescents with an ASD. This presentation facilitated wide ranging discussion amongst the 70 plus therapists who attended. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with Autism Queensland and extend our sincerest thanks for their assistance in promoting the Centre’s various research projects to both parents and professionals across Queensland.

Community Engagement

CASD and Bond University will host the ‘Light It Up Blue’ event for the second time this year. This event is scheduled for April 2nd and, in addition to recognising World Autism Awareness day, it will allow university staff and students to offer their support to children with an ASD and their families in a tangible and celebratory manner. We will be joined by community groups and service organisations such as Autism Gold Coast, Gold Coast Recreation and Sport, and Education Queensland for this event.

Service Delivery Consultation

This programme offers consultation for community organisations that provide services to families with an individual with an ASD. The focus is on offering advice and assistance to enhance delivery of specialised and targeted services. In February of this year CASD met with Gold Coast Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre to facilitate discussion about procedures to better serve their clients with an ASD. This discussion launched a further commitment to a community-wide conversation about ways in which services might be streamlined to ensure quality outcomes for families seeking respite support.

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS

CASD has been fortunate in the strong support it has received since its beginning in 2010. We wish to recognise the goodwill and practical assistance that has allowed us to move forward on our research initiatives. We say thank you to the following organisations:

• Autism Gold Coast
• Gold Coast Recreation and Sport
• Southern Star
• Local state primary and secondary schools

CASD IN THE COMMUNITY IN 2012

Visiting Scholars

John Sweeney joined CASD as visiting scholar in May 2012. He is Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics and Vice Chair for Clinical Research in the Department of Psychiatry at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where he is also Director of the University of Texas Southwestern Autism Center and of the First Episode Psychosis Programme. He is an outstanding researcher with over 200 scientific articles to his credit. During his visit, he presented two free seminars to professionals, families, students and interested community members and discussed his research into biological and environmental contributors to the development of autism disorders.

Conferences and Seminars

Gold Coast Recreation and Sport - High Functioning Autism Forums

Across 2012, CASD researchers contributed to a series of Forums held by Gold Coast Recreation and Sport. These forums aimed to identify the key elements of effective service provision within the autism community as well as any gaps between service provision and family needs. Professor Vicki Bitsika presented at the second forum providing an in-depth understanding of the needs of individuals and their families.

These forums are continuing in 2013 and we remain committed to assisting in their implementation via dissemination of our research findings. We are grateful to Gold Coast Recreation and Sport for their initiative in conducting these forums. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank this organisation for their tireless support and promotion of the Centre’s research initiatives to the parents and professionals in their community.

Autism Queensland’s’ 2012 Symposium - “Strong Foundations for Promising Futures”

In August of 2012, CASD supported and participated in the Autism Queensland yearly symposium. This symposium brought together both national and international experts to deliver a comprehensive programme of seminars, workshops and keynote addresses. The director of CASD, Professor Vicki Bitsika, delivered a keynote address on the Centre’s research into assessment of anxiety in children with an ASD. She also conducted a workshop focused on bullying in children and adolescents, and joined other keynote speakers on an expert panel to take questions from symposium attendees.

Community Engagement

April 2nd 2012, saw CASD host ‘Light It Up Blue’ for the Gold Coast Community to celebrate World Autism Awareness day at Bond University. Both the Arch Building and fountain on the lake were flooded in blue light in the presence of children and their families, professionals, community members and Bond staff and students. All participants joined in the celebrations and were enthusiastic in their positive recognition of children and their families.