OUR SERVICES

Below is an outline of all the services we can offer you to support your child. Our main focus is on children with Autism (ASD), ADHD and complex Neurodiversity.

Therapy Services

Our therapy services are designed to support neurodivergent children and young people in building the social and emotional skills they need to thrive. We offer highly tailored 1:1 Social and Emotional Capacity Building sessions and engaging Social and Emotional Capacity Building groups that leverage children’s strengths and interests to foster confidence, resilience, and meaningful connections. Through these neuro-affirming approaches, ACS empowers children to succeed authentically while celebrating their unique identities.

At Autism Consultancy Services (ACS), our Individual Therapy Services are highly personalised to meet the unique needs of every child and teen. Through compassionate, evidence-based approaches, we support children in achieving their social, emotional, and developmental goals. Whether in our clinic, at home, at school, or online, we create a safe, engaging environment where children can thrive.

1:1 Social & Emotional Capacity Building

Our capacity-building sessions are designed to address the specific needs of each child through a highly tailored approach. Every journey begins with an in-depth discovery session and assessments to establish clear, individualised goals. From there, we develop a personalised plan that can include:

  • Play-Based Therapy: Engaging activities that resonate with younger children and help them explore emotions and build skills.

  • Talk Sessions: Providing a safe space for teens or older children to share, reflect, and develop strategies.

  • Creative Therapy: Art, music, and other creative outlets that encourage self-expression and emotional regulation.

  • Psychosocial Capacity Building Activities: Practical, hands-on approaches such as planning, cooking, and problem-solving to foster independence and life skills.

1:1 Child-Centred Play Therapy

Play therapy offers children a space to explore their feelings, process challenges, and build resilience through play, their natural language of expression. In these sessions, therapists follow the child’s lead, allowing them to take control and work through their emotions at their own pace.

What Happens During Play Therapy?

  • A safe and unstructured environment for creativity and exploration.

  • Activities designed to foster self-awareness and emotional growth.

  • Opportunities to address challenges in a way that feels natural and empowering.

Why Choose ACS for Individual Therapy?

  • Tailored Approach: Every child is unique, and our sessions are built around their individual goals, interests, and developmental needs.
  • Comprehensive Discovery: Our initial in-depth discovery sessions and assessments ensure that therapy is aligned with each child’s strengths and challenges.
  • Multidisciplinary Team: With psychologists, social workers, teachers, counsellors, and therapy assistants, we provide expertise across a variety of therapeutic modalities.
  • Flexible Delivery: Sessions can be held in our Yarraville clinic, your home, at school, or online—whatever suits your family’s needs best.

At ACS, we are committed to empowering neurodivergent children and teens through personalised, strenths-based therapy. Contact us today to learn how our 1:1 Social and Emotional Capacity Building or Child-Centred Play Therapy can support your child’s unique journey.

At Autism Consultancy Services (ACS), our Social and Emotional Capacity Building group programs are designed to help neurodivergent children and teens develop essential skills in a supportive and engaging environment. Held exclusively at our Yarraville office, these programs leverage participants’ special interests, creating meaningful opportunities for connection, growth, and fun.

Secret Agent Society (SAS)

The Secret Agent Society (SAS) is an evidence-based program designed to help children aged 8–12 develop critical emotional regulation and social awareness skills. Through engaging missions, participants become ‘secret agents,’ learning how to manage emotions, solve problems, and navigate social situations with confidence.

SAS Learning is a world-renowned social skills program for 8 to 12-year-olds. The program uses progressive, fun, ‘secret agent’ themes and colourful sensory games to teach young people foundational social and life skills. Throughout the program, students learn to recognise and manage their own and other people’s feelings and emotions as well as learn coping methods to deal with conflict and change.

Children learn to:

  • Recognise their own emotions and emotions in others
  • Read facial expressions
  • Hear nuance of voice
  • Initiate, maintain and finish conversations
  • Generate positive self-thinking, and self-rescue techniques
  • Ask for help
  • Understand friendships, and create/build positive equal friendships
  • Understand when friendships or relationships with others go wrong, including being able to identify bullying.

Assessment has shown that participants in the SAS program develop greater courage, emotional intelligence and increased feelings of calm, well-being and happiness.

Who It’s For?
Children aged 8–12 who need support with social skills and emotional regulation.

Session Details:

  • Location: Yarraville Office
  • Duration: 9-week term | 1 session per week
  • Group Size: Small groups of 4–6 participants

Cool Kids Program

The Cool Kids Program is a structured, evidence-based group designed to support children experiencing anxiety. Participants learn practical strategies for managing anxious feelings, building resilience, and developing confidence in social situations.

Macquarie University originally developed Cool Kids in 1993 for children with high anxiety levels. Ongoing results have demonstrated a tremendous improvement in most participants and a positive flow-on effect in reducing the intensity levels of the major areas of impact. Many children experience a reduction in anxiety symptoms of 60% bringing them back to within normal range.

Cool Kids students learn to identify critical feelings of anxiety and fear. They learn to use methods to face and manage that fear and powerful techniques to cope with emotions, become more assertive and think in more grounded ways.

Who It’s For?
Children aged 8–12 who need support managing anxiety and building resilience.

LEGO® Group

Our LEGO® Program is based on the ground-breaking research of Daniel B Legoff. LEGO group participants learn to build independently and cooperatively on imaginative and pre-planned Lego projects. In turn, this group encourages the development of a solid foundation of social and play skills. Lego Group is a development program, although it is also very much a social club where children have the opportunity to to develop strong friendships throughout the term.

Program Highlights:

  • Team-Based Activities: Collaboration on building projects fosters social skills like turn-taking and cooperation.
  • Problem-Solving Focus: Participants work together to overcome challenges and build confidence.
  • Safe, Supportive Space: Facilitators create an environment where every child feels valued.

Who It’s For?
Children who enjoy hands-on activities and want to improve their social skills in a group setting.

Session Details:

  • Location: Yarraville Office
  • Group Size: Small groups of 4–6 participants

Minecraft Social Adventures

The Minecraft Social Adventures program leverages the popularity of the game to teach teamwork, communication, and social problem-solving. Children work together to achieve goals, fostering collaboration in a structured, enjoyable environment.

Program Highlights:

  • Collaborative Challenges: Participants team up to complete Minecraft tasks, learning cooperation and compromise.
  • Real-Life Skills in a Virtual World: The game’s scenarios mirror social dynamics, helping children practice communication and decision-making.
  • Interest-Based Engagement: Minecraft keeps participants motivated and excited to join each week.

Who It’s For?
Minecraft enthusiasts aged 8–14 looking to improve teamwork and social interaction.

Session Details:

  • Location: Yarraville Office
  • Duration: 10-week term, 1-hour sessions per week
  • Group Size: Small groups of 4–6 participants

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) Role-Playing Group

The D&D Role-Playing Group offers a unique blend of fantasy storytelling and skill-building. Participants embark on adventures, learning cooperation, emotional regulation, and strategic thinking along the way.

Program Highlights:

  • Collaborative Storytelling: Players work together to overcome challenges in a fun, imaginative setting.
  • Confidence and Creativity: Role-playing empowers children to express themselves and build self-esteem.
  • Social Skills Development: Participants practice teamwork, problem-solving, and emotional expression.

Who It’s For?
Kids and teens aged 10+ who love imaginative play and storytelling.

Session Details:

  • Location: Yarraville Office
  • Duration: 10-week term, 1.5-hour sessions per week
  • Group Size: Small groups of 4–6 participants

It is proven that humans are biologically ‘wired’ to play and that social success in later life comes from this ability to play as a child successfully. Children develop critical routines/skills and play skills during these playtimes, which become the basis for rewarding social behaviour later in life. Our playgroup kids are taken through the social stages of play and encouraged to develop decision-making skills, conflict resolution skills, conversational bonds and common interests with other children in the group.

PEERs stands for Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills. It is a social skills development program that aims to teach teenagers critical skills for making and keeping new friends. Throughout PEERs, young people learn to use appropriate conversational skills and apply humour appropriately; handle conflict; enter and exit conversations properly and communicate in person and electronically.

Teenagers who tend to struggle socially will benefit enormously from this program.

Advocacy in Schools

At Autism Consultancy Services we work closely with families, educators, and school staff to create environments where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Student Support Group Meetings (SSGs)
We actively participate in SSG meetings, working collaboratively with parents, teachers, and school staff to create tailored strategies that align with the student’s needs.

Recommendations for Accommodations
Our team provides expert recommendations to schools, including practical and achievable accommodations, such as sensory supports, adjusted workloads, and alternative communication methods.

Classroom Observations
We can visit schools to observe the student in their learning environment, helping to identify challenges and opportunities for support that might not be immediately apparent.

Teacher Collaboration and Education
We work directly with teachers, sharing strategies and insights to foster an inclusive and supportive classroom culture. We can also create tailored professional development sessions for educators.

Individualised Education Plans (IEPs)
We assist in the development and review of IEPs, ensuring that goals are realistic, meaningful, and aligned with the student’s strengths and needs.

Helping Parents and Educators Navigate the Disability Inclusion Funding Model (DI)
The Disability Inclusion (DI) framework and funding model can feel overwhelming for families and educators trying to navigate the system. At ACS, we help simplify the process by:

  • Explaining how DI funding works and what it covers.
  • Help navigating the process of developing a Disability Inclusion Profile (DIP) – Schools will work with families to create a Disability Inclusion Profile. The profile is a written description of the student’s strengths and needs at school. It will help schools give students adjustments and supports to enable them to participate on the same basis as their peers and to reach their full potential.
  • Supporting families in advocating for their child’s needs during school meetings.
  • Assisting schools in understanding how to access and allocate DIP funding effectively.
  • Offering clear, practical advice to ensure funding is used to benefit the student’s development and learning.

Our goal is to empower both families and educators with the knowledge and tools to make the most of the support available through these programs.

Why School Advocacy Matters

For neurodivergent students, the school environment can present unique challenges. Advocacy ensures that:

  • Strengths are Recognised: Every child’s unique talents and abilities are celebrated and nurtured.
  • Needs are Met: Practical supports are implemented to address sensory, communication, and learning differences.
  • Parents Feel Supported: Families have a trusted partner to guide them through complex systems and processes.
  • Schools Have Guidance: Educators receive the tools and insights they need to create truly inclusive classrooms.

Our Neuro-Affirming Approach

We believe in working collaboratively with schools and families to create environments where neurodivergent students feel safe, understood, and empowered. All our recommendations and strategies are rooted in a neuro-affirming framework, ensuring that the dignity and autonomy of the student are always respected.

Flexible Advocacy Services

Our advocacy services are available throughout Melbourne’s West and Eastern Suburbs. Whether attending meetings, providing recommendations, or conducting classroom observations, we’re here to support neurodivergent students in reaching their full potential.

Need Advocacy Support for Your Child?

If your child needs support at school, we’re here to help. Whether it’s attending an SSG, developing an IEP, navigating DI or DIP funding, or providing strategies for the classroom, our team is ready to assist.

Contact us today to learn more about our school advocacy services and how we can help you navigate these systems with confidence.

For Educators

We provide professional development and critical support in several schools. Our education services range from advising schools on best practices for children with ASD to training teachers and providing educational resources. In addition, we provide ongoing support in dealing with challenging behaviours and designing and implementing safety plans in the classroom environment.

Our professional training is customised to meet the unique needs of the individual school, its teachers and students. Please contact ACS to discuss your professional development requirements.

Our Process

We aim to make the process as simple as possible whilst providing you with the highest level of support and understanding every step of the way.

Our process begins with a fifteen-minute phone call at no charge to you. The aim of this call is so I can introduce myself, get a brief understanding of your situation and assess your suitability for our services. To apply for an initial assessment, please fill out the contact form on this site.

Once you fill out the initial contact form on this site, you will receive a link to the ACS enrolment form. This form is an opportunity for you to let us know everything about your situation. It will give us an idea about what may be required, so it is crucial to be very transparent and provide as much information as possible.

You should fill this form out as soon as possible to save time. Once you have done this, we will place you on our waiting list for an Initial Assessment. Please be patient at this stage, and we will get to you as soon as possible.

Next, we will invite you in for a Primary Assessment. As a team, we will spend some quality time with your family. The primary assessment aims to help us understand your major areas of impact which can include school life, social life, home life, sibling relationships, performative behaviours, anxiety etc. Identifying these early will help create key milestones for progress evaluation.

Depending on the case, we may need further assessment, but usually, by the end of the primary assessment, we can create a support plan for you. This is an individual plan put in place to meet the unique needs of your child and yourself. Once we have finalised your support plan, we will contact you to discuss it and to provide you with an ACS service agreement. The completed ACS service agreement is your entry point into our care.

A support plan is an individual plan designed to meet your child’s unique needs. The number of hours involved and the nature of the plan can vary considerably and may include:

  • One-on-one social skills therapy
  • Neurodiverse playgroup
  • Secret Agent Society Learning (SAS)
  • Cool Kids Learning
  • Lego Club
  • PEERs

Your support plan can include one or several of the above together or one after another, combined with ongoing therapy and assessment by our team. Alternatively, you may require a bespoke program with unique elements specific to your situation. The key to the program’s success is developing a trusting relationship between your child and our team as well as a genuine openness between everyone involved.

Depending on the initial assessment and major areas of impact, we may need to work directly with your child’s school to create and advocate for resources that your child requires as well as train their teachers to use them correctly. This is performed with the cooperation of head teachers and is at their discretion.

We conduct professional assessment at every stage of the process. However, you will feel the results for yourself as the program outcomes begin to impact your daily life. Of course, every situation is different. Progress speed is dependent on many factors and some support plans may need to be adjusted from time to time.

Utilising the NDIS scheme requires prior knowledge of the scheme to get the best possible financial outcome for your family. We will support, advise and advocate for you every step of the way ensuring that you can get the best possible financial support.

Our Policies

Autism Consultancy Services adheres to the following policies:

ACS Cancellation Policy

ACS Communication Policy

For further information, please contact Autism Consultancy Services.

Creating a supportive environment for children to thrive
Creating a supportive environment for children to thrive