First Steps For Autism Therapy

The First Steps for Autism is a comprehensive evidence-based therapy service, delivering individualised therapy for children aged 7 years and under.

Your therapy program is developed based on what is important to you and your family and tailored to meet your child’s needs and preferences.

Each child and family is unique which is why we get to know you and understand your child, the stage of their journey, and the important people in your child’s life – supporting you and your family every step of the way.

Our approach is focused on understanding your child’s strengths; building strong, trusting relationships; and fostering an environment of care where your child can learn and thrive.

First Steps for Autism offers a range of therapy in natural settings, including one-to-one therapy, school readiness sessions or a combination of these.

Contact our First Steps team today

Our First Steps for Autism Therapy Team

Our Early Intervention service is led by a dedicated, passionate therapy team consisting of:

Occupational Therapists

Speech Pathologists

Early Childhood Teachers

Therapy Assistants

Each family is allocated a therapist, who is their key contact and partners with the family to develop individual therapy plans that meet the needs of each child.

First Steps for Autism Supports

The program uses everyday situations and typical childhood activities to build skills and relationships in natural settings.

Therapy occurs in environments that reflect the child’s everyday life, activities, and interactions. Your child will engage in meaningful and fun activities while building their confidence to play, learn and be a friend.

We offer a range of therapy options depending on your child’s needs and family priorities, including one-to-one therapy, school readiness sessions, or a combination of these.

In the school readiness sessions, your child will be part of a group with other children to develop communication and motor skills and have opportunities for social interaction and play.

Therapy occurs throughout the year including school holidays. In addition, we offer a range of workshops and webinars for parents and carers, and community inclusion programs.

Therapy Supports

School Readiness Sessions

Our First Steps for Autism, Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy group curriculum is an innovative and unique therapy program comprised of 6 goal-based groups.

The sessions include a combination of individual learning sessions and small group therapy across a 3-hour period.

In the school readiness sessions, your child will be part of a group with other children to develop communication and motor skills and have opportunities for social interaction and play.

1:1 Therapy sessions

Our qualified Speech Pathologists, Childhood Teachers and Occupational Therapists can support your child through direct therapy sessions to increase their skills and independence and achieve their goals.

Therapy sessions can be conducted in a range of settings, including our therapy hubs, your home, at school, or in the community and can support across a wide range of goal areas including:

Play
Sensory processing
Self-care and everyday living
Mealtime management
Fine and gross motor
Communication including Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Social interaction
Emotional regulation
Understanding behaviour

Utilising your therapy supports via a mixture of therapy sessions, at-home and school visits, group sessions, parent training, resources, and consultative support allows your child to practice their skills across a range of environments with different people.

Consultative support and training ensure the people who are spending the most time with your child, such as teachers and family members, are trained to build therapy supports into your child’s life every day.

Your Stories

Late last year our three year old daughter was lucky enough to be enrolled at your new East Fremantle facility. We just wanted to say thank you to you and your staff.
Paige showed significant steps forward in confidence, playfulness and joy which we had never seen outside of our own home.
The East Fremantle facility, staff and programming is first rate. We didn’t feel like we were going to a clinic or hospital . Rather to a classroom or play group. Speaking to other parents and specialised staff made us feel that we had made the right choice.
You really have helped us everyone at East Fremantle. Thank you.
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Parent feedback, Paige three years old

Our family will be forever grateful for all of the effort, and bubbles, that helped Riley to become the enthusiastic, bright and expressive boy he is today.
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Parent Feedback, Riley six years old

You've all made our lives a lot richer and we can't thank you enough. Samuel has blossomed and grown ... from his motor skills to his social awareness amongst his peers, it has been amazing.
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Parent feedback, Samuel six years old

We would like to say THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts on the dedication you all had towards Mikayla and how far she has come since attending First Steps for Autism. It is the best decision we made for our daughter.
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Parent Feedback, Mikayla five years old

My son was diagnosed with Autism in 2005 at the age of two years old, my husband and I were devastated, we then started searching for an option to help Ryan; early intervention. You gave us the opportunity to start early planning of his routine and we are very grateful for all (your) hard work.

Ryan has achieved many challenges in life and is living as a normal 12-year-old child. Just recently in April 2016, Ryan represented Western Australia in Adelaide for javelin, which he came seventh in all of Australia. We encourage all parents to never stop searching and continue the unconditional love because every child can always achieve the impossible.
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Parent feedback - Ryan 12 years old

I don’t know how to thank you enough for what you have done for Ben (and me) over the last three and a half years. You all do an amazing job and give us as parents hope and confidence in the future.
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Parent feedback - Ben, 5 years old

These guys are wonderful. Such a detailed and tailored programme for each child who attends. Staff are all lovely and caring and genuinely listen to what's happening and have really great advice on how to handle it. We were really sad to have to switch to the Waikiki branch, but so happy to see some familiar faces there, and to feel like the continuity of care is the same wherever we are.
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Parent feedback - Lachlan, 5 years old