Caring for a child with autism

Help us understand the trajectory of family stress, coping, and adaptive responses associated with raising a child with autism during their childhood years.

This study aims to highlight important protective factors for families who are raising a child with an ASD and provide valuable information for the development of appropriate support services to be implemented at critical periods of child development.

We are seeking both mothers and fathers of children with an ASD (e.g. Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, High Functioning Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified; PDD-NOS) aged between 3 – 16 years.

Participation involves completing a questionnaire booklet, which will require approximately 2-3 hours of your time. This questionnaire can be completed at your convenience within a 3-4 week period in the comfort of your home.

If you are interested in assisting us with our study or wish to obtain further information, please contact Rebecca McStay at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre on (03) 9479 3271 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FSTE HEC Reference Number: FHEC11/R87

Child-caregiver relationships in children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder

Is your child aged 7-12 years?
If so, you are invited to participate in this research.

What is the study about?
This study will look at the attachment relationship between caregivers and children (7-12 years of age) with and without high-functioning autism or Asperger’s syndrome.

Because children with an autism spectrum disorder (i.e. autism or Asperger’s syndrome) often have social difficulties, it is important to understand how these children interact with their caregivers.

What is involved?
Caregivers will complete questionnaires and an interview. Children will complete questionnaires and some thinking tasks. The study will take approximately 1 hour for caregivers, and 2 hours for children. You and your child can participate at Monash University or in your own home, whichever is most convenient.

For more information or to participate, please contact Belinda Keenan on 9902 4565, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This study is being conducted through the Centre for Developmental Psychology and Psychiatry at Monash University, under the supervision of Professor Louise Newman, Professor Nicole Rinehart and Associate Professor Kylie Gray.

Bullying, social experiences, forgiveness, empathy and well-being of young people with and without Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Who can take part in this research? Young people aged 11-18 years old with and without high functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder/Asperger’s syndrome, without cognitive co-morbidities living in Australia.

Who is conducting this research? This Master's student project conducted by Allison Welch (Provisional Psychologist and Master's Degree Candidate) will contribute data to a larger cross-site collaborative study with Australian Catholic University, Melbourne and Strathfield (Sydney) campus of the bullying experiences of young people with and without a disability. Professor Sheryl Hemphill at the Australian Catholic University Melbourne Campus supervises the study.

What?     Fill out an online survey with questions about social experiences including bullying, forgiveness, empathy and wellbeing OR send an email to Allison Welch ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) to request a hard copy survey to be delivered via postal service.

What will it involve? This research asks adolescents aged 11-18 years of age to fill out the main questionnaire for roughly 45 minutes. If parents are interested they simply give consent for their child's participation by completing a brief 10-minute parent survey, giving some information about their child’s characteristics. Surveys are available online or via hard copy (if requested). All young people who participate are eligible to receive an entry in a draw to win an IPod Shuffle by participating.

Why are we conducting this research? To better understand bullying and the social experiences of young people and design better programs to help young people.
 
How do I sign up? If you and your child would like to participate, please follow this link:
https://www.psychdata.com/s.asp?SID=149870.

After the parent/guardian has given permission for their child to participate, the child participant may access the child survey: (This survey is password protected until parents give consent, then give their child the password.)
https://www.psychdata.com/s.asp?SID=150755

If you have any further questions about this project, please contact:

Allison Welch
Co-Investigator 3
p. 0417 784 959
e. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Master of Psychology (Clinical)
Australian Catholic University
School of Psychology
1100 Nudgee Road ,Banyo QLD 4014

Professor Sheryl Hemphill
Supervisor and Chief Investigator
p. 03 9953 3119
e. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Australian Catholic University
School of Psychology
Level 2, 115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy VIC 3065

Questionnaire directed towards a female neurotypical (NT) in an intimate relationship with a male with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS).

Jacqueline Corbett is currently completing research thorugh the University of Chester, UK.

If this topic interests you, fill in this questionnaire and send to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Or, please go directly to Survey Monkey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Y33WZTN : Part One

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YB3FD6Z : Part Two