Despite growing demand, autism services remain underfunded & inaccessible, especially in regional areas.
Families face long waitlists, limited local options, and the added burden of costly travel, delaying diagnosis and access to life-changing support.
At Autism Queensland, we believe every autistic person deserves the specialised care they need to thrive—no matter where they live.
From early childhood through to adulthood, AQ is a lifeline for families across the state. Through our 8 centres, 6 school campuses, telepractice, and dedicated outreach teams, we deliver assessments, therapy, education, and inclusion services—often where no other supports exist.
Help us go the distance
to support remote and regional communities.
Make your donation before June 30 to claim it back on your 2024 tax return. Donations of $2.00 and over are tax-deductible.
Each year, our multidisciplinary professionals travel thousands of kilometres to reach more than 50 regional and remote communities—from the Torres Strait Islands to the NSW border—ensuring no one is left behind.
But we can't do it without you.
With your support, we can keep going the extra mile for the families who need us most.
Nixon gets off to a great start...
When Jodie Kelly saw a Facebook post late last year about a new Autism Queensland school opening in Mackay, she had no idea it would change her family's life forever. Her six-year-old son Nixon, who is autistic, was due to start Prep in 2025—but like so many families in regional and remote Queensland, the Kellys had not found a suitable school and were running out of time and options. Living in Moranbah, more than two hours from the nearest major centre, they’d relied on a supportive family day care to give Nixon the best possible start. But as his school years approached, they faced a confronting question: Where would he go?
That post was the announcement of Autism Queensland School Mackay, a purpose-built school designed to support autistic children with a calm, inclusive, and sensory-friendly environment. For the Kelly family, it was more than a school—it was a lifeline. Now, 5 months into the school year, Nixon is thriving. He’s more confident, more engaged, and more connected than ever before.
Your donation this tax time can help children like Nixon find their place to learn, belong and thrive.
Going the distance
for autistic Queenslanders for 57 years
In 2024 we travelled across Queensland to...
Support the education of 3,000+ autistic students
Deliver outreach
services to 50+
regional & remote communitites
training to 4,000+ educators across the state
Your support helps us go further.
“I feel like I can finally do this.”
That’s what one kindy teacher told us after our team visited her classroom on a tiny island in the Torres Strait.
Recently, our Kindergarten Inclusion team travelled thousands of kilometres—by plane, boat, and 4WD—to reach educators and autistic children across the Torres Strait Islands.
We sat in their classrooms, shared cups of tea, listened to their challenges, and worked side-by-side to find simple, practical ways to support the autistic children in their care. But what happened went far beyond strategies and worksheets.
“You were part of the physical change,” one educator told us. “But more importantly, there is a definite mental shift and calming focus.”
Another said, “Because of your support, I feel like I can face Term Two with a bit more confidence. I can work with the student—and I can speak up for them in the room.”
This is the kind of quiet, powerful change that happens when people feel seen, heard, and supported. It doesn’t just stay in one classroom. It ripples across campuses, changes school cultures, and gives all children the start they deserve.
As one teacher shared, “Your support has been invaluable in helping the campus gain a more holistic understanding of how we can better support all our students.”
When you support Autism Queensland, you’re helping build hope—one classroom, one child, one conversation at a time.
Help us keep showing up where we’re needed most. Help us reach more children, more teachers, and more communities.
“[AQ was] part of the physical change, and more importantly, there is a definite mental shift and calming focus.”
“Because of [AQ's] support, I feel I can face Term Two with a bit more confidence - that I can work with the student and also advocate for them in the room.”
“[AQ's] support has been invaluable in helping the campus gain a more holistic understanding of how we can better support all our students.”
Rural realities
The critical shortage of autism services
1 in 3 Queenslanders live outside major cities, yet autism services remain concentrated in metropolitan areas. Families in these regions often face significantly higher travel costs to access basic support.
(ABS, 2021)
(National Rural Health Alliance, 2025)
Autistic people in regional & remote communities face significantly longer wait times for an autism diagnosis, often missing out on critical early intervention due to workforce shortages, high costs, and distance from specialist services.
(Senate Select Committee on Autism)
(Autism CRC)
Whether it’s equipping educators in the Torres Strait or helping children like Nixon start school with confidence, your support helps Autism Queensland deliver life-changing services across regional and remote Queensland.
Help us reach more children, more educators, and more communities who need our support.
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