Research Requests
AV regularly receives requests from researchers to advertise opportunities for our community to participate in their research projects.
Each of the research studies listed below are current academic studies researching various aspects of the lives and experiences of individuals within our community.
They include information about the goal of the study, the participant eligibility criteria, what participation involves, and any remuneration or compensation for your time and input.
If you meet the eligibility criteria for any of the below studies and would like to participate, please click the link provided for that study to find out more or to register.
If you would like to know more about any of the studies, please contact the nominated researcher for more information.
Information for researchers
If you are an academic researcher seeking participants for a current study relevant to our community and you would like to advertise your study on our website, we would be happy to assist you with this.
Please complete our research request form.
This form will ask you a series of questions about your study. Our admin team will use your responses to prepare a dot-point summary for upload to our website.
The form will also ask you to upload a PDF of your study's ethics approval. Please note that we cannot upload a study without an ethics approval.
When both of these steps have been completed, our research volunteer will be in contact with you to confirm that we have all of the required information and to advise you of the next steps.
Note: as of February 2023, our Research Support volunteer role is vacant.
All research requests are being processed by our Community Administration Manager, which means that it may take a little longer for your study to be uploaded or for you to receive a response.
If you or someone in your team may be interested in joining the AV team as our Research Support volunteer, we would love to hear from you! Please complete our online application form or contact our AV admin team for more information.
Studies currently seeking participants
Finding the Lost Years - Autism diagnosed later in life
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This project has two goals: first, to compare early behavioral signs of autism in individuals diagnosed after 8 years of age with those diagnosed before 2.5 years. Second, to examine whether late-diagnosed individuals show similar or different behaviors compared to those diagnosed earlier in life.
University/ Institution/ Faculty conducting this study:
Monash University - School of Educational Psychology & Counselling, Faculty of Education.
Who is eligible to participate?
- Autistic children/adolescents (under 18-years old) diagnosed at 9+ years and their parents/guardians.
- Autistic adults (over 18-years old) diagnosed at 9+ years OR those who self-identify as Autistic.
- Participants of all genders (i.e., girls/women, boys/men, non-binary and gender-diverse)
What does participating involve?
Participants will be asked to
1) Complete online questionnaires.
2) Provide video footage at different age ranges (e.g., between 11-months and 8 years of age).
3) Attend one brief appointment (either online via zoom or face to face) to complete a number of tasks to assess their thinking, reasoning and problem-solving skills.
All participants will receive a $50 gift card.
How will this research help people with Aspergers /autistic people?
Participation will provide a better understanding of the early signs of Aspergers and/or autism in individuals who receive a later diagnosis. This information will benefit clinical practice, families and schools, and we hope it can be used to assist practitioners with earlier and accurate identification and diagnosis. In turn, this can help Autistic people or people with Aspergers better understand who they are earlier in life that may enhance their mental health and well-being, understanding of self, and connection with others in the neuro-diverse community. In addition, the activities we are conducting might offer some new or up-to-date information to the participant about their skills and abilities, and they will be provided with this feedback in a brief written summary report.
How can I register to participate?
Click this link:
Researcher contact details:
If you want more information, contact Belinda Coldebella
Closing date: 31 October 2025
Addressing the Gaps: Developing an Understanding of Emotionally Based School Avoidance in Autistic Students through an Exploration of Stakeholder Perspectives
This study will form the first part of a PhD project that is looking to develop an intervention to support autistic students and their families to manage distress around school that results in non-attendance. In this study we are looking to speak to autistic students aged 10-21, their families, school educators, and mental health professionals who have experiences of EBSA.
University/ Institution/ Faculty conducting this study:
Deakin University and Aston University.
Who is eligible to participate?
Autistic young people (aged 10-21) with past or present experience of emotionally based school avoidance or anxiety around attending school, parents of autistic students, educators, and clinicians or mental health professionals with experience supporting autistic students.
What does participating involve?
Participants will be invited to attend either a focus group or interview in which they will be asked questions about their experiences. Participants can choose to attend online via zoom or in person, and will be required to read a plain language statement and complete a consent form. Participants will be sent questions in advance so that they have time to consider their answers and ask any questions they may have.
Participants will be reimbursed $30 via voucher for their participation.
How will this research help people with Aspergers /autistic people?
This study will contribute to ongoing research that hopes to improve the wellbeing of autistic children and their families. The findings from this study will also be used to plan a new means of support for autistic students struggling to attend school.
How can I register to participate?
https://researchsurveys.deakin.edu.au/jfe/form/SV_eEDXQpRtNmy4IQK
Researcher contact details:
If you want more information, contact Kat Chadbourn
Closing date: 31 May 2025
The Role of Organisational Factors in the Career Development of Employees with Autism
We're a team of researchers at La Trobe University exploring what "career development" means to you and how workplace practices support or hinder the career growth of both autistic and non-autistic employees. We'd love to hear your perspectives and experiences in employment.
University/ Institution/ Faculty conducting the study:
La Trobe University - Bundoora
Who is eligible to participate?
Group 1: Autistic Employees
Group 2: Non-Autistic Employees
Group 3: Manager/Supervisor of Autistic Employee/s
What does participating involve?
The screening survey will take approximately 3 - 5 minutes to complete. Eligible participants may be invited to take part in a follow-up interview (Zoom or in-person), which will take approximately 45 to 60 minutes.
Participants will be emailed a $50 gift voucher at the end of the interview.
How will this research help people with Aspergers / autistic people?
This study explores the organisational factors influencing the career development of autistic employees, aiming to shift the focus from mere survival to thriving within organisations. Through lived experiences, it seeks to uncover perceptions of career development, organisational barriers, and effective support mechanisms. By addressing these gaps, the study aims to offer insights for decision-makers to create more inclusive environments that foster sustainable career growth for individuals with autism.
How can I register to participate?
Where can I find further information?
Through the screening survey link above, participants will be able to get more information and register their interest.
Researcher contact details:
Closing date: 30 September 2025
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