About
We work to develop new understanding of autism in early childhood, and supports for infants and young children that are developmentally appropriate, acceptable to community, and potentially beneficial for all children and their families.
Our Story
The CAPTeam was formed in 2019. We are a growing team of multi-disciplinary researchers at La Trobe University, with shared interest in learning more about autism and related conditions in early childhood. Our joint expertise is in child development, from psychology and speech pathology backgrounds, with our team members based in La Trobe University’s Department of Psychology, Counselling and Therapy and Department of Community and Clinical Health.
Our Mission
We want to do research that is useful and collaborative with community. We value diverse lived experience. By working with a broad range of people—particularly autistic people and their communities—we aim to understand the challenges, strengths and needs of different children and families. Through our research, we want to grow understanding, but also make a positive impact on professionals, supports, and services for children and families.
We align with several of La Trobe University’s Research Themes and the Research Impact Strategy 2023-2025.
Our Engagement and Impact
We collaborate with other researchers and with industry and community partners, to do work the community wants, for real-world impact.
- We have a long-time collaboration with CliniKids at The Kids Research Institute, Perth, including on early supports for infants showing early signs of autism and their families.
- We have worked with international industry partner, JVCKENWOOD Corporation (JKC), Japan, on a clinical medical device trial seeking to improve autism identification and diagnosis.
- We are currently working with Autism Queensland and the State and Territory Playgroup Organisations to evaluate the PlayConnect+ Program. This is a program of supported community playgroups for young children (aged 0-8 years) with neuro-divergence, developmental disability or early identified support needs, and their parents/carers and families, funded under the Commonwealth National Early Childhood Program. Evaluations like these are important because they can influence future policy decisions and community service funding.
- A growing focus of our work is on understanding the experiences of autism for families from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds, and we are partnering with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds and cultures to understand their experiences and share back the findings from our completed research.
- For over ten years, members of our team have delivered autism diagnostic assessment training to allied-health and medical professionals, and to other researchers, who are working to support neuro-divergent individuals and their families.