Understanding Autism Today: The Monash AllPlay Approach to Mental Health, Inclusion and Care
Description
Join us for Understanding Autism Today: The Monash AllPlay Approach to Mental Health, Inclusion and Care, a thought-provoking webinar exploring contemporary understandings of autism and the evolving approaches needed to support people with autism across the lifespan.
Featuring Professor Nicole J. Rinehart and hosted by Emeritus Professor Cheryl Dissanayake AM, this session asks: how do we give children with autism the best start in life? We'll examine the role of community-based education, sport, and the arts, and their lasting impact on physical and mental health - from childhood through to university and the workforce.
Through expert discussion and audience questions, the webinar will explore current perspectives on autism research and practice, grounded in the Monash AllPlay Triple Logic framework - which brings together evidence of what works, the practicalities of delivering it at scale, and the systems and community ownership needed to sustain it. We'll examine why inclusion is most powerful when it moves out of the clinic and into the everyday places where children and young people already live, learn, and play, and reimagine how the next generation of university students can participate in research that translates directly into real-world impact.
This session is an opportunity for alumni, staff, students, and the broader community to hear from leading experts and engage in a meaningful conversation about the future of autism care, inclusion, and support.
What We Will Cover:
Monash's Historic Legacy - a look back at the roots of Australian autism research at Monash, from the pioneering work of the late Professor Margot Prior AO and Dr Lawrie Bartak to the foundational clinical insights built at the Monash Krongold Clinic.
The Shift to a Strength-Based Approach - how the field has evolved from hospital models of care toward a strengths-based model built on a simple but powerful idea: there is no single right way to participate.
The Next Frontier in Higher Education - moving beyond basic "special considerations" toward genuine spaces of acceptance, peer-to-peer support, and community, exemplified by AllPlay's national model engaging university students themselves as peer facilitators for young people with autism.
This webinar, framed with deep respect and inclusivity, is a must-attend for anyone looking to help shape a more supportive and understanding future for neurodivergent individuals.
Event Date | Wednesday 23 September 2026 |
|---|---|
Time | 12.00 pm - 1.00 pm (AEST) |
Format | Online via Zoom |
Lineup
HOST | Emeritus Professor Cheryl Dissanayake AM
Emeritus Professor Cheryl Dissanayake AM was the Founding Director and inaugural Olga Tennison Endowed Chair in Autism Research at La Trobe University. She established Australia’s first research centre dedicated to autism established in 2008, made possible by a generous donation from Mrs Olga Tennison OAM and matching funds from La Trobe University. The continued growth and success of the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, bolstered by a $45 million gift from Mrs Tennison in her will, are a testament to both her visionary leadership and the enduring impact of her work. Professor Dissanayake has been an autism researcher since 1984, when she began her PhD at Monash University following her undergraduate degree in Psychology. She undertook a postdoctoral fellowship in the Sigman lab at UCLA prior to establishing an autism research program upon joining La Trobe University in 1996, where she spent 28 years, prior to her retirement in 2024. Professor Dissanayake was instrumental in bringing together Victorian and Australian autism researchers, having co-founded the Autism Victoria Autism Research Group (2003), the Australasian Autism Research Alliance (2005), the Australasian Autism Research Collaboration (2009) and the Australasian Society for Autism Research (2011). The latter is a member-based society, which she served as vice-President until 2020, when she was honoured with a Lifetime Membership. She was on the bid team and a Project Leader for the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (2013-2021). Professor Dissanayake has been recognised as a Research Field Leader for six consecutive years by The Australian (2018-2023) and as one of nine Global Research Leaders in 2020. She was amongst the first ten scholars to be inaugurated as a Fellow of the International Society for Autism Research (2018) and was elected vice-President of INSAR in 2019. She served on its Senior Global Leaders Committee, representing the Western Pacific region, and chaired its Fellows Committee. She was one of only 25 scholars worldwide, and the sole Australian, invited to participate in The Lancet Commission on Autism from 2019 to 2021. In 2022, Professor Dissanayake was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences Australia, and was recognised with an Order of Australia (AM) in the same year for ‘significant service to medical research, to tertiary education, and to professional societies’.
KEYNOTE | Professor Nicole J. Rinehart
Nicole Rinehart is a Professor and Director of Neurodevelopment in the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University and Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the Melbourne Children's Clinic. She has led multiple major NHMRC projects and served as a Non-Executive Director of AMAZE for 10 years. Nicole is the founder of AllPlay™️, a translational research platform reaching millions of children and families globally through partnerships with the AFL, Queensland Ballet, Beijing Dance Academy, and Departments of Education across Australia. Underpinned by a Triple Logic Model, AllPlay bridges clinical evidence and community delivery at scale. A sought-after expert advisor to government and recipient of multiple national awards, Nicole is pioneering a new model for how research can drive real-world outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental conditions.
Agenda
- 8:00 pm - 8:05 pm
Host Welcome | Acknowledgement of Country
Emeritus Professor Cheryl Dissanayake AM
- 8:05 pm - 8:35 pm
Keynote Presentation
Professor Nicole J. Rinehart
- 8:35 pm - 8:55 pm
Q&A Discussion
Emeritus Professor Cheryl Dissanayake AM will pose pre-submitted questions to Professor Nicole J. Rinehart.
- 8:55 pm - 9:00 pm
Webinar Wrap Up
FAQs
- How do I join the webinar?
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with a Zoom link to access the webinar. On the day of the event, simply click the link a few minutes before the start time. Make sure your device has a stable internet connection, and your audio and video settings turned off.
For best experience, we recommend using a laptop or desktop with the latest browser version.
- Can I ask questions during the webinar?
Upon registration, you’ll have the opportunity to submit questions in advance for the panel to address during the Q&A discussion. During the webinar, if time permits, you can also utilise the Zoom chat to ask additional questions, and we’ll do our best to respond.
- Will this webinar be recorded?
Yes. The webinar will be recorded, and a link to the recording will be emailed to all registrants after the event. This way, you can rewatch the session or catch up if you’re unable to attend live.
- Who should attend this webinar?
Whether you work or study in psychology, medicine, nursing, allied health, public health, education, social work, health management or community services, this webinar offers valuable insights into the latest research and thinking on autism, mental health, inclusion and the future of care. It is also highly relevant for researchers, clinicians, educators, policymakers, industry professionals, carers and anyone committed to creating more inclusive health, education, workplace and community systems that better support autistic people across the lifespan.
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