CliniKids and the Autism Association of Australia are inviting parents, family members and caregivers of autistic children and adults to take part in the 2026 National Parent and Carer Survey.
Families and caregivers have valuable first-hand knowledge of what it is like to access autism supports in Australia. By sharing your experiences, you can help us better understand what is working, where the gaps are and what families need for the future.
CliniKids has partnered with Autism Association Australia and the University of Western Australia to help you have your say via the 2026 National Parent and Carer Survey.
We're currently recruiting 1,000 parents and caregivers from across Australia to take part. Your answers will help build a clearer picture of the experiences and support needs of autistic people and their families.
The online survey takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Closes Monday 5th October 2026.
Why are we conducting this survey?
Every autistic person and their family has different experiences, priorities and support needs. The 2026 National Parent and Carer Survey aims to hear directly from families about their experiences of autism supports across Australia.
Your responses will help us better understand the experiences of families, including what is working well, where challenges or gaps may exist and where improvements could be made.
The findings will contribute to a broader understanding of the needs and priorities of autistic people and their families and help ensure family experiences are represented in conversations about the future of autism support in Australia.
Who can take part?
You can take part in the survey if you are a parent or family member (18+) who cares for an autistic child, young person or adult living in Australia.
We want to hear from families with a wide range of experiences and from communities across Australia.
Whether your family is currently accessing services and supports, has done so in the past, or has experienced challenges accessing the support you need, your perspective is valuable.
What will the survey ask about?
The survey will ask about your experiences as a parent or caregiver and the supports available to your autistic family member.
Your responses will help identify:
- what is working well for autistic people and their families
- areas where families may be experiencing challenges or gaps in support
- the needs and priorities of families across Australia
- opportunities to improve future autism services and supports
The survey is completed online and takes approximately 30 minutes.
How will the findings be used?
Your responses will be completely anonymous. The experiences shared through the survey will help build a national picture of what autistic people and their families need from services and supports.
Findings from the survey will help inform:
- Advocacy and policy
- Future service design and delivery
- Research into more personalised autism supports through CliniKids’ five-year COMPASS research program
By sharing your experiences, you can help ensure the voices of families are part of decisions about the future.
About the COMPASS program
The survey will contribute to COMPASS - COMmunication through Personalised ASsessment and Support, CliniKids' five-year research program focused on developing more personalised, effective approaches to supporting autistic children and their families.
With approximately three in five autistic children reaching school age unable to communicate easily, COMPASS aims to support every autistic child in Western Australia to communicate effectively by the time they start primary school.
COMPASS will develop a computerised adaptive assessment tool to map each autistic child’s strengths and support needs, helping clinicians to match each autistic child with the right evidence-based clinical and community supports for their individual needs, sooner.
Ready to have your say?
We are seeking 1,000 parents, family members and caregivers from across Australia to share their experiences.
Survey closes: Monday 5th October 2026
Time required: Approximately 30 minutes
Your experiences matter. By sharing them, you can help inform research and contribute to the future of autism support in Australia.