The Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre Annual Report 2014- 2015 Image: Bobby Kyriakoplous, Not titled 2014, gouache on paper, 38 x 56cm (Courtesy the artist and Arts Project Australia, Melbourne) ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015 Contents Introduction Welcome to the seventh Annual Report of the Olga Tennison One of our ex PhD students, Dr Heather Nuske (currently an Objective 3 — Foster and support a National 24 Objective 6 — Foster knowledge transfer to 31 - 32 Introduction 3 Autism Research Centre! Autism CRC post-doctoral scholar with us) was awarded a Research Network practitioners within the field This year’s hightlights 4 - 5 competitive Veski Victoria Fellowship in the Life Sciences. Cooperative Research Centre for Living 24 ADOS Training 31 Menzies Symposium 4 You will read here about many new initiatives over the last The Australasian Society for Autism Research 24 Invited Talks and Workshops 31 year, with one of the most exciting being a collaboration with OTARC was also awarded one of the first National Disability Second Biennial ASFAR Conference 4 Hewlett Packard (HP) Australia, and the Danish company Insurance Agency research grants to investigate the outcomes Objective 4 — Conduct campaigns to improve 25 - 28 Have Your Say Forum 32 New Directions Eye tracking Forum 4 Specialisterne, to study and promote positive employment of very young children with ASD receiving early intervention the public profile of autism research, thereby World Autism Awareness Day 2015 32 outcomes amongst adults with an ASD. The ‘Dandelion Project’ within a mainstream early childhood setting. The results of The Dandelion Project 5 attracting additional research funds via grants prepares these adults for job readiness, with HP employing this randomized control trial, led by Dr Giacomo Vivanti, and Other Initiatives 32 - 35 Frame of Mind Exhibition 5 and donations. them to undertake software testing within the Australian underway at the Victorian ASELCC, will inform the feasibility Appointments 32 Department of Human Services. In addition to research, of delivery of an autism specific intervention for young children VESKI Victorian Fellowship in Life Sciences 5 Media Activities 25 - 26 the Specialisterne Centre Australia has been embedded at within an inclusive setting. Talking ASD Research online 26 The Early Diagnostic Clinic 33 Facts & Figures 6 La Trobe University, with its Australian trainers co-located Ask an Autism Researcher Service 26 The Margot Prior Wing 33 Objective 1 — Facilitate large and / or ongoing 7- 18 at OTARC. Dr Darren Hedley has joined us as a Research It’s been another highly successful year realizing new research Fellow on this exciting project. Thus our research program projects Newsletter BLOG 26 Raising Children Network 34 partnerships, programs and successful funding applications on adults with ASD, a much under-researched area, is slowly which continue to allow us to extend our reach. I would like Research Themes and Studies 7 - 11 PlayConnect 34 Donations 27 gathering speed, especially given the Autism CRC projects to acknowledge the extraordinary team of staff, students and Publications 12 - 13 Volunteers 28 Operations & Projects 34 already underway at OTARC with Associate Professor Amanda volunteers who have each contributed to our success, and Richdale and Dr Mirko Uljarević as principal researchers. also our Advisory Committee who have helped us steer a clear Conference presentations 14 - 16 Lab Report and Lab Meetings 35 Objective 5 — Provide opportunities for 29 - 30 course during the past year. Research Grants 17 student based research and early career Financial Report 36 - 37 We had our first research retreat on Lake Eildon in September mentoring programs OTARC Meetings 18 Staffing and Centre Personnel 38 last year, which allowed us to reflect on our research programs Current Research Students 29 and set our research priorities for the next five years. We Objective 2 — Facilitate collaboration with 19 - 23 Governance 39 discussed how best to undertake research that has the greatest other research centres both nationally and 2014 — 2015 Postgraduate and Honours 30 Our Principal Donor and Patron 40 impact on those living with an ASD. internationally completions Collaborations & Partnerships 19 - 20 Visiting Early Career Researchers and 30 A highlight in this last year has been the hosting of a number Postgraduate students of research events at OTARC which brought together leading Visitors to our Centre 21 - 22 national and international ASD researchers. Amongst them OTARC Folk Out & About 23 were Professor Cathy Lord, Dr Andy Shih and Professor Sue Leekam. The events included the Menzies Symposium on Shaping Futures, the inaugural Autism CRC Scholars Event, Professor Cheryl Dissanayake, PhD the 2nd conference of the Australasian Society for Autism MAPS Director, Olga Tennison Autism Research Research, and the Eye Tracking Workshop – all during Centre December 2014!! 2 The 2014/2015 Annual Report of the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre The 2014/2015 Annual Report of the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre 3 2014/15 Highlights Professors Lawrie Bartak and Margot Prior with the Chair and Co-Chair of the Dr Darren Hedley, Wojciech Nadachowski, Michael Fieldhouse (HP) Alise Hardy (right) with curator, Alexandra Aulich (on far left) in front of ASFAR Executive (Professors Katrina Williams and Cheryl Dissanayake) and Thorkil Sonne (Specialisterne) her work ‘Maddalena’ 2015. 2. Second Biennial Conference of 4. The Dandelion Project 5. Frame of Mind Exhibition: the Australasian Society for Autism The Dandelion Project represents a new partnership between THE FIGURE AND BEYOND OTARC, Hewlett Packard (HP) Australia, Danish company Research (ASfAR) Specialisterne and the Australian Department of Human Writer’s Block Café, La Trobe Services (DHS) to study and promote positive employment This conference, convened by Professor Cheryl Dissanayake, University - April-May 2015 outcomes amongst adults with an ASD. It is led by new and held at La Trove University in December 2014, attracted Research Fellow, Dr Darren Hedley. HP have engaged the 200 local and international delegates, with three high-profile OTARC partnered again with the La Trobe University Museum Specialisterne, to adopt the Specialist People Foundation international researchers presenting keynote addresses: of Art (LUMA) to celebrate International Autism Awareness (SPF) model to recruit adults with an ASD which also trains Professor Cathy Lord (Director of the Center for Autism and Day with their annual ‘Frame of Mind’ exhibition. This year’s The forum speakers: Dr Giacomo Vivanti, Professor Sue Leekam, and prepares them for job readiness. These adults are then the Developing Brain at Cornell and Columbia Universities), Dr Dr Georgina Powell and Dr Heather Nuske. theme was ‘The figure and beyond’ and featured the work Professor Cathy Lord addressing the Menzies symposium. employed by HP and placed within DHS to undertake software Andy Shih (Vice President of Scientific Affairs of Autism Speaks) of seven emerging and established artists with an ASD from testing. As the research partner, OTARC has developed a and Professor Sue Leekam (Chair of Autism and Director of the around Australia: George Aristovoulou, Zalie Copeland, Ray program of research to understand the success factors as 1. Menzies Foundation Symposium Wales Autism Research Centre). The conference was free to 3. New Direction in Eye Tracking David, Alise Hardy, Bobby Kyriakopoulos, Anthony Romagnano, 6. VESKI Victoria Fellowship in Life well as the ongoing social impact and employment benefits ASfAR members, and ACER and AMAZE kindly sponsored the and Tim Sharp The exhibition was curated by Alex Aulich, at on Shaping Futures: Early Forum for people with ASD, their families, co-workers and employers. Sciences lunches and the Autism CRC provided the two morning teas OTARC, and was opened on April 2, 2015 by Stuart Purves AM, The findings will help shape optimal future work opportunities allowing us to keep costs down. A number of student volunteers National Director of Australian Galleries. Identification, Diagnosis and Early The New Directions in Eye Tracking forum was co-hosted by for people with ASD. Dr Heather Nuske was awarded a VESKI Victoria Fellowship in helped us to make sure that the conference ran smoothly. We OTARC and the Wales Autism Research Centre. It took place Life Sciences in 2014. This prestigious award recognizes and Intervention for ASDs are very grateful for their assistance. in December 2014 at La Trobe University, and was attended by La Trobe and Specialisterne have also signed a Memorandum Stuart Purvis opened the exhibition celebrates the outstanding contribution of Victoria’s leading around 70 professionals, people with ASD and researchers. It scientists and researchers in the fields of physical sciences and This symposium was organised by OTARC in association with of Understanding to help establish the Specialisterne Centre Most of the OTARC researchers and many of our students featured Professor Sue Leekam and her Post Doctoral Fellow, life sciences and enables them to undertake international study the ASfAR Conference in December 2014 with a generous Australia. Founder and Chairman of SPF, Mr Thorkil Sonne, presented at the conference. Two Lifetime ASfAR Memberships Dr Georgina Powell, as well as one of our own research fellows missions to broaden their experience and develop international sponsorship from the Menzies Foundation. It was chaired by and La Trobe