At CDU Health Hub, we prioritise research that improves the care we provide to the community and enhances the training of our students. We currently have several research projects underway, all of which have been approved by the University’s ethics committee.
Current project
Increasing Knowledge and Awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Health and Education Professionals and Trainees in the Northern Territory: A Collaboration with Autism NT
Research team
Prof Tinashe Dune, Niki Lehmann (Autism NT), Fiona Tipping, Bruce Van Haeften, Yolande Burdekin, Dr Rebecca Amery, Janet Russell, Allison Grierson and the CDU Health Hub Admin Team.
Project summary
This project aims to enhance knowledge and awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) among registered and trainee health and education practitioners across the Northern Territory through a series of interactive and educational workshops. The workshops will be developed and delivered in collaboration with Autism NT to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of Autism, including its diverse presentations across age, gender, and cultural backgrounds, screening processes, comorbid conditions, diagnostic pathways, available support systems, and best practices in assisting individuals with Autism and their families.
Project objectives
- To deliver a series of educational workshops on Autism for registered and trainee health and education practitioners, including psychologists, occupational therapists, dietitians, speech pathologists, physiotherapists, medical doctors, teachers, school counsellors, audiologists and others.
- To improve participants’ understanding of Autism’s diverse presentations, screening tools, and comorbid conditions (e.g., ADHD, mental health concerns).
- To increase awareness of diagnostic pathways, available supports, and strategies for navigating mental, physical, and social challenges faced by Autistic individuals and their families.
- To develop and record workshop materials for future use in microcredentialing and professional training.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the workshops through pre- and post-intervention surveys and qualitative feedback, with a six-month follow-up to assess long-term knowledge retention and application in practice.