Participate in our research
We're always looking for children (from birth onwards) and adults of all ages to take part in our studies.
We make our studies as interesting as possible for all involved. For children, taking part in our studies is like playing a game. It's fun!
Please read OTARC Privacy Statement before filling in the online form.
We welcome people from the following groups to take part in our studies.
- Autistic adults and children with or without a co-occurring disability
- Non autistic adults and children with or without a co-occurring disability
- Family and caregivers of autistic people.
You can register:
- yourself
- your child
- someone else in your family (for whom you have legal responsibility) to be invited to take part in our studies.
By completing and submitting the online registration form, you are providing consent for your details to be included in the OTARC Research Participant Registry and to be passed on to relevant researchers. Find out more under the 'What to expect' heading below.
All of our studies have been approved by the La Trobe University Human Research Ethics Committee.
Who can complete the registration form?
- Adults aged 18 years or older
- Parents or primary carers of children with Autism and/or other disabilities
- Parents or primary carers of children without disabilities
- Legal guardians (parents or primary carers) of people aged 18 years or older with Autism and/or other disabilities
Joining the OTARC Research Participant Registry
The OTARC Research Participant Registry is a confidential database that holds the personal, diagnostic, and contact details of potential participants. By joining, you are simply agreeing to be contacted about future studies. You are under no obligation to participate in any study you are invited to, it is entirely voluntary.
After you have registered, we will be in touch to confirm your registration and to ask you some additional questions.
If you or your child meet the requirements for a study, the researcher will send you an email with the details of the study. You are under no obligation to participate in that study, but if you do choose to take part, you can contact the researcher. We may also follow up with a courtesy phone call or email. You are always encouraged to ask questions if there is something you do not understand.
Participating in a study
Once you have agreed to participate, we will make an appointment with you and/or send you questionnaires to complete (depending on the study). Before you start you (and sometimes your child if s/he is old enough) will be asked to sign a consent form. All our studies have been approved by the La Trobe University Human Research Ethics Committee.
Thank you for your interest in our centre and our work. Your participation will leave an important and enduring legacy as you provide a valuable gift - the gift of information and knowledge.
You'll receive instructions on how to find us when you have agreed to participate in a study.
Direct benefits may include:
- finding out more about autism and research
- receiving assessment results free of charge
- providing an enjoyable activity for your child.
Indirect benefits may include:
- contributing to knowledge about autism
- helping other people with autism in the future
- helping students to complete their research studies.
All families who participate in an OTARC study or are on our registry will be invited to:
- attend OTARC Forums, where you will have the opportunity to meet the researchers personally and find out about the latest trends and research findings in Australia
- attend OTARC's public workshops and events.
to access or make changes to your information or be removed from the registry Read more about our research