span.toolkit
OVERVIEW
The Suicide Prevention for Autism Neuroaffirming (span.toolkit) is an evidence-based, co-produced resource portal designed to support mental health professionals working with autistic adults.
- 1 in 3 autistic people experience thoughts of suicide
- Autistic people are significantly more likely to die by suicide than the general population.
- Autistic people face significant barriers to effective, autism-informed mental healthcare.
The span.toolkit provides validated, autism-adapted clinical tools for identifying and managing suicidal thoughts and behaviour, lived experience-led education and training materials, and policy resources to support leaders and executive decision-makers in driving service-level change across clinical and community settings.
These resources were co-developed with lived experience and healthcare experts to reflect the real-world needs and priorities of the autistic community, and to equip the healthcare sector with the tools and knowledge to better support autistic adults.
STATUS : ACTIVE
SPAN TOOL KIT VIRTUAL TOUR
The span.toolkit was officailly launched on February 13th 2026, and here you can watch Dr Claire Brown, PhD, Suicide Prevention Australia Post-Doctoral Research Fellow and span.toolkit Project Lead, Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC) at La Trobe University
You can watch the full launch event here, including speakers :
Associate Professor Darren Hedley, PhD, Principal Research Fellow and Research Director of the Health & Wellbeing research program, Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC), La Trobe University
Professor Alison Lane, PhD, Centre Director, Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC), La Trobe University
Paul Edbrooke MP, Victorian Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
Robyn Humphries OAM, Deputy Operations Manager, Clayton Area Mental Health Service, Monash Health
Associate Professor Wenn Lawson, PhD, Autistic researcher, clinician, and lived experience expert, Curtin University
Dr Claire Brown, PhD, Suicide Prevention Australia Post-Doctoral Research Fellow and span.toolkit Project Lead, Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC) at La Trobe University
WORKSHOPS
The span.toolkit team will be running a series of workshops throughout 2026 to help clinical staff use the tool kit.
To register your interest, please contact us here
CONTACT DETAILS
span.toolkit
Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre
La Trobe University
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus
Plenty Rd, Bundoora, VIC 3086
Dr Claire Brown
Email: claire.brown@latrobe.edu.au
ORGANISATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS
The span.toolkit aligns with national suicide prevention priorities and best-practice approaches to autistic mental health. However, all information presented in the span.toolkit is intended to complement - not replace - existing organisational policies, clinical governance frameworks, and professional training.
We recommend that managers and service leaders review existing organisational policies and procedures, in consultation with staff, to ensure that appropriate systems, governance, and supports are in place for the safe and effective integration of span.toolkit resources.
SUPPORT
To support this Project or future research projects like this, please visit our secure donation site.
All donations are tax deductible, and you will receive a receipt via email.
If you need more information, please call 03 9479 2497 or email otarc@latrobe.edu.au.
100% of your donation will support our work.