Changing the Autism Diagnosis Pathway
The average age of Autism diagnosis in children remains at about 3-4 years, despite research showing early identification of autism is key to improved outcomes, including access to supports and services.
La Trobe University’s Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC) has been driving global change for both healthcare workers and parents to recognise the early signs of autism from as young as 12 months old. The Social Attention and Communication Surveillance (SACS) tool was developed by OTARC’s Associate Professor Josephine Barbaro.
The SACS method identifies a set of behaviours or ‘early signs’ that are characteristic of Autistic children. Originally implemented in Maternal and Child Health services in Victoria, it is now used by health systems across the world. It has been translated into 12 languages and disseminated across more than 20 countries.
In Australia, the SACS has been used to monitor over 45,000 infants and toddlers in the Victorian and Tasmanian Maternal and Child Health (MCH) systems alone. China has used it to screen 1 Million babies. The free ASDetect App has been downloaded over 120,000 times. Thousands of professionals have been trained in its use, including over 250 professionals in 2025 providing healthcare to the Torres Strait Islands, Queensland and Tasmania.
Throughout 2025 OTARC trained healthcare workers across Australia in the method, including professionals from The Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS).
“Having so many TCHHS staff trained in utilising this program is a huge benefit to children and their families in our communities. With our growing allied health and maternal and child health teams, we are able to put in supports for children and their families across our region who require it,” reflected Fiona Hall, former Acting Executive Director of TCHHS.
Published June 2026