Empower Autism

Empower Autism Welcome to the Empower Autism community! Welcome to Empower Autism!

We are an Autistic-led not-for-profit organisation, working to empower Autistic people in SE Queensland and beyond.

🧡 Peer Groups, Self-Advocacy, Employment Mentoring
💙 Centering Autistic experiences and voices Empower Autism (Empower) is a well-established, not-for-profit organisation that provides information, support and capacity development services to autistic people, together with their par

ents, carers and families. We are strong advocates of the benefits of peer led support and we value the active participation of those with lived experience of autism. We’ve grown from a volunteer-based organisation, established in 1994 by parents of children diagnosed with Autism. Today we have a team of 6 dedicated staff and approximately 40 volunteers who generously donate their time, experience and passion in assisting to run our programs and services. We believe that society thrives when diverse individuals, experiences, perspectives, and cultures are welcomed and celebrated. We envision a world where autistic people fully participate, contribute and succeed to their fullest potential with confidence and self-belief. We are committed to act with purpose and intention to:

• Champion diversity by building a community of board directors, staff and volunteers who are as diverse as the community we serve.
• Encourage open, transparent dialogue among diverse voices and perspectives to shape our services, programs, and workplace culture.
• Commit to inclusiveness of lived experience in all program design and development.
• Empower and support autistic people to improve their employment outcomes and social connectedness.
• Collaborate with employers to create a mutually supportive workplace. We will strive to continually celebrate and cultivate a diverse community, while working to enable positive social change for and with autistic people through programs based on inclusiveness, self-development, and self-advocacy.

This R U OK Day, we’re thinking about how the language we use to ask others, “R U OK?” often shapes the conversations th...
10/09/2026

This R U OK Day, we’re thinking about how the language we use to ask others, “R U OK?” often shapes the conversations that follow.



Don’t get us wrong – we love R U OK Day and the message behind it!

But it’s important to remember that “R U OK?” isn’t always the most appropriate way to open these kinds of conversations and support the wellbeing of those around us.



Often, the best way to open dialogues about mental health will change; depending on the individual, your relationship to them and the situation at hand. For many Autistic people, opening phrases that are more direct and invite collaborative conversation can build trust and lead to more meaningful discussions.

Just because others are doing it, doesn’t mean you have to as well.  In our “Becoming an Adult” episode of Skipping the ...
07/09/2026

Just because others are doing it, doesn’t mean you have to as well.



In our “Becoming an Adult” episode of Skipping the Small Talk, Miah and Kaiya remind us that it’s ok to move through the world at your own pace, and make the decisions that are right for you.



🔗 Watch the full episode now, on YouTube or Spotify: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaWyudqFC98

We’re heading to Redlands Fresh Futures!We’re excited to be attending Redlands Fresh Futures at the Alexandra Hills Hote...
24/08/2026

We’re heading to Redlands Fresh Futures!

We’re excited to be attending Redlands Fresh Futures at the Alexandra Hills Hotel on Wednesday 26th August from 9:00am 🥳🥳

Fresh Futures Inc is all about supporting people living with disability, and their support network, to access information, resources and opportunities to prepare and plan for the future they imagine.

The event brings together a range of organisations across employment, education, training, recreation, volunteering and disability support, all in a welcoming and supportive environment. There are also some fantastic Guest Presenters, like the Redlands Regional Jobs Committee, who will be discussing current employment opportunities in the Redlands and what's happening the local job market.

Whether you’re a young person planning your next steps, a parent or supporter, or simply wanting to find out what opportunities are available, come along and explore what a Fresh Future could look like for you.

Don't forget to come and say hello to Holly and Danielle, who will be there representing Empower Autism!

Have you had a similar experience with uni? Speaking personal (hi, it’s Riley again!): when I started uni, I knew I was ...
18/08/2026

Have you had a similar experience with uni?

Speaking personal (hi, it’s Riley again!): when I started uni, I knew I was AuDHD.
But since I had done well academically in high school, I didn't have any tools to advocate for myself or navigate challenging environments. So as soon as uni got hard, I got overwhelmed.

Since then, I've heard similar stories from countless other Autistic, ADHD and neurodivergent people 😅😅

These challenges don't mean we can't be successful in uni, but they do make things like inclusive education practices, as well as self-advocacy and self-care strategies, super important in maintaining an enjoyable education experience.

Want to learn more about our AdvocatED program? We’re hosting a webinar for the supporters of our attendees in the Advoc...
13/08/2026

Want to learn more about our AdvocatED program?

We’re hosting a webinar for the supporters of our attendees in the AdvocatED Self-Advocacy program, so you can better support their journey and grow your own skills along the way.

We know what an important role families, friends and allies play in a student’s journey to self-advocacy and self-empowerment ❤️

In our webinar, we’ll provide a brief outline of the tools and insights we cover in the Self-Advocacy student program, while also sharing strategies that you can use to support yourself and your loved one outside of class. Bring your questions, and we’ll be happy to answer!

🔗The webinar will be held online on Monday 31st of August at 6pm, and is free to attend. To join us, register here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/8tZfnmyMn4

Sharing some more amazing news from our community 🥰🥰  On Saturday, 16-year-old Autistic author, Sophie, celebrated the l...
23/07/2026

Sharing some more amazing news from our community 🥰🥰



On Saturday, 16-year-old Autistic author, Sophie, celebrated the launch of her debut novel, Shattered Realms, at Little Gnome Book Shop & Café in Wynnum.

It was a wonderful evening celebrating independent authors, creativity, and the incredible sense of connection that comes from a supportive community coming together.

Through her writing, Sophie is not only sharing an exciting fantasy world with readers, but also helping to increase understanding of autism and normalise living with motor and vocal tics. She is a wonderful example of how Autistic young people can pursue their passions, embrace who they are, and achieve amazing things when they are free to be themselves.

If you'd like to support a talented young local author, Shattered Realms is now available to purchase at Little Gnome



Congratulations, Sophie, on your incredible achievement!

Our new Redlands Youth peer group met for the first time last week, and it went incredible!  The group pushed past the f...
21/07/2026

Our new Redlands Youth peer group met for the first time last week, and it went incredible!



The group pushed past the first-night-awkwardness and were still enthusiastically getting to know each other well past closing time.



Redlands Youth peer group already has such a lovely, welcoming atmosphere – and it’s only just beginning! We can’t wait to see where it goes, and to continue growing our new Redlands community 🥰



A massive thank you to everybody who joined us for our launch night.
To learn more about the Redlands Youth peer groups, email us at [email protected] or fill out the form on our website to register your interest to join: https://empowerautism.org.au/peergroups/youth/

We love getting out into the community and connecting with our people 💙🧡This year, through community events such as the ...
16/07/2026

We love getting out into the community and connecting with our people 💙🧡

This year, through community events such as the Brisbane Careers & Employment Expo, as well as visits to local high schools, we've had the opportunity to meet with Autistic students and families, hear about their goals, and chat about building confidence for the future.

We're excited to continue those conversations at the upcoming Y Schools Career Expo at their Moreton Bay Senior Campus (Mango Hill) on 24 July 2026.

If you're attending, please come and say hello!

Danielle and Holly will be sharing information about our:

Empowered Pathways Employment Mentoring Program – supporting Autistic young people to explore career pathways, build workplace confidence, and work towards meaningful employment goals.

Youth Peer Groups – welcoming spaces where Autistic young people can connect with like-minded peers, share experiences, have fun, and feel comfortable being their authentic selves.

Whether you're a student thinking about your next steps, a parent looking for support or information for your young person, or an educator wanting to learn more about our programs, we'd love to meet you there!

Address

Unit 6B/87 Webster Road
Stafford, QLD
4053

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+61738652911

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