Autism Connect
National autism helpline
Autism information you can trust. Free, confidential and independent.
Autism Connect is open 8am to 7pm, Monday to Friday.
Please note, this is not an emergency service. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call triple zero or use the National Relay Service to make a chat call to emergency services.
We also do not provide counselling or healthcare referrals, but our Advisors can help provide you with information around accessing these services. If you require immediate 24-hour counselling, please contact Lifeline, Suicide Call Back Service or Kids Helpline. For more helplines, visit out crisis and support helplines page.
Amaze is committed to prioritising and upholding the safety of children and young people. We have a zero-tolerance policy to child abuse, and all allegations and safety concerns will be treated seriously and in line with our relevant policies and procedures. We will enact upon our legal and moral obligations to contact authorities at our discretion when we worried about or receive a report regarding a child’s safety or receive disclosure of alleged child abuse.
What is Autism Connect?
Autism Connect is a free, national autism helpline, providing independent and expert information over phone, email and webchat.
It supports Autistic people, their families and carers, health professionals, researchers, teachers, employers and the broader community.
Autism Connect advisors offer expert advice in many areas, including:
- exploring autism and Autistic identity
- assessment and diagnosis support
- school and education
- the NDIS
- transition to employment
- behaviour and communication strategies
- referrals to services peer support connections,
- finding autism-friendly places and events, and
- making environments accessible.
Want to speak to an advisor in a language other than English?
You can use the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) to speak to an Autism Connect advisor in a language other than English. TIS National provides operator-assisted access to an immediate phone interpreter in over 160 languages. To access this service, call the TIS National Contact Centre on 131 450 and ask to speak to Autism Connect on 1300 308 699.
Autism Connect: Search
Autism Connect: Search
Find information and resources on a range of topics related to autism, disability, therapeutic supports and more.
Testimonials
“The resources and advisors, I personally think could save lives. They altered my mental health. I didn’t know who I was, but now I do. I really appreciate the fantastic advisors.”
— Orion, autistic adult and broadcaster.
“I recently contacted Autism Connect and spoke to an advisor who was extremely helpful and has since provided me with a full page of resources, contacts and professionals whom can provide assessments. Honestly, the information associated with these details was incredible and has streamlined the care of my client.”
— B, social worker.
Frequently asked questions
Autism Connect is a free national autism helpline that provides information, support and advice on referrals to help you identify the relevant supports you need.
For example, Tim was feeling overwhelmed when he called in after his son was newly diagnosed. The Autism Connect advisor helped support Tim make a clear plan of what to do next. He received positive information around Autistic identity, services and peer support connections available to support him and his son. He finished the call feeling relieved and able to take the next steps.
This service is available to anyone seeking support related to autism. The service was created for Autistic people seeking guidance around diagnosis and services, their families or friends, and anyone supporting an Autistic adult or child in education, health settings or workplaces.
You can use the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) to speak to an Autism Connect advisor in a language other than English.
TIS National provides operator-assisted access to an immediate phone interpreter in over 160 languages.
To access this service, call the TIS National Contact Centre on 131 450 and ask to speak to Autism Connect on 1300 308 699.
No, Autism Connect is not a counselling service and it does not provide healthcare referrals. But we can give you information about how to access these services. If you are seeking counselling support, the Autism Connect advisors will be able to guide you on how to seek counselling or therapies that may work best for you.
There are also a number of crisis support lines you can access.
Yes. All conversations between you and Autism Connect advisors are confidential. We record and keep this confidential information for when you might call back in the future. This is so that you don’t have to repeat some basic information to us. We do not share personal data with any third parties without your express consent. Our privacy policy and statement can be viewed on our website.
We have a team of Advisors with a broad range of backgrounds, specialties and lived experience. They work together to provide you with evidence based and the latest information. This means anyone you speak to will be there to help you. You may or may not reach a person you have spoken to before, or they may not be available for a call.
Amaze’s helpline was previously known as the Autism Advisor service. It was only available in Victoria. Due to the positive impact of this service, it has now been funded to be Australia wide and renamed Autism Connect.
Autism Connect is both a national and local information helpline. Autism Connect advisors provide information and advice that is independent, rather than connected to a particular service or provider who may refer you to their own services. The advisors also have access to resources that provide the latest information about autism in Australia and around the world.