What Autism SA does

Autism SA (legal name Autism Association of South Australia) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1964 as the first autism organization in Australia, established by families of autistic individuals. It is South Australia's peak body for autism, serving individuals on the autism spectrum across all life stages, along with their families, carers, educators, health and disability professionals, employers, and hospitality/entertainment venues. The organization reports 23,647 registered clients, of whom 35% are adults, and operates from two primary service hubs: the Southern Hub and headquarters at Tonsley Innovation District and the Northern Hub in Elizabeth, supplemented by telehealth for regional, remote, and interstate reach and a mobile "South Australia's Sensory Bus."

Its service portfolio spans Early Years, School Years, and School Leavers & Adults supports, including diagnostic assessment, aquatic/occupational/speech/psychological therapy, positive behaviour support, support coordination, supported independent living, school inclusion programs, and community participation. Autism SA also develops digital resources: The Spectrum (a national online autism information portal with Easy English content and five language translations), Autistics' Guide to Adulthood (a ten-module life-skills resource), the Autism Friendly Charter (a free online learning platform and business directory with an iOS/Android app), and the Neuro-inclusive Recruiting hub. These are delivery and outreach tools rather than proprietary technology products.

Revenue is generated primarily through NDIS-funded services (aligned to NDIS pricing arrangements), fee-for-service delivery for those awaiting or ineligible for NDIS (e.g., $2,000 diagnostic assessments for children under 18), government grants and contracts (Department for Human Services, Department for Education, NDIS ILC grants), donations/fundraising/bequests, and modest merchandise sales. Go-to-market is a mix of sales-led direct service delivery via the Infoline (1300 288 476) and hubs, community-led outreach and training, and event-driven engagement through the Sensory Bus and community programs.

Name

Autism SA

Legal name

Autism Association of South Australia

Website

https://autismsa.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Autism SA is a South Australian nonprofit and NDIS-registered provider, founded 1964, delivering diagnosis, therapy, behaviour support, and inclusion programs to autistic individuals, families, educators, employers, and businesses across all life stages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autism and disability support services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411), Child Care Services (62441)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Assistive Technology & Learning Tools (Educational) (EDAKAKAM), Autism Diagnostic & Educational Assessment Services (EDAKAKAA), Autism Teacher Training & Professional Development (EDAKAKAL), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ), Autism Communication Support (AAC, Pragmatics & Language) (EDAKAKAG)

Keywords

• Autism support services
• NDIS service provider
• Disability therapy services
• Supported independent living
• Autism information resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Tinsley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. NDIS Funded Services: Autism SA is an NDIS registered provider delivering a range of supports and services to individuals with NDIS plans across all life stages including therapy services, support coordination, supported independent living, and community participation.
2. Fee for Service: Services provided outside of NDIS plans where clients pay directly. Fee for service pricing is aligned with NDIS rates. Includes diagnostic assessments and other services not covered by plans.
3. Government Grants and Contracts: Funding from government sources including Department for Human Services (DHS) for specific projects like SPIE, Department for Education grants for school inclusion programs, and NDIS Information, Linkages and Capacity (ILC) Building grants.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Donations, fundraising activities, and will bequests from supporters. The organisation operates a charity shop and accepts donations to support services.
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Autism SA branded merchandise including water bottles ($20), stylus pens ($3), and phone grips ($5).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Autism SA is a nonprofit disability service provider delivering NDIS-funded therapy, diagnostic, behaviour support, support coordination, school inclusion and supported independent living services to autistic individuals across the lifespan. It also operates digital information and training platforms (The Spectrum, Autism Friendly Charter), runs sensory and employment programs, and sells branded merchandise to fund operations.

Product overview

Autism SA is a service organization providing autism-specific support services across South Australia, not a technology product company. The organization operates from two main hubs (Northern Hub in Elizabeth and Southern Hub at Tonsley) and offers a portfolio of service categories including Early Years Support (Aquatic therapy, Occupational therapy, Speech pathology, Psychological therapy), School Years Support (Autism inclusion support, School inclusion program, School transition), and School Leavers & Adults Support (Supported independent living, Individual day options). Key programs include The Spectrum Guide (170+ page autism information resource), Autism Friendly Charter (free online training and business directory), South Australia's Sensory Bus (mobile sensory support at events), Autism Friendly Dining (hospitality inclusivity initiative), and Strengthening Pathways to Inclusive Employment (inclusive employment project). Additional offerings include a Resource Library, Telehealth services, and an online shop selling branded merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Spectrum: A free national online resource providing evidence-informed autism information, 24/7 access to answers about autism
• Autistics' Guide to Adulthood
• Autism Friendly Charter
• Neuro-inclusive Recruiting

Products and services

• The Spectrum Guide The Spectrum Guide is a 170+ page national resource providing 24/7 access to evidence-informed autism information, answers to common questions about autism and comprehensive guides for parents and individuals on the autism journey; sold at $29.95 (PDF version allows printing).
• Autism Friendly Charter Autism Friendly Charter is a free online learning platform and business directory that helps businesses and organisations build autism awareness, inclusivity and capacity; it includes a listing for participating autism-friendly venues and the Autism Friendly mobile app (iOS and Android).
• Autism Friendly Dining (Pubs with Heart) Autism Friendly Dining (Pubs with Heart) is a partnership program with the Australian Hotels Association (SA Branch) that supports South Australian hotels, pubs and restaurants to host recurring sensory-friendly dinners, quiz nights and brunches with quieter environments, sensory-friendly menus and take-home fidgets; 9+ venues participate.
• Strengthening Pathways to Inclusive Employment (SPIE) SPIE is a Department for Human Services-funded project that engages South Australian organisations to build inclusive recruitment practices for autistic jobseekers; it trained 137+ staff directly, reached 1,047+ staff indirectly and supported employment for 9+ autistic individuals across 6 organisations.
• South Australia's Sensory Bus South Australia's Sensory Bus is a mobile sensory service that Autism SA operates at major community events and festivals and accepts bookings from organisations seeking inclusive programming; the bus features artwork by autistic South Australians.
• Resource Library 24-hour online library and ebook service lending books and DVDs to Autism SA members, available for collection or delivery.
• Telehealth Services Telehealth service delivery that enables Autism SA to provide psychology, behaviour support, consultations and other therapies to people in regional, remote or interstate locations via video.
• Family Supports Family-facing supports including functional and other assessments, funding/plan support, short term accommodation and social work for families of autistic individuals.
• Early Years Support Autism services for young children including aquatic therapy, early years educator support, positive behaviour support, occupational therapy, school-ready program, psychological therapy and assessment, social work, speech pathology, and support coordination and specialist support coordination.
• School Years Support School-age autism services including autism inclusion support, aquatic therapy, counselling, mealtime support, occupational therapy, positive behaviour support, psychological therapy and assessment, school inclusion program for educators, school transition, social work, speech pathology, and support coordination and specialist support coordination.
• School Leavers and Adults Support Services for adolescents and adults leaving school including positive behaviour support, counselling, individual day options, individualised community support, mealtime support, occupational therapy, psychological therapy and assessment, social work, speech pathology, supported independent living, transition from school, Inclusive Employment Australia, and support coordination and specialist support coordination.
• Diagnostic Assessment Diagnostic autism assessments for children under 18 priced at $2,000 per assessment, with referrals to a publicly listed diagnosticians directory when in-house spots are full.
• Autism SA Training and Consultancy Tailored training and consultancy services for organisations and professionals, covering autism inclusion, school inclusion program support, professional development, and diagnostic assessment training for clinicians.
• Autism SA Online Shop E-commerce storefront selling Autism SA branded merchandise — water bottles ($20, 600ml), stylus pens ($3) and phone grips ($5, various colours and designs) — with $10 flat-rate shipping within Australia to support fundraising.

Quantifiable outcome

• 58% of autistic individuals avoid going to pubs due to crowds and noise - Autism SA's Pubs with Heart project addresses this through 9+ partner venues
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Renewal SA / Tonsley Innovation PrecinctminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Partnership with Renewal SA and the Tonsley Innovation Precinct to establish the Southern Hub at Tonsley. The new state-of-the-art facility complemented the existing Northern Hub at Elizabeth, expanding Autism SA's service capacity in South Australia.
• Variety - the Children's CharitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2018Variety SA provided grant funding through the Variety Sprout Fund for the Northern Hub sensory and social space. The $X grant enabled creation of a purpose-built sensory room with interactive equipment from Spain including projector, LED lighting, bubble machine, LED ball pit, pulsating cushions, fans and aromatherapy. Variety's support enabled 1,200 additional children in northern metropolitan areas to access sensory experiences.
• NAPCANcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NAPCAN (National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect) to deliver free protective behaviours and behaviour guidance training with face-to-face coaching for Queensland early childhood educators as part of QLD Child Safety reform resources.
• Australian Hotels Association - SA BranchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver the 'Pubs with Heart' project making South Australian venues more inclusive for the autistic community. Through this project, Autism SA consulted with autistic people and their families to develop recommendations for venues, and worked with 9+ hotels/restaurants to create sensory friendly events, specific menus, and Access Guides.
• City of MarioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver inclusive playground signs (communication boards) at Hendrie Street Reserve - the first accessible playground in the region. The communication boards allow visitors to share what they can see, give opinions, or talk about activities, providing more independence, choice and control for the community.
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards CommissionminorOthersExternal regulatory body for NDIS service providers. Autism SA refers clients to the Commission for complaints handling and quality safeguards oversight.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Northcott: Major NSW-based disability services provider delivering NDIS therapy, accommodation, and employment services. Comparable as an NDIS-registered multi-service provider with overlapping therapy and supported independent living offerings, though broader in scope.
• Life Without Barriers: Large national disability and out-of-home care provider offering NDIS services across Australia. Comparable as a major NDIS-registered provider delivering therapy, supported independent living, and community participation—though broader than autism-specific.

Others

• National Disability Services (NDS): Australia's peak body for disability service providers representing 1000+ member organisations. Comparable as the industry association that advocates on policy, workforce, and NDIS matters affecting Autism SA's operating environment.
• IncludeAbility: Australian Government initiative supporting employment of people with disability including autism. Comparable as an alternative channel employers may use instead of Autism SA's Neuro-inclusive Recruiting resource for inclusive hiring guidance.

Direct peers

• Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia): Australia's largest autism-specific service provider operating across NSW, ACT, and VIC with schools, therapy, and research programs. Direct comparable as a national autism service organisation delivering diagnostic, educational, and therapy services at scale across multiple states.
• Specialisterne: Global organisation focused on neurodivergent employment with Australian operations. Comparable in the SPIE project's neuro-inclusive recruiting and employer training space, competing for employer-facing inclusive employment engagements.

Regional players

• Autism Queensland: Peak autism body for Queensland providing therapy, education, and community services. Highly comparable in mission and service portfolio—diagnostic assessments, therapy, school support, and community participation—though geographically focused on Queensland.
• Amaze (Autism Victoria): Peak autism body for Victoria providing information, advocacy, and training with similar digital resource offerings (Amaze Online). Comparable as a state-level autism peak body offering peer support, training, and information resources to autistic individuals, families, and employers.
• Autism WA: Peak autism body for Western Australia providing therapy, education, and community programs. Directly comparable in scope and mission, serving as the WA state-level equivalent to Autism SA with similar NDIS-registered therapy and support offerings.

Emerging players

• Xceptional: Digital platform offering neurodiversity training and inclusion resources for businesses. Comparable as an emerging competitor in the employer-facing autism inclusion training market where Autism Friendly Charter operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/autism-sa
• Facebookfacebook.com/autismsouthaustralia

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Autism SA