New Autism wellbeing toolkit secures $30,000 for development and testing

A four-week early learning pilot will test the co-designed resource, with a pathway to free national distribution through La Trobe University.

A new toolkit to help early childhood educators support Autistic children’s emotional wellbeing has secured $30,000 from The Fraser Foundation. The funding will support co-design and a four-week pilot in early learning services.

La Trobe University PhD candidate Annette Carroll, based at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, received the foundation’s 2026 Research Impact Grant for Feelings & Flourishing. The university outlined the project in an announcement published on 14 October.

“Autistic children can experience and express emotions in ways educators may not always have the tools or confidence to interpret,” Ms Carroll said.

“Feelings & Flourishing is about creating practical, evidence-based support alongside the people who will ultimately use and benefit from it.”

Funding takes the toolkit into early learning services

The resource is being developed for educators working with Autistic children from birth to five. It builds on research Ms Carroll has undertaken with families and early childhood professionals across Australia.

Educators, families and Autistic children are contributing directly to its development through co-design. Their involvement will bring the perspectives of those who will use and benefit from the toolkit into the process of shaping it.

The funding comprises $20,000 in core grant support and an additional $10,000 for implementation. It will enable the project to progress through co-design and into the pilot, where the resource will be tested with educators and families in early learning environments.

Grant supports practical use of research

The Fraser Foundation Co-Founder Jae Fraser said the grant was established to help research reach the professionals who could put it into practice. He identified the involvement of educators, families and Autistic children as a strength of Ms Carroll’s project.

“Some incredibly valuable research is being undertaken in Australia, but too often its impact stops at the university door,” Mr Fraser said. “We established this grant because we want to help bridge that gap between research and practice.”

The 2026 grant attracted applications from doctoral researchers at universities across Australia. Projects were assessed on research quality, potential sector reach and the likelihood of meaningful adoption in early childhood education and care settings.

Free national distribution follows development and evaluation

Once developed and evaluated, Feelings & Flourishing has a pathway to free national distribution through La Trobe University. This would give early childhood education and care services across Australia access to the resource without a purchase cost.

Mr Fraser said the project had been designed with early childhood settings in mind, alongside its potential to reach educators nationally. The funded development and pilot are the next steps towards that wider availability.

The Research Impact Grant supports doctoral candidates to translate early childhood research into practical resources and activities. Its published funding guidelines include developing educational tools, partnering with services, running pilot programs and sharing findings through practitioner resources.

The foundation also provides fully funded educator scholarships and free professional development webinars. Applications for its 2027 Research Impact Grant will open next year.

Further information about Feelings & Flourishing is available in La Trobe University’s announcement.