# What do the Autism CRC national guidelines recommend for supporting autistic children?

> The guiding principles, how the recommendations are organised, and what they mean for educators, therapists and families.

URL: https://theautismkit.com/guides/autism-crc-guidelines
By The Autism Kit team · Updated 2026-09-27

**Short answer:** Australia's National Guideline for supporting the learning, participation and wellbeing of autistic children and their families was approved by the NHMRC in December 2022. It covers children 0 to 12 and makes 84 consensus-based recommendations. Its central principle: supports should be child- and family-centred, strengths-focused, culturally responsive, evidence-based, and neurodiversity- and family-affirming.

**Key takeaways**
- Approved by the **NHMRC in December 2022**; covers children **0 to 12**.
- **84 consensus-based recommendations** across the support pathway.
- Supports should be **child- and family-centred** and **neurodiversity-affirming**.
- Practitioners should **partner with families** and **individualise** supports.

## What is the guideline?

The National Guideline for supporting the learning, participation and wellbeing of autistic children and their families was developed by the Autism CRC with extensive community consultation and approved by the NHMRC on 6 December 2022. It focuses on practitioners who deliver supports in community and clinical settings, for children aged 0 to 12.[1]

## What are the guiding principles?

The guideline says supports should be:[2]

- Child- and family-centred
- Strengths-focused
- Culturally responsive
- Evidence-based
- Neurodiversity- and family-affirming

Practitioners should work in partnership with children and families, individualise supports, respect children's rights, act ethically and use evidence to guide decisions.[2]

## How are the recommendations organised?

The 84 recommendations follow the support pathway: guiding principles, setting goals, selecting and planning supports, delivering supports, and monitoring and safeguarding.[1]

## What does this mean for educators?

**Try:**
- Goals based on what matters to the child and family
- Building on strengths and interests
- Visual supports and predictable routines
- Listening to the child's own voice and preferences

**Skip:**
- Goals aimed at making a child look less autistic
- Changing a child's routines without warning
- Decisions made without family input

**Try a pupil profile.** A one-page profile in the child's own words is a simple way to put family-centred, strengths-focused practice into
  action.

**Education law applies too.** In schools, the Disability Standards for Education set legal obligations for consultation and reasonable adjustments.
  See [What reasonable adjustments must schools make?](https://theautismkit.com/guides/disability-standards-for-education)

Free printable: [Free printable: one-page pupil profile](https://theautismkit.com/printables/pupil-profile.pdf)

## What can I do this week?

- [ ] Read the guideline's summary on the Autism CRC website
- [ ] Write a pupil profile with one child and their family
- [ ] Review one goal against the guiding principles

## Common questions

### Who is the guideline for?

Mainly practitioners who deliver supports to autistic children in community and clinical settings. Educators and families will find the principles useful too.

### Does it recommend specific therapies?

It focuses on how supports should be chosen, planned, delivered and monitored, rather than ranking named programs.

### What does neurodiversity-affirming mean here?

Recognising autism as a natural part of human diversity, respecting the child's identity, and focusing on goals that matter to the child and family rather than making the child appear less autistic.

## Sources

1. Autism CRC: Supporting autistic children national guideline. https://www.autismcrc.com.au/best-practice/supporting-children
2. Autism CRC: Guiding principles of the Supporting Autistic Children Guideline. https://www.autismcrc.com.au/news/media/guiding-principles-supporting-autistic-children-guideline

General guidance, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Talk with your pediatrician or a developmental specialist about your child's care.