The only established evidence-based intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder, is Applied Behaviour Analysis (“ABA”).
See Australian report in relation to early intervention is “A Review of the Research to Identify the Most Effective Models of Practice in Early Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders” University of Sydney, University of Melbourne.
Review of the Research -Autism Spectrum Disorders 2011
In terms of interventions that apply to children up to the age of 22 years old, a report which comes to the same conclusion but is challengingt for the layperson to read, is the National Autism Centre’s Report “National Standards Report“.
This is the largest meta-analysis of Autism research ever reported. Rather than mention “Applied Behaviour Analysis” as a whole, it reports on each component.
It is doubtful that many children or adults in Australia have ever received a professional Applied Behaviour Analysis program as there are very few professionals who are qualified to supervise such a program in Australia, although this is currently changing. Some autism service providers have links with Board Certified Behaviour Analysts who live overseas and supervise from afar. If you want to get in contact with a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst, there are a growing number in Australia and they can be found on the international website of the Behaviour Analyst Certification Board at https://www.bacb.com/services/o.php?page=101135. Avoid Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst working directly for the Department of Education and Training.
In the last 10 years, professionals claiming to provide behaviour analysis programs have multiplied. Two schools in Australia that are wholly ABA schools for children with autism and related disorders, are Woodbury in New South Wales and Lyrebird College in Coldstream VIC.
Parents are advised to check the qualifications of people who are claiming to supervise ABA programs.
Many children with Autism will not require this level of professional attention, and can be accommodated in schools through teachers accepting their differences, listening to their parents, and ensuring that their environment is inclusive.