Telethon Kids Institute autism researcher Professor Andrew Whitehouse has been named a finalist for the 2023 Western Australian of the Year for his work in transforming clinical support for autistic children.
One of three finalists in the Professions category, Professor Whitehouse led the development of the first Australian guidelines for diagnosing autism and supporting autistic children, with both resulting in major policy reforms that have empowered families to make more informed choices about supports for their child.
Professor Whitehouse led the research team which found the first evidence that a parent-led therapy – Inklings – applied very early in life could significantly reduce the challenges experienced by babies displaying the early signs of autism.
This research has transformed thinking around how and when autism supports can be delivered, from a ‘wait and see’ to an ‘identify and act’ approach so that children receive optimal support at the earliest opportunity.
The Inklings program will soon be piloted in WA and in another State thanks to Federal Government funding.
Science communication is another of Professor Whitehouse’s strengths: he regularly authors articles for The Conversation about autism and child development, while his popular 60 Second Science video series — which aims to inform the parent community about the latest autism research — has had more than two million views.
Similarly, Professor Whitehouse has also been a contributor to Medical Forum, most recently in the May 2023 edition of the magazine (page 31), writing about the development of the guidelines and what it means for practitioners.
“Providing therapies to autistic children can be complex and involves the consideration of many factors. A therapy approach that may be suitable for one autistic child may be quite unsuitable for another,” he explained.
“The guideline is particularly focused on therapies provided by allied health practitioners. For these professionals, it provides a step-by-step process that helps them consider these factors in a logical and systematic way.”
Professor Whitehouse’s work has been recognised through many awards, including a Eureka Prize, Fellowship to the prestigious Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences – the youngest ever person to be awarded this honour.
The winners of the Western Australian of the Year Awards will be announced on 2 June 2023 at an event held at Crown Towers.