• Recognise emotions in themselves and others.
• Express their feelings in appropriate ways.
• Cope with feelings of anger and anxiety.
• Communicate and play with others.
• Cope with mistakes, transitions, and challenges.
• Build and maintain friendships.
• Solve social problems.
• Prevent and manage bullying and teasing.
• Acknowledge their personal strengths.

Raising a child who struggles to manage their emotions and cope with social situations can be challenging. SAS is a fun, espionage-themed group program which helps children learn how to feel happier, calmer and braver. It also teaches them how to make friends and keep them!

In 2014, SAS was awarded the Autism Spectrum Australia National Recognition Award for advancement to acknowledge the significant, positive impact the program has on children’s and families’ lives.

The evidence-based curriculum captivates children with its espionage-themed games and activities including multi-level gamified learning through the SAS Digital Headquarters (SAS Digital HQ), Helpful Thought Missile Action Game, Challenger Board Game and Secret Message Transmission Device Walkie-Talkie Game.

Child Group Meetings
Delivered as 18 sessions of 45 minutes, and 2 booster sessions

Parent Group Sessions
Commence with a 2 hour parent information session, followed by group meetings of 4 x 1 hour sessions over the course of the program

School Support
Classroom teachers are updated on the skills and content children are learning through SAS and how they can support the application of skills in the classroom and playground. This occurs through a combination of a 2 hour school staff introduction session and by providing a series of SAS Teacher Tip Sheets.

Missions and Mission Journal
Between each child group meeting, children participate in weekly tasks, including playing educational activities within the SAS Digital HQ, skills practice activities in day-to-day life and completion of a reflection journal.

Skill Tracker System
A short-term daily motivation tool is used to encourage children to practice specific skills at home and school, aligned with progression through each module of the program.

Assessment Measures
A combination of questionnaire booklets, an observational assessment tool, computer game performance and skill tracker cards, provide valuable information to guide areas of focus for each individual child as well as providing easy and comprehensive outcome reporting.

SAS Digital Headquarters
An online platform accompanies the process to provide key digital components of the SAS Small Group Program; four levels of gamified learning, a Mission Journal for self-reflection on real life practice tasks and a multi-user Skill Tracker system.

This program can be funded privately or through NDIS.