Impact of Voices
Voices of Impact champions the lived experiences of children, families and communities - driving research that’s co-designed, purpose-led, and powered by partnerships that make every voice count.
Nick’s PEERS Journey: Making Friends, Building Skills, and Giving Back
The University of Queensland’s Child Health Research Centre’s paediatric research participant, Nick Atkinson, said he wouldn’t be where he is, if it wasn’t for his participation in PEERs.
Mr Atkinson has a mild form of cerebral palsy and when he was 12 years old and about to embark high school, he was understandably anxious about making friends.
“I was asking my parents questions about making friends, there weren’t many catch-ups in primary school, and my parents were concerned I was having social struggles,” Mr Atkinson said.
“At one of my 6-month check ups at the Children’s Queensland Hospital, my parents were informed of the PEERS program – and I pretty much jumped right in,” he said.
The PEERS program (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) is an evidence-based social skills intervention designed for adolescents and young adults facing social challenges, like acquired brain injury and cerebral palsy.
Nick is now 19 years old and coaches on the PEERS program because he found it so beneficial and wanted to give back to his community.
“As I’ve gotten older, I have been thinking about wanting to give back to the community, for everything it’s given me. I am a sporty kid, I have had so many coaches along the way, and they have all shown me and taught me many different life lessons, and I thought this was a great opportunity to give back,” Mr Atkinson said.
“The program was awesome, it has taught me many life skills that I still use to this day.
“It’s helped me get things like jobs, succeed in job interviews, even just day to day skills in my work that gives me the confidence to make and receive calls.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today, if it wasn’t for the PEERs program,” said Nick.
The PEERS program equips adolescents with the tools to empower them to confidently interact and develop relationships with other people.
This research would not be available without the generous donations from philanthropists and government funding bodies.
The University of Queensland’s Child Health Research Centre (CHRC) brings innovation and collaboration to child health research. Our leading researchers work towards a future where every child, young person and family thrive.
For more information about CHRC and the QCPRRC, visit www.uq.edu.au/first10kdays and follow us on LinkedIn
Media Contact:
A/Prof. Leanne Sakzewski
Qld Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation & Research Centre
Email: qcprrc@uq.edu.au
Parents of children with neurodevelopmental differences thrive with PACT Online support
When Christel Davies, mother of a 9-year-old diagnosed with Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, signed up to a free online parenting support therapy, she wasn’t expecting to completely re-approach how she parents with such positive results.
“I didn’t think I would get much out of it at the start to be honest, but it was so worth the effort,” Mss Davies said.
“The way PACT works has overhauled my parenting and the strategies I use. I learned so much about myself, which in turn has assisted with the way I interact with my kids.
“I learned and applied and saw results that kept me going. I feel so much more confident, and the roller coaster only has a few bumps now – not so many loop de loops, it has changed my life,” Mrs Daives said.
Ms Megan Quinn, mother of a 4-year-old diagnosed with Autism, Global Development Delay and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder concurred that participating in the PACT online program empowered her as a parent.
“The PACT program honestly changes our lives. Our family is so much happier, healthier, optimistic and openly affectionate.” Ms Quinn said.
“The program, made it truly beneficial. She challenged me appropriately and respectfully, supported me, provided amazing unique insights and truly helped me to apply the content to our family as individuals.
“The program has given my son a healthy, happy mum who is no longer sad about his disability but able to see all the promise his uniqueness provides. She has shown me how to genuinely engage with him and in return he is now openly displaying affection to me,” Ms Quinn said.
The University of Queensland’s Child Health Research Centre’s largest online parenting support intervention, PACT Online, is delivering healthier, happier families for parents with children who have neurodevelopmental disabilities or developmental delays.
The Child Health Research Centre’s Associate Professor Koa Whittingham developed PACT Online or Parenting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, grounded in a form of cognitive behavioural therapy called acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
ACT is a form of cognitive behavioural therapy focussed on enhancing a psychological flexibility that allows a parent to either persist, or change behaviour, with full awareness of the present moment context.
Associate Professor Koa Whittingham is investigating the impact of PACT Online for parents with a child with neurodevelopmental disabilities which is proving to reshape how parents approach parenting with positive results for the participating families.
“Being a parent of a child with additional developmental needs can be more demanding. Children with neurodevelopmental disabilities often send cues that are harder for parents to read and they also are more likely to show behavioural problems,” Associate Professor Whittingham said.
“Parents of children of with neurodevelopmental disabilities and respond by becoming more directive. Although this is well-intentioned, it can create further problems.
“Neurodevelopmental disabilities also affect the family as a whole in complex ways, including increased parental care responsibilities, financial hardships, parental grief, and social isolation, all of which may also have impacts upon the child-parent relationship.”
“We wanted to explore if ACT could support parents with these board challenges, and developed the research program PACT online,” Associate Professor Whittingham said.
Participating parents report the PACT program has provided them with tools to empower them to lead happier lives and have healthier families.
When Christel Davies, mother of a 9-year-old diagnosed with Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, signed up to a free online parenting support therapy, she wasn’t expecting to completely re-approach how she parents with such positive results.
“I didn’t think I would get much out of it at the start to be honest, but it was so worth the effort,” Mss Davies said.
“The way PACT works has overhauled my parenting and the strategies I use. I learned so much about myself, which in turn has assisted with the way I interact with my kids.
“I learned and applied and saw results that kept me going. I feel so much more confident, and the roller coaster only has a few bumps now – not so many loop de loops, it has changed my life,” Mrs Daives said.
Ms Megan Quinn, mother of a 4-year-old diagnosed with Autism, Global Development Delay and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder concurred that participating in the PACT online program empowered her as a parent.
“The PACT program honestly changes our lives. Our family is so much happier, healthier, optimistic and openly affectionate.” Ms Quinn said.
“The program, made it truly beneficial. She challenged me appropriately and respectfully, supported me, provided amazing unique insights and truly helped me to apply the content to our family as individuals.
“The program has given my son a healthy, happy mum who is no longer sad about his disability but able to see all the promise his uniqueness provides. She has shown me how to genuinely engage with him and in return he is now openly displaying affection to me,” Ms Quinn said.
The Children’s Health Research Centre is still actively recruiting parents who have children with neuro-disabilities to participate in the PACT program until early2026. You can register to participate here: https://qcprrc.centre.uq.edu.au/supportforparentspact
The University of Queensland’s Child Health Research Centre brings innovation and collaboration to child health research. Our leading researchers work towards a future where every child, young person and family thrive.
Contact Details: Associate Professor Koa Whittingham
Email: qcprrc@uq.edu.au