LATEST NEWS
Spectrum Support is an Australian Charity dedicated to those living with or caring for a loved one with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We are a community-based charity for all ages.

Living on the Spectrum: How to maintain your mental wellbeing as a tired parent.
Maintaining your resilience and wellbeing as a tired parent. is no easy task. According to Kathrine Peereboom, one of the biggest challenges for parents in this volatile world of COVID, the flu, and now interest rate rises and inflation, is maintaining your sanity and energy levels. “Parents these days are finding life tough. Not only are

Podcast: The Juggling Act
Our guest today is with us to share her story of raising three severely disabled autistic boys, how she’s managed to protect her relationship with her husband during all the challenges they’ve faced and what her greatest fear is for her boys. While Mel has been thinking more about her own biggest fear – aging

The Advocate: Inspirational mother of special needs children provides her tips on success
Kathrine Peereboom is a world-leading disability and vulnerable persons advocate and founder of Spectrum Support. Spectrum Support provides education and training to law enforcement and first responders across the country. Her work has attracted global awards for her extraordinary achievements. “Juggling motherhood with three special needs children and being a busy entrepreneur is certainly challenging

REAL LIFE: “I’m a mum of three autistic boys and this is how I boost my mental resilience”
“Nothing in life can prepare you for the joy of becoming a parent. My husband and I have three boys aged eight, seven and six. Our boys are profoundly autistic, non-verbal and have additional health issues. The challenges we have as a family have my husband and I feeling like we operate at 65 percent most

Kidspot: Hollywood glamorising autism puts NDIS funding in danger for my 3 boys
Speak to any parent who has applied, let alone repeatedly reapplied for NDIS funding for their child – and their hearts will start pounding just as the mere thought of the unbearably epic process. Kathrine Peereboom, knows this dreaded procedure more than most with three severely autistic non-verbal boys – Oliver, 8, Joshua, 7, and Tyler is

Get It Magazine Feature
Meet Kathrine Peereboom, Australia’s first Autism and Law Enforcement trainer. Having founded Spectrum Support in 2017, Kathrine Peereboom sits down with Get It Magazine’s Holly Bartter to share her story of family, forward thinking, and the work her charity is doing to educate law enforcement in understanding and managing ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) in the

News Feature: World Autism Awareness Day
On World Autism Awareness Day this mum-of-three shares her determination for her children to me so much more than the “butt of people’s jokes, ridicule, and glares.” It’s Saturday morning and we have just walked in from therapy with the three boys and I am sitting down to my first coffee of the day. Today marks World Autism

7News: Raising awareness and creating change
Kathrine Peereboom, autism and vulnerable persons advocate, said she believes there needs to be more focus on acceptance and what people can do in a practical way to achieve this. “Autistic people see the world through a different lens, and they engage in a different way – in many different ways,” Ms Peereboom said. “Many

MamaMia Feature: Why autism training for police is so crucial.
For Kathrine Peereboom, life is “quite hectic”. As a mother of three autistic nonverbal boys under the age of ten, Kathrine and her husband’s day starts at 4:30am. That’s if the family has been able to sleep through the night. “Even though our eldest is eight, it very much feels like we still have newborns at times,”

Nine News Feature: Mum’s Mission to Train First Responders
Raising three children who are severely autistic comes with countless and ever-changing challenges. However there is one thing keeps Kathrine Peereboom awake at night – the thought of her boys existing in the world as adults. What will happen to them then? Kathrine, 43, and husband Stephen, 52, are devoted parents to Oliver, eight, Joshua,

International Business Times Feature
A woman in Australia who has three sons diagnosed with autism said she was able to notice the telltale signs that pointed to her sons’ disabilities during the children’s developing years. Katherine Peereboom’s three sons, 8-year-old Oliver, 7-year-old Joshua and 6-year-old Tyler, are “severely autistic” and nonverbal, 7News.com.au reported. The 43-year-old Gold Coast mother said she noticed that Oliver’s development was

Women’s Health Feature: Aussie Mum, Training Law Enforcement
If someone asked you, “What is autism?” would you be able to give an accurate description? Most people have heard of autism or are familiar with the term “on the spectrum,” but autism spectrum disorder is often widely misunderstood – even though an estimated 164,000 Australians have it, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Survey

7 News Feature ‘Everybody deserves to be treated with dignity and respect,’
“If the government can’t provide support for all Australian’s equally… I believe they need to step down,” Kathrine says. “There are nearly four and a half million Australians with disability who are suffering during this pandemic. “They feel invisible and forgotten,” Kathrine says. Thank you to @7newsaustralia

Kidspot Article: Autistic 8yr old’s first Dental Appointment under GA
Last week, my eight-year-old son had his first dental appointment under a general anaesthetic. Deep down I knew he would be absolutely fine, but I was still utterly terrified. His time slot was changed from 7am to 1pm – that meant I couldn’t feed him from 7am. Oliver has an eating disorder which makes him constantly hungry and unable to

Microsoft Global: World Mental Health Day
October 10th marks World Mental Health Day. An international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. The team at Microsoft, have taken the opportunity to highlight the importance of this and ensuring an open dialog is always available to their personnel and partners. Thank you for sharing your story and

Daily Mail Feature: Frightened and forgotten: Mother of three autistic boys says lockdown has left many families like hers ‘crumbling’
When life becomes overwhelming for one of her three profoundly autistic sons, Kathrine Peereboom’s go-to plan is a drive to the local park. The familiar route is one of the quickest ways to soothe Oliver, eight, or Joshua, seven and five-year-old Tyler, who crave routine and thrive in structured environments like most children with Autism

ABC News Feature
ABC Weekend News with hosts Johanna Nicholson and Fauziah Ibrahim. Lead experts highlight the unique challenges associated with COVID-19 and autism

Kidspot Feature: Gut Health and Autism
It’s not uncommon for autistic people to have gastrointestinal issues, which can have effects on behaviours, moods, faecal outputs and cognitive response. “The gut and the brain are connected. If you have a healthy gut you are more likely to be in a happier disposition with clearer thoughts. If you have bad bacteria and gut health

Take 5 Magazine: I’ll Protect You
I won’t let ignorance hurt my boys! Determined to make the world a better place for all people on the spectrum, Stephen and I created Spectrum Support, a charity that teaches law enforcement agencies how to safely help people on the spectrum. Our training sessions have been running for two years now and I can’t

Leading Allied Health And Disability Care Provider Partners With Australian Charity To Offer Specialised Training In Autism
To mark World Autism Month, award-winning, national allied health provider, Physio Inq, has partnered with Australian charity, Spectrum Support, to deploy its expertise and specialised training for its entire 200+ allied health workforce to improve their skills in treating and empowering clients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Physio Inq, which has a division that provides

Treating patients on the autism spectrum
Thank you to Australian Dental Association for this article on treating patients on the autism spectrum. Kathrine says one of the first thing she asks prior to a medical consultation, especially if the family is going somewhere new, is if they can have a desensitisation appointment. “I can tell you that most parents are anxious

Kidspot Feature: How to keep the spark alive while raising special needs children
One thing that we always make a priority is communication. The good, bad, awesome and frightening! For our relationship, everything stems from our partnership being open, honest and respectful. In 2014, our relationship was tested in a way neither of us had expected. It was a bootcamp for COVID lockdown that’s for sure! My husband had been

Autism Training For Aussie First Responders
Thank you to Aussie Ambitions Podcast for this fantastic podcast. Speaking about the Australian delivery of Spectrum Supports Autism & Law Enforcement training program and key issues that still arise with acceptance of autistics in our country this podcast covers topics that are not typically discussed publicly.

ABC News Feature: Calls for changes to school term for special needs kids
The autism advocate and founder of Spectrum Support believes that special needs children should run to an alternate school term. “My boys love going to school. They thrive on the routine, structure, emotional regulation and mental stimulation. My boys are so happy when they are at school. They sleep better, eat better and they aren’t begging me

Mum proposes alternate school terms for special needs kids
“If there was even the remote possibility of shifting the school year for special needs kids by a few weeks or a month, I believe the impacts would be felt immediately!” Kathrine says.“ The benefits for businesses would see an increase in client interactions throughout the year and for the neurodiverse community hotels, theme parks,

Tips for a First Time Parent of a Child With Autism, From Seasoned Experts
Peereboom has similar sentiments about raising her three boys, who all are diagnosed with level three — the highest diagnostic level — which requires very substantial support. She says, “It’s extremely difficult at times, but my god, it’s equally amazing”. Although her non-verbal boys have taught her more about who she wants to be in

Mindful Parenting During The ‘Terrible’ Toddler Years’
My nephew is going through the “terrible twos” (or is it actually terrible threes?), if you could call them that – so far, it’s not so bad. Sometimes I’ll get sweet, unprompted kisses and declarations of love, and mere minutes later he’ll be calling me a farty-head. These so-called terrible toddler years are a universal

Australian Online News Feature: Best Gift Guide for 2020
Still looking for Christmas gifts for your kids? Or maybe your waiting for the Boxing Day sales to stock up for birthdays throughout the year? Either way Founder Kathrine Peereboom has some great ideas for you. Speaking with Christy Johns from Australian Online News, check out the link for more information

‘No way’: Sia doubles down on autistic character casting in Music
Sia continues to defend her decision to cast Dance Moms star Maddie Ziegler as an autistic teen in her feature film Music, despite copping a large amount of backlash over it. During an interview with 10 News First about the project, the Aussie singer was asked about the criticism she faced from the autism and wider communities for choosing not to

Yahoo Lifestyle: Challenges at Christmas Time
“Christmas in our home has had more misses than hits to be honest,” Katherine tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “But this year I think it will be different. Two of our boys have started to understand the concept of gift giving so our tree will be full of toys that hopefully delight.” Katherine says despite the high rate

New York feature for Cafe Mom: Christmas is beautiful & overwhelming
As a parent to children with high additional needs, it can be a roller coaster of emotions. It’s beautiful, overwhelming, terrifying, and rewarding all at once. There are days where we don’t know how we survived and days that we want to relive over and over. We are not able to just celebrate any given

Mama Mag Feature: Autistic Understanding
There is a strong autism community out there and it can be easy to forget that for the majority of Australians they have limited exposure to what autistic traits may be. Thank you to Mama Mag for this wonderful article.

bounty Parents: 20 gift ideas for children with autism, by a mum of three autistic boys
With one in 70 people with autism, most people know children with autistic, whether they be friends of their children, family members, neighbours – and it can be difficult to know what to buy. Kathrine Peereboom, is a mother of three autistic boys. She is also the founder of Spectrum Support, one of the country’s leading

Kidspot: An expert’s guide on Christmas gift ideas for children with autism
With Christmas fast approaching and parents already being whipped into a frenzy over what presents to buy their kids – another issue emerging is for people buying gifts for kids, teens and adults on the autism spectrum. One in 70 people in Australia are on the autism spectrum and parents, extended family and friends across the country are not sure what to buy them for Christmas. To assist

MamaMia Feature: Christmas is a time of rejection
As a family with different neurotypes, inclusion is not something we regularly experience. The term “inclusion” gets thrown around quite a bit, from workplaces to schools and government bodies, but there is sadly a vast gap between education, acceptance and the real world.

Mum reveals her ongoing struggle at Christmas with three autistic boys
Kathrine remembers a Christmas party last year that was particularly difficult. “We walked into the room and the music was blaring and the lights were flashing and there’s decorations everywhere so my eldest son, Oliver, just walked in and walked straight back out. He had complete sensory overload. We had to follow him and leave

Autism: Principal won’t accept mum’s child in enrolment interview
“My 4yo son was discriminated against at an enrolment interview with the principal.” A minute and a half. That’s the time it took Queensland mum Kathrine to see that the principal of the private school she was visiting for an interview had no intention of accepting her son. Kathrine’s youngest, Tyler, 4 is autistic. He’s also

A personal drive for change
Kathrine Peereboom is the founder of Spectrum Support, an organisation dedicated to empowering people with autism through safety and awareness programs. She’s this week’s Changemaker.

Kathrine Peereboom: Celebrated as the world’s most innovative woman of the year!
Multi-award winning Kathrine Peereboom is celebrated as the world’s most innovative woman of the year! The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor women executives, entrepreneurs, employees, and the companies they run– worldwide. The Stevie Awards have been hailed as the world’s premier business awards. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners were determined by the

Nine News – Supporting local business has always been a priority for Kathrine Peereboom
Supporting local business has always been a priority for Kathrine Peereboom and throughout 2020 she has witnessed the collapse of many essential services for her children. Jummps Indoor Trampoline Park has heavily impacted on her children’s health and wellbeing as well as providing countless benefits for physical and mental health.

Jummps keeps business alive by support Gold Coast autism community | Gold Coast Bulletin
Trampoline therapy provides emotional regulation, core strength development and increases muscle tone. It enhances gross motor skills, balance and co-ordination. It provides social interactions and personalised programs. “Jummps Indoor Trampoline Park is an incredible facility that my boys have been attending regularly now for 7 months. Melissa and her team are highly skilled, caring and

Founder Kathrine Peereboom recognised globally with 4 awards!
Female Entrepreneur of the Year in Asia, Australia or New Zealand – Gold Stevie Winner Female Innovator of the Year – Government or Non-Profit – Gold Stevie Winner Most Innovative Woman of the Year – Government or Non-Profit – Gold Stevie Winner Woman of the Year – Government or Non-Profit – Silver Stevie Winner The

The Sun UK – I hate seeing how cruel people are
Thank you to The Sun in the United Kingdom for publishing this article. “If people knew more about autism, they may be more inclined to make an effort and understand why someone is behaving differently. “Just when I think we have raised the bar in autism awareness and acceptance there is an incident that happens

Discrimination is all around
I try my best to stay composed and get him into the car, but I couldn’t help myself. “He is a child! He is autistic! How do you feel picking on an innocent child?”. They didn’t care, he was an annoyance and they had no empathy. I got into my car and burst into tears.

How to choose a smartwatch for your child
From broadcasting your location to playing games, it’s safe to say watches ain’t what they used to be. And when choosing a smart one for your child, some are better than others…

Autism – friendly day for shopping centres?
Autism awareness has become more widespread this century, and greater numbers of children with subtle symptoms are now diagnosed at young ages. But decades ago, doctors rarely diagnosed people towards the subtler end of the spectrum. “Fifty years ago, nobody would call autism what we call autism today – they would just be consid- ered

Autism expert warns families to focus on mental health amidst COVID lock down
Kathrine Peereboom is one of the country’s leading autism experts and advocates and she is calling on families with loved ones with autism to focus on mental health. Peereboom is the mother of three severely autistic boys and founder of Spectrum Support, a national organisation dedicated to raising awareness of autism and providing education, training and support.

How parents can help end the loneliness of autism
How would you feel if your child was never invited to birthday parties? Or worse, if they had their own party but no other kids showed up? Katherine Peereboom is a mother of three boys on the autism spectrum and the founder of Spectrum Support. She says that this is a reality for many parents

Autistics often excluded from social events
This mum of three boys with autism wants people to understand the toll it takes when they’re left out. Kathrine Peereboom knows the heartbreak of watching her boys left out. She has three boys on the spectrum and she’s on a mission to try to get people to be kinder and more accepting of kids with

7News Feature – Consider a role in disability care
As unemployment continues to rise there is a growing need for people to transition into a carers role. Working with our countries most vulnerable can be a very rewarding and fulfilling career.

Mum of Autistic kids calls on Australian to help embrace those with autism
One in 70 people in Australia have Autism Spectrum Disorder. In the United States, the number increases to 1 in 54.

Harvey Norman Gold Coast Woman of the Year Winner!
Category winner, Kathrine Peereboom, Angels Among Us presented by St Hilda’s School, Gold Coast. Thank you so much for the recognition and honour. I am inspired by my children everyday to bridge the knowledge gap between law enforcement and the autistic community. It is a privilege to be Australia’s first in this field and to be

Gold Coast Woman of the Year Finalist
“You know when you start up a business and you’re so passionate that it’s blood, sweat and tears, it’s not until you have someone say, ‘What you you’re doing is really remarkable’ that you take a step back and lift your head out of the sand.”

Bullying is not acceptable
As increased isolation has made many Autistic children reach out to connect via online, there has been a significant rise in harassment, trolling and unacceptable interactions. Thank you to Rochelle Kirkham and Keeley’s Cause for shining a light on such an important topic with Spectrum Support.

Music & Family
Following on from A Current Affair one of the more fun requests Spectrum Support received, was to hear the song Kathrine sang with 2 of her children taking part. We hope you enjoy this too.

Forgotten faces of the coronavirus crisis
Queensland family struggle with three autistic sons in lockdown If you are struggling with life under lockdown, spare a thought for this family. Katherine and Steven Peereboom have three profoundly autistic children and COVID-19 has left them battling gut wrenching regression and violent outbursts.

A Current Affair feature
Corona Virus has been life changing for everyone. A Current Affair speaks with CEO Kathrine Peereboom on the challenges her boys face without their structure and routine.

Dentist appointments and Autism
Dentist appointments can be very stressful at the best of times. For some on the spectrum a visit to the dentist will require explanations, visuals and a desensitisation appointment. For others it will be finding a dentist who provides sedation if required.

Kathrine announced as a finalist for the Gold Coast Women of the Year
Founder Kathrine Peereboom is announced as a finalist in the Harvey Norman Gold Coast Women of the Year Award for 2020

Isolation and the Corona Virus. 5 Tips on how to make it work
Thank you to the Daily Mail for this raw article on the challenges of isolation, lockdowns and Covid-19 for individuals on the spectrum and their families.

ABC Weekend National News
Founder of Spectrum Support, Kathrine Peereboom talks to Johanna Nicholson and Fauziah Ibrahim about managing home schooling throughout COVID-19 and applying some great strategies to assist everyone in the home.

Spectrum Support calls for sensory day at all grocery stores
One hour per week on a Tuesday really isn’t a viable option for many on the spectrum and their families and carers.

Social Distancing & Home Schooling through Corona Virus
Danica De Giorgio & Kathrine Peereboom discussing the challenges of home schooling and social distancing for people on the spectrum.

5 Tips on working from home with children on the spectrum
Working from home with school aged children? Here are 5 tips from Kathrine Peereboom that might help with balancing the day.

#BeKindSayHi
COVID-19 is impacting so many around the world right now. Let’s shine a light on mental health and supporting one another in this time of need. #BeKindSayHi is a short video reminder of what others are going through, so let’s remember to Be Kind & Say Hi

Ahmed Yussuf from SBS Australia talking social distancing with Kathrine
With the complexities of our world right now, it can be overwhelming for individuals on the spectrum and those who care for them. Autism and social distancing need to be shown a little understanding.

Forgotten children of the Corona Virus
Jo Abi from 9Honey chats with Kathrine and another family highlighting the terrifying challenges of buying food and medical supplies for their Autistic loved ones whilst the grocery shopping frenzy continues.

Transitioning suited professions into carers roles
Dee Dee Dunleavy & Kathrine discuss the impact of job losses with industry collapses and great need to support the recently unemployed and skilled workers into carer’s roles

9Honey Interview with Jo Abi
Kathrine speaks with the talented Jo Abi about the journey of parenthood with children on the spectrum and challenges in finding adequate support for them

NSW police to undergo training to better respond to people with autism
Sky National News interview following the Autism & Law Enforcement training announcement

TRAINING POLICE TO UNDERSTAND AUTISM
People on the autism spectrum are 20 times more likely to come in contact with somebody from the police. Despite this, up until now there has been no training for police officers in how to recognise and react to people with autism spectrum disorder. Spectrum Support, an organisation empowering the autism community, has partnered with the

Real fear for our autistic loved ones
‘I live in fear of my sons leaving the house’: Jo Abi from 9Honey’s terrifying concern and why training police to understand autism is so important

Saving lives and understanding autism behaviours
SBS speak with Leesa Topic on the senseless death of her daughter Courtney and how she is behind law enforcement learning about autistic behaviours

NSW Police & Spectrum Support Press Announcement
Spectrum Support officially launched our partnership with NSW Police and our jointly developed Autism & Law Enforcement training. This training is an Australasian first and both organisations are committed to the education program along with ensuring the safety of all individuals on the spectrum.

KIDSPOT INTERVIEW
Take a look inside Founder Kathrine Peereboom’s family life. This interview is raw, real and highlights why she has the passion and drives to make a difference.

BLACK TIE GALA 2019 ADDRESS
The incredibly moving speech by Founder Kathrine Peereboom at the Spectrum Support Black Tie Gala in November 2019. Tears were flowing and a standing ovation followed.

NSW POLICE COMMISSIONER AWARD
Spectrum Support was the proud recipient of the NSW Police Commissioners Safety Award for our Autism & Law Enforcement Training

BRITISH AIRWAYS 100 ACTS OF KINDNESS
British Airways partners with Spectrum Support for 100 Acts of Kindness. As this remarkable business turned 100 on August 25th they are partnering with organizations…..

WIN TV NEWS, PROMOTION
The Great Weekender Motorbike Charity Ride featured on WIN TV News, to promote the upcoming event.

WIN TV NEWS WRAP UP
Stephanie Atkins from WIN TV News, provide all the wrap up details for The Great Weekender

WSN Interview
Womens Sport Network (WSN) spoke to Kathrine Peereboom all about the charity and the motorbike charity ride raising funds for Autism

COAST FM RADIO
Chatting about all things Autism and the upcoming ride The Great Weekender. Have a listen to a fun and serious chat

MANNING COMMUNITY NEWS
A wonderful news article promoting the fundraising event The Great Weekender. A three day motorcycle ride that will see riders partaking in a spectacular fun-filled ‘two wheeled’ adventure from the Opera House, across county to the outback hills of the Hunter Valley and back into Sydney via the ocean

SURFERS FOR AUTISM
When friends across the globe support one another. A shout out from a wonderful USA charity called Surfers for Autism

JOIN US FOR THE GREAT WEEKENDER
Come and see what all the buzz is about. This is what our crew enjoyed in October 2019. Will you be on the next ride? Gold Coast & Sydney we will see you in 2020!