Plenary Keynote | Dr Emma Goodall: Supporting Neurodivergent Children and Young People in Out of Home Care
| Wednesday, June 11, 2025 |
| 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM |
| Plaza Terrace |
Synopsis
Neurodivergent children and young people are disproportionately represented in Kinship, Permanent and Foster Care placements and out of home care. These individuals may or may not be diagnosed and support for carers can be inadequate. This is partly due to the highly individualised way neurodivergence, particularly autism and/or ADHD can present, and partly due to the complexity of diagnostic overshadowing in children and young people who have experienced or are experiencing trauma. This session will provide a brief overview of what autism and ADHD are and some of the common ways in which they might present, followed by practical strategies for supporting children and young people in your care. The intersection of self-regulation and neurodivergence will be explored through sharing practical activities that can support the development of self-regulation skills in the long term and act as short term biological/neurological calming activities.
Speaker
Emma Goodall
Director Strategic Translational Research
Department of Premier and Cabinet, South Australia
Supporting Neurodivergent Children and Young People in Out of Home Care
Biography
Dr Emma Goodall was the inaugural Director of South Australia’s Office for Autism which sits within the Department for Premier and Cabinet, delivering a state autism charter and practical outcomes for autistic individuals in South Australia. Now the Director, Strategic Translational Research, Emma is applying research to policy to ensure effective changes are made. Emma has worked extensively in the areas of autism, education, research and public policy and teacher training across Australia, New Zealand, the UK and mainland Europe. Emma is an autistic researcher, public speaker, author, educator and parent of an autistic adult.
She has a passion for using translation research to support policy and practice across the lifespan and a particular passion for the use of interoception strategies to support emotional wellbeing. Previously Emma was a National Manager in a Federal autism and education project, Manager Disability and Complex Needs for the SA Department for Education, as well as sitting on a number of executive committees and leading a national research project.
