Social Skills Australia
We help adolescents and adults with autism, ADHD and social anxiety to make and keep friends and learn important social skills.
We’re passionate about helping teens and adults with social challenges to make and keep friends and gain social confidence. Contact us today! We’d love to hear from you.
Welcome to Social Skills Australia
upcoming Programs
Our Programs
Adolescent Program
(13-17 yrs)
- Conversation skills.
- Make and keep friends.
- Handle rejection and disagreements.
- Handle teasing and bullying.
Young Adult Program
(18-35 yrs)
- Everything in the Adolescent Program.
- Letting someone know you like them and going on dates.
- Online dating and handling dating pressure.
Start Anytime Self-Paced Program (All ages)
(Most Popular)
- Conversation skills.
- Make and keep friends.
- Handle rejection and disagreements.
- Handle teasing and bullying.
- Dating etiquette.
Challenges
Does your family face these challenges?
Are you concerned your adolescent or young adult is having issues with:
- Making friends: Are you concerned your adolescent or young adult doesn't seem to have many friends and is missing out on invitations to parties?
- Bullying: Are you worried your adolescent or young adult is depressed or anxious or getting bullied at school?
- Changing schools Do you find yourself thinking about changing schools or homeschooling?
- Keeping friends: Has your teen or young adult stopped trying to make or keep friends because it doesn't seem to work and they don't know why?
- Too much gaming: Is your teen or young adult online or gaming too much?
- Attending school: Is your adolescent or young adult isolating and starting to refuse to go to school?
testimonials
What participants say.
Extra Support
Autism, anxiety, and social challenges can make life hard for adolescents and young adults and often families need some extra support.
We are here to help!
The investment
Costs.
Adolescent
Program
The investment to participate in the Adolescent Program is $200 per week*
- Intake interviews
- 90 min adolescent skill development session per week for 14 weeks
- 90 min parent/support worker coaching session per week for 14 weeks
- PEERS® App
- Weekly handouts/practice at home materials
- Incentive prizes each week
- Support throughout the 14-week program
All inclusive cost includes:
Total Investment for the entire 14-week program:
$2,800*
An interest-free payment plan is available.Standard pricing $3,300 or pay in full upfront and receive $500 off
(Afterpay available)
*includes $500 discount
Young Adult
Program
The investment to participate in the Young Adult Program is $200 per week* (incl GST)
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All inclusive cost includes:
- Intake interviews
- 90 min young adult skill development session per week for 14 weeks
- 90 min parent/support worker coaching session per week for 14 weeks
- PEERS® App
- Weekly handouts/practice at home materials
- Support throughout the 14-week program
Total Investment for the entire program 14-week:
$2,800*
An interest-free payment plan is available.Standard pricing $3,300 or pay in full upfront and receive $500 off
(Afterpay available)
*includes $500 discount
For details of our payment options visit the Payment Options page of our website.
Start Anytime Program
The investment to participate in the Start Anytime Self-Paced Program is $695 (including GST)
- For all ages
- Start anytime
- Hands-on instruction and practice opportunities in a safe and supportive environment
- Flexible Learning: Access 35 comprehensive lesson videos anytime
- Presenter: Christine O'Leary, Founder of Social Skills Australia and Certified PEERS® Provider.
Total Investment for the entire program:
$695
Total investment for the entire program (includes everything) incl GST
(Afterpay available)
Download your Free E-Book:
5 Steps to Making & Keeping Friends!
Social Skills
Research shows improving social skills and having even just 1-2 close friendships can:
- Increase self-esteem, confidence and independence
- Decrease the likelihood of depression and anxiety linked to loneliness
- Minimise the occurrence of bullying.
The PEERS® Program is a proven, internationally-acclaimed, research-based social skills course designed SPECIFICALLY for adolescents, young adults and adults on the autism spectrum or with social challenges. It works!
about The Coach
Hi, I'm
Christine O'Leary,
and I'm a Social Coach
I’m a fellow parent of adolescents with social challenges myself - and I’m here to help!
I help adolescents and young adults with autism, ADHD and other social challenges to make and keep friends and learn important social skills through relaxed and fun small group sessions, both online and in person.
Here are the key benefits of our online PEERS® program
Benefits of PEERS® Online
As education shifts online, many families are experiencing the benefits of virtual learning, particularly for social skills programs. PEERS® (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) is delivered via Telehealth and is a proven intervention designed to enhance the social interactions and relationships of youth and adults who experience social challenges. Online learning is particularly beneficial for people with autism, ADHD and social anxiety - for the reasons outlined below.
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Participants can join sessions from their own homes, a familiar and comfortable environment. This often results in lower anxiety levels, allowing them to focus better on learning and practicing new social skills.
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The online format eliminates the need for travel, making it easier to fit sessions into busy family schedules. It also provides access to high-quality social skills training for participants in rural or remote areas who might otherwise miss out.
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Without the barriers of commuting or health-related absences, participants are more likely to attend regularly. This consistent participation is crucial for skill development and retention.
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Participants often feel more at ease and are more willing to engage in discussions, role-plays, and activities when they're in a setting that feels safe and controlled.
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While the lessons are delivered online, the application of these skills happens in real-life settings. Participants practice what they've learned with their social coaches, during phone calls with peers, and within their local communities. This dual approach ensures that they are well-prepared to navigate social interactions in any environment.
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Online sessions allow for greater involvement of parents or social coaches, who can observe and support their child's progress more closely. This collaborative approach reinforces the skills being taught and helps integrate them into daily life.
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The online format offers greater flexibility for families. It can accommodate varying schedules and allows for make-up sessions if necessary, ensuring that participants don't miss out on crucial learning opportunities.
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The curriculum remains identical to that of in-person sessions. Participants still engage in discussions, watch role-play videos, and practice their conversation skills. The interactive and supportive environment is maintained through Zoom, ensuring everyone feels part of the group.
Social Skills
We’re excited to work with you or your loved one to achieve your social goals!
Certified
PEERS® Provider
- Completed the UCLA Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills in the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behaviour at UCLA.
- Certified PEERS® Provider.
Communication & Public Relations Specialist
- Specialised skills and advanced knowledge in the communications, media and creative industries.
- Bachelor of Business Administration, GradDip Communication, PR, Advertising, & Applied Communication.
Parenting Support & Consulting
- Specialising in supporting both individuals and organisations to communicate effectively with others.
- University-trained and post-graduate qualified communications professional passionate about helping people to communicate well.
Social SkillS
Why PEERS®
I first discovered PEERS® when my own son asked for help with learning social skills, and he and I completed the PEERS® course with me as his social skills coach.
The difference for my son has been profound, and since then, I’ve had many parents ask me about social skills training for adolescents. I know what it’s like to have a child who finds it hard to make and keep friends, feels socially awkward and is beginning to isolate, and is vulnerable to bullying, depression and anxiety. I know that, as a parent, it can be really worrying. And it can be hard to know what to do as there are very few support programs out there for teenagers.
Today, I'm so happy to say that my son is a happy, confident and articulate young man. He has a beautiful group of friends around him, he’s thriving at school, his wonderful sense of humour is shining through, he’s started playing team sports, and he has recently started a part-time job that fits around his studies. His teachers often tell me how wonderful he is doing at school and the positive changes they have seen in him.
I’ve seen for myself the difference this program can make, and my passion is to share everything I’ve learned with other families.
Having completed the PEERS® program with my son and the PEERS® Certified Provider training through the University of California, I KNOW that social skills can be explicitly taught - and learned. And having these skills in their toolkit makes all the difference for these teens.
I value the uniqueness of each individual and draw on a strengths-based and adolescent-centred approach in our small-group sessions, which are warm, respectful, relaxed and inclusive. I have more than 28 years of experience as a communications specialist, and I’ve spent much of my career in the not-for-profit, education and disability sectors - and I’m a mum of adolescents on the autism spectrum myself. I bring all that combined knowledge and experience to every session and every teen I have the honour to work with. And most of all - we have FUN! It’s true! Learning social skills is actually SO much fun.
I look forward to the opportunity to help your adolescents flourish as the beautiful individual they are so they can live their best life - with some extra social skills in their toolkit that they can use should they choose to.
Get in touch! I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
Christine O’Leary
Certified PEERS® Provider & Social Skills Coach
about Peers
Where does PEERS come from?
Dr Elizabeth Laugeson
PEERS was developed by Dr Elizabeth Laugeson, an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioural Sciences at UCLA (University of California) Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behaviour.
More than x30 peer-reviewed studies demonstrate the efficacy of this course - with adolescents consistently showing improvement on every measure of social skills and social engagement - as well as reduced problem behaviours, related social difficulties and social anxiety.
The gains are maintained well after the course has ended - a finding attributed to the involvement of a social coach, which can be a parent, another family member, a teacher or a support worker.
For more information on PEERS®, check out this video by the Founder and Director of the UCLA PEERS® Clinic and the developer of PEERS®, Dr Elizabeth Laugeson.
we got answers
Frequently asked questions.
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14-Week Program for Adolescents and Young Adults
Price: $3,300 incl GST ( interest-free payment plan available). Or $2,800 incl GST with $500 discount when paid in full up front).
Overview: This comprehensive program spans 14 weeks and is designed to help adolescents and young adults develop crucial social skills, including conversation techniques, managing social interactions, and building friendships.
Self-Paced Start Anytime PEERS® Course
Price: $695 incl GST (one-time payment)
Overview: A flexible, on-demand course covering the full PEERS® curriculum, including conversation skills, friendship building, bully-proofing, and dating etiquette. Includes lesson videos, workbook, app access, private Facebook forum, and two 1:1 coaching calls.
Self-Paced PEERS® Dating Intensive
Price: $495 incl GST (one-time payment)
Overview: A focused self-paced program designed for individuals aged 16+ who want to strengthen their dating skills. Covers choosing appropriate partners, flirting, asking someone out, handling rejection, and going on successful dates. Includes bonus lessons and personalised coaching.
Self-Paced PEERS® Over 30s Social Skills Workshop
Price: $385 incl GST (one-time payment)
Overview: Tailored for adults aged 30+, this workshop helps participants develop and strengthen social confidence, communication skills, and strategies for building meaningful friendships and connections.
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PEERS® (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) is an evidence-based social skills training program designed to improve social interactions for individuals with autism, ADHD, and other social challenges. It focuses on teaching practical skills for building and maintaining friendships and relationships.
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Our programs are open to adolescents, adults, and parents. We tailor our courses to meet the needs of individuals with social challenges, including those on the autism spectrum, with ADHD, or experiencing other social difficulties.
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Our main program runs for 14 weeks.
And our Self-Paced courses can start anytime but with a limited access of 4 months.
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Yes, parental involvement is highly encouraged, especially in our PEERS® programs.
Parents often serve as social coaches, reinforcing the skills taught during the sessions. For the 14-week programs parents have their own coaching sessions each week.
For the Self-Paced courses, parents receive pre recorded coaching webinars to support their child’s progress.
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Once you enroll in a course, you’ll receive login details to access the materials online or via email. For the Self-Paced PEERS® course, you’ll have access to the videos, PDFs, and other resources.
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Participants are encouraged to ask questions during weekly sessions. You’ll also have access to our members portal where you can ask questions and share experiences with other participants. Additionally, for certain courses like the Self-Paced PEERS® program, you receive two 30-minute 1:1 coaching calls with the instructor to address any specific concerns or questions.
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Yes! If you missed the current round of PEERS®, you can enrol for the next round we do 3 intakes a year or enrol in our Self-Paced Start Anytime PEERS® course, which will is available all year. This allows you to start the program at your convenience.
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We are not NDIS registered and we require payment upfront. However if you are Self Managed you may be able to claim a reimbursement from the NDIS.
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We do not offer refunds for any of our courses. Please ensure you’re committed to the program before enrolling.
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You can schedule your two 30-minute coaching calls through the calendar link inside the members portal within 4 months of purchasing the course. These sessions are conducted via Zoom/Phone Call.
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The online format of our courses, combined with the flexibility of accessing materials at your convenience, helps promote consistent attendance. Participants attend one 90-minute session each week for the 14-week program. We also provide tools and reminders to help you stay on track.
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The online PEERS® course offers the same evidence-based curriculum as our in-person sessions, with the added benefits of reduced anxiety for participants, greater convenience, and more focused learning. The virtual format allows participants to engage deeply with the material in a comfortable setting. If you want more practical and proven benefits of PEERS® online please click here. https://www.socialskillsaustralia.com.au/blog
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We offer introductory videos and sample lessons on our website, so you can get a feel for the course content and structure before making a commitment. We also share with you the breakdown of topics per week. https://www.socialskillsaustralia.com.au/sample-content