Strong research supports online delivery! The team at UCLA released research exploring the efficacy of PEERS delivered online. Results demonstrate that the gains made online are comparable to face to face!

Convenience! Online is really convenient for families. Juggling family commitments can be hard so being able to join from the comfort of your own home is really handy.

The online format allows us to support a broad range of families, even those who live rurally or interstate!

If you’re mildly unwell, you can still attend.

It’s been really successful! The results from our 2021 and 2022 programs demonstrate very strong results for our participants.

Not at this stage.

Yes! We are very experienced in engaging teens and young adults online. Our program is nothing like the online/remote learning that occurred though COVID lockdowns.

All learning is highly scaffolded for the individual.

Our leaders are ALL Speech Pathologists AND PEERS certified trainers. This means that they are engaging, experienced and really know what they are doing!

We have trained Allied health assistants in each break-out room.

We keep our group sizes small, which means we can support unique needs e.g. attentional or language difficulties.

Our small break out rooms provide more flexibility to adjust to participants’ needs so we can provide more support and scaffolding. This allows for more opportunities to practise with less waiting!

We include fun games and interactive videos.

Verbal and non-verbal communication is supported through emojis, gestures and chat bar functions.

We offer, regular movement and drink breaks.

No lengthy writing tasks.

We encourage snacks and self-regulation supports such as fidgets and drawing.

We offer rewards and incentives for contributions.

We are more than happy to discuss your individual circumstances and experiences to help support you and your teen/young adult to participate. Just get in touch with us!

Yes, you can! You will need to have group funding specifically listed though. If you don’t, please contact your Local Area Coordinator to have this added and funds redistributed (e.g. From Core Supports and Capacity Building).

We can provide a quote for NDIS planners.

We can also support with applications for funding, group funding or extra funding requests.

Of course, and this would be a wonderful thing! We warmly welcome all neurotypical and neurodiverse folks to be part of our program. Neurodiverse parents and social coaches have participated in our earlier programs and enthusiastically endorse us!

Yes, consistency and involvement is crucial to the PEERS program. We do understand that life happens though so we understand there may be occasional weeks where participants may be unable to attend, need to join late or leave early. However, you must be able to attend the majority of the 16 sessions. Afterall, you want to see the best possible gains!

We’re happy to follow up with participants outside of the PEERS session occasionally but sadly, can’t guarantee this.

Generally, we do not offer refunds for missed sessions. Exceptions are in significant circumstances or joining in week 2 of the program.

Of course, and we love this! Some teens have both parents attend where both are able and this has been really beneficial for the teen. If both parents/carers want to attend but can’t every week, this is fine but we must have one main parent/carer who is able to attend consistently/most sessions, not alternate parent/carer each week.

We also understand life happens and happy for another parent/carer to attend in place of the main social coach on these occasions. Ideally in these situations, the other parent needs to have been following along with the program materials though and supporting social coaching. We are happy to organise a time to chat with them before they attend.

There is no requirement for both parents to attend.

There is no additional charge for extra parent/partners/carers to attend.

We will support you to choose a program and we will recommend a program best suited to your individual teen/YA, their stage in life, goals, strengths and where they need support.

Generally, teen group is best suited for teens in years 7-12 or ages 12-17.

Young Adult is generally suited from ages 17 onwards or post-secondary school. However, this program may be more relevant to your teen if they have a casual/part time job, mature interests and hobbies, wanting to get a job, wanting support prior to starting post school studies, or interested in support with dating.

There is no referral needed from your GP or primary care practitioner.

We are happy to receive enquiries or direct contact from GPs, Speech Pathologists, OTs, Psychologists or other professionals prior to, during or after the program. We often liaise with the care team to ensure we are catering for individual needs.

Yes, parents/carers have in the past dialled in from work or a different household.

Confidentiality of all group participants is expected and discussed in week 1.

We request that teens/YAs do not socialise outside of PEERS while the program is running to maintain the fidelity of the program and group dynamics.

Standard Zoom security settings apply.

Yes, please enquire if you’re in Australia.

All Gameplan PEERS leaders are PEERS Certified as well as SLPs so you have the most qualified professionals possible running the program!

SLPs have unique qualifications in supporting neurodiverse individuals.

SLPs are able to cater for individual language and communication needs as many teens/YAs experience co-occurring challenges (e.g. language disorders).

We scaffold/adapt the language of the program based on the requirements of the participants.