We are incredibly proud of Dr Abbey Love and the advisory team who have received this year’s Autism CRC Award for Achievement in Autism Research (Translation of Autism Research) for the project, “The Autistic pregnancy and parenthood hub: translating co-produced research into community impact.”
The announcement was made at the Asia Pacific Autism Conference 2025 which is underway in Perth, Western Australia.
The award recognises two years of pioneering research by Abbey and a team of Autistic and non-Autistic researchers, practitioners and community advisors leading to the development of the Aspect Autistic Pregnancy and Parenthood Hub, a first-of-its-kind digital resource designed to support Autistic people during pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.
Award reviewers described the project as an exceptional example of research translation, recognising its success in addressing a critical gap in perinatal care by transforming co-produced research into accessible, evidence-informed resources for Autistic parents and clinicians.
They praised the Hub’s strong foundation in lived experience and its wide-ranging impact across professional training, media coverage and academic contributions. The project was also commended for its deep community engagement and exemplary collaboration with Autistic advisors throughout the research process, ensuring authenticity, inclusion and real-world relevance.
Abbey said the award reflects the collective effort and vision of the Autistic and professional advisory team behind the project.
“Too often, Autistic voices are missing from conversations about perinatal care, and this project puts those voices at the centre so that we are addressing problems that reflect real experiences. This award is an acknowledgment of what can be achieved when lived experience and research work hand in hand,” says Abbey.
The research project and development of the Hub were funded by the Victorian State Government’s Diverse Communities, Mental Health and Wellbeing Grants program, auDA Foundation and Woodend Foundation.
This is the fourth Autism CRC Award received by ARCAP since its inception in 2018, a testament to the researchers’ unwavering commitment to inclusive research that turns lived experience and evidence into meaningful change.
