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100% online Graduate Certificate

Graduate Certificate in Education (Autism)

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Start Date

6 months full-time or part-time equivalent

Duration

AUD $ 2,400

Includes 80% off with CSP subsidy.
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Entry Criteria

*Limited Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available for domestic students only. Annual fees are subject to change and are dependent on selected units. For more information on CSPs, see below.

Course overview

Build a nuanced understanding of autism to create inclusive learning environments

Completing a Graduate Certificate in Education (Autism) will help you build a nuanced understanding of autism and delve into the latest research and best educational practices for supporting autistic learners. You will gain insight into neurodiversity amongst our learner cohorts and develop strategies to create inclusive learning environments that promote autistic learners’ social, emotional, and academic growth.

This course will equip you with specialised autism knowledge and evidence-based skills to design universal and tiered strategies to support meaningful inclusion and positive learning outcomes for autistic students across a range of diverse educational contexts.

This course is not an Initial Teacher Education (ITE) course and does not qualify graduates for teacher registration in Australia

Learn more with Professor Sue Irvine

Entry requirements

You can gain entry into the Graduate Certificate in Education (Autism) with:

6-month program

  • A completed recognised bachelor degree (or higher qualification) in any discipline

or

  • A completed recognised diploma (or higher qualification) in any discipline, with at least four years (full-time or equivalent) professional work experience in teaching or education

or

  • Seven years (full-time or equivalent) professional work experience in teaching or education

Relevant work experience

• Teacher/educator/academic working in any formal education setting (i.e., early childhood,
schools, special education, adult education, VET, and higher-education) or any education focussed role in other organisations or groups.
• People working in education-support roles in any formal or informal education setting (e.g.,
teacher aide, counselling, community education counsellors, youth/social worker, educational
psychologist, chaplain, academic advisors, school nurse, school police officer).
• People working education-focussed roles in other organisations, services or groups (e.g.,
learning design, curriculum design and development, language and numeracy education,
workplace and organisational learning/training, community and public education/training,
education project management, educational research, private tutors).
• People working in education administration, leadership and management, policy or
governance, and educational consulting (e.g., education departments, related statutory
authorities, related professional associations, international agents, international education
professionals).

For reference, individuals with qualifications or experience in the following fields may be involved in contemporary educational work.

• Teaching or education (including, education qualifications related to early childhood, primary
to secondary schooling, higher education, training and development, applied learning, adult
learning, community learning).
• Learning management/learning design (i.e. learning design similar qualifications)
• Career development and/or counselling
• Languages/linguistics
• Psychology/educational psychology/organisational psychology
• Sociology
• Allied health professionals (speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists)
• School based nursing (i.e. Nursing qualification)
• School based policing (i.e. Policing qualification)
• Business/commerce
• Arts (e.g. social sciences, humanities, animation/interactive media)
• Media/communication
• Human resources, management, and IT

Advanced standing

Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate program, students may wish to pursue higher degree study via the faculty’s Master of Education. Students who have successfully completed this graduate certificate will receive 48 credit points of advanced standing for the Master of Education. 

Early exit

This course is available as an early exit from EQ74 Master of Education.

Course outcomes

Graduates will build foundational knowledge of the autism spectrum grounded in contemporary psychological theory; adopt classroom practices that support connectedness; create strategies for consulting autistic learners and their families; and develop effective learning profiles to meet the needs of autistic learners.

Skills and tools in this course

  • Historical and contemporary perspectives of autism
  • Cognitive theories of autism
  • Characteristics of a supportive learning environment
  • Inclusive classroom methodology
  • Universal evidence-based teaching strategies
  • Reflect on and reflexively analyse your own practice
  • Approaches for designing targeted and individualised supports

Potential career opportunities

Educator in a leadership role

As an educator in leadership roles, you will mentor colleagues in using evidence-based strategies to support autistic learners in school and beyond.

  • Average Salary

    $105,000

  • Industry Job Satisfaction of

    3.5/5

Classroom teacher

As a qualified classroom teacher, you will use evidence-based strategies that meet the needs of your students' unique learning profiles.

  • Average Salary

    $105,000

  • Industry Job Satisfaction of

    3.5/5

, 2026

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How online study works

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Experience the unwavering support of our university as you embark on your online learning journey.

  • Flexible and supportive options for your lifestyle
  • The easy application and enrolment process
  • Alignment with career aspirations
Learn more

What our students say

Studying this course with QUT Online has helped me with creating an inclusive classroom. Inclusive education is now getting a big push at the moment.
Amanda, Graduate Certificate in Education (Autism)
Real Talk. Graduate Certificate in Education (Autism)
Hear from a recent QUT Online Graduate, Amanda, around her experience studying the Graduate Certificate in Education (Autism).

Ready to apply?

Apply for your dream qualification by filling out our application form, or speak with one of our Course Consultants on 1300 104 196 to discover the right study option for you.

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Frequently asked questions

We enrol many parents in this course as it is a way for them to better understand how to best support their child through their education journey. This course will equip you with the knowledge to speak with education providers about tailoring your child’s education experience to meet their personal needs, and how to support your child’s education at home.

This course has an individual and universal focus.

This course alone will not enable you to become a teacher.

You do not need to be currently working in the education field to be successful in this course.

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If you’re not ready to apply or want to know more before you submit your application, you can request more information by calling us on 1300 104 196 or by completing our enquiry form.

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Apply online by filling out our application form or speak to a Course Consultant on 1300 104 196.

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