Grace Fava, The Occasional Speaker at the 2015 School of Social Sciences and Psychology Graduation.
Grace was awarded the University’s Women of the West Award in 2015 for her incredible devotion and support to those with autism and their families. She founded the Autism Advisory and Support Service, a not-for-profit charity.
With two autistic sons, Grace’s passion and strong dedication to building and leading such remarkable service comes from personal experience.
The service provides invaluable support to families living with Autism by providing a wide range of services and specialist therapies, including: speech and occupational therapy; art and music therapy; play areas and a sensory garden; parent support groups in English and Arabic; advocacy for families; social groups for young adults with Autism; and the only 24 hour Autism telephone hotline in the southern hemisphere, which is run by volunteers.
Under Grace’s leadership, the service has grown to provide support to families around Australia and is now available in multiple locations across Western Sydney including Liverpool, Bankstown, Campbelltown, Camden and Penrith.
