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Rachelle Wicks

Rachelle Wicks is a Research Fellow at CliniKids.

Rachelle Wicks

Research Fellow

Dr Rachelle Wicks is a neurodivergent (Autistic/ADHD) Research Fellow within CliniKids.

Rachelle has a background in psychology and early childhood education and completed her doctoral research on the relationships between visual attention during shared book reading and early literacy for Autistic preschoolers at Griffith University.

Since completing her PhD in 2022, she has contributed to and led several large-scale Autism CRC projects to develop and implement two National Guidelines and the National Framework for assessing children's functional strengths and support needs, of which she is leading the implementation.

Dr Wicks has a passion for participatory research that is inclusive of all Autistic people and their families/supporters, including those who experience multiple and profound disability. She is particularly interested in research that is genuinely co-produced with members of the Autistic and autism communities and aims to benefit the wellbeing of Autistic people across the lifespan.

Dr Wicks also advocates for increased understanding and awareness of autism and other forms of neurodivergence, and embedding a neuro-affirming, individualised, and strengths-based approach into research, clinical practice, and within the broader community. 

Published research

Community views on the assessment and diagnosis of autism: Principles to guide clinical practice

This study aimed to identify guiding principles to underpin assessment and diagnosis of autism to improve the quality, consistency and accuracy of services provided to individuals and their families. An online survey and focus groups were used to capture community perspectives of members of the Australian autistic and autism communities.

Autism Spectrum Published research Autism Research
Learn more about Community views on the assessment and diagnosis of autism: Principles to guide clinical practice

February 2026

Co-Producing the Australian Functional Strengths and Support Needs Framework: Approach, Experience and Outcomes

The study aimed to evaluate the experiences of participants involved in co-production to develop a National Framework for assessing children's functional strengths and support needs. The National Framework was developed to guide professionals when working with children aged 0-12 years, including children who do and do not have one or more diagnosed condition(s), and their families in Australia and inform good policy across health, education, disability, and community support sectors.

Autism Spectrum Published research Early Childhood Development Autism Research Child disability
Learn more about Co-Producing the Australian Functional Strengths and Support Needs Framework: Approach, Experience and Outcomes

August 2026