Free webinar | Puberty, bodies and big changes

Your guide to autism, puberty, bodies and big changes.

Puberty is a big transition for any young person. For autistic children and teens, it can bring a whole new set of questions, challenges, and changes that standard advice simply doesn't account for.

This free webinar gives parents and carers autism-specific guidance, straight from a specialist in sexual and reproductive health education.  Register now to 

In this webinar, you'll learn how to:

• Understand what physical, emotional and social changes to expect during puberty, and how these may look different for autistic young people
• Start and navigate conversations about bodies, boundaries and relationships in ways your child can understand
• Support hygiene and personal care routines, including menstruation
• Respond to anxiety, mood shifts and new behaviours with strategies that support regulation and wellbeing
• Teach body awareness, consent and safe versus unsafe touch

Whether your child is approaching puberty or already in the thick of it, this session will help you feel more confident and far less alone.

Webinar Details 

When: Tuesday 19 May 2026, 12:00pm AEST 
Where: Zoom 
Cost: FREE 
Q&A: Yes, live session included, so have your questions ready! 
Recording: Available to all registered attendees

Register now and you'll also receive a full recording and a fact sheet to keep.

Meet our Speakers

Emily McCarthy — Speaker Emily McCarthy is the Team Leader for Planet Puberty at Family Planning NSW, a resource suite built specifically for parents and carers of young people with autism and intellectual disability. With a Master's in Teaching and Learning and more than nine years of classroom experience supporting students with diverse needs, Emily has dedicated her career to ensuring young people have the knowledge and skills to understand their bodies and exercise their rights. She has worked with international Ministries of Education to embed Comprehensive Sexuality Education into national curricula and co-written teacher guides for multicultural contexts.

Liz Wise — Host 

Liz Wise is Chief Marketing Officer at Autism Awareness Australia, where she leads our marketing and communications initiatives. With more than 20 years of experience across top-tier agencies, consultancies, and in-house roles spanning media, fintech, higher education, and professional services, she brings a rare combination of strategic depth and audience-first thinking. Liz has a personal connection to the autism community and is committed to ethical, inclusive communication built around the people they serve.

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