Join us for the second instalment of The Impact Exchange: From Jerusalem to Australia, a webinar series presented by the Australian Friends of the Hebrew University, showcasing leading Hebrew University scholars alongside Australian experts in insightful conversations on topics shaping our world today.
Prof. Cory Shulman, Director of the Autism Centre at the Hebrew University, alongside Prof. Natalie Silove, local Sydney-based Specialist Developmental and Behavioural Paediatrician, will explore Profiles, Patterns, and Possibilities: Understanding Heterogeneity and Diversity in Autism.
The session explores autism as a highly diverse spectrum, where differences in thinking, communication, and social engagement shape development and everyday experience in varied and often subtle ways. Rather than broad categorisations, it focuses on how recognising this heterogeneity can support more precise understanding and more individualised approaches to assessment and support.
Drawing on leading research from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Prof. Shulman will discuss emerging work on developmental trajectories, heterogeneity in autism, and gender differences in presentation. She will also explore the importance of diagnosis, alongside approaches to intervention and inclusion in educational settings both in Israel and abroad. Prof. Silove will bring a clinical perspective, considering how these insights translate into practice and decision-making in real-world contexts, including the challenges Australian families face in navigating the gap between diagnosis and accessing effective individualised support.
For families and parents supporting an autistic child, and for clinicians and professionals working alongside them, this webinar offers an opportunity to engage with research-informed perspectives on understanding difference and explore more thoughtful, responsive approaches to autism. Register today to be part of the conversation.
This webinar is presented in partnership with Friendship Circle Sydney and Friendship Circle Melbourne, organisations supporting inclusion, social connection, and community engagement for children and young adults with disability as well as their families.
About the speakers:
Professor Cory Shulman is Director of the Autism Centre at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Professor at the Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare. She is a world-leading expert in autism and early childhood development, with research focused on heterogeneity and developmental pathways. She has pioneered innovative programs supporting autistic children in mainstream classrooms and has contributed significantly to national policy in Israel on autism screening, intervention, and family support.
Professor Natalie Silove is a Specialist Developmental and Behavioural Paediatrician, Clinical Professor at The University of Sydney, and Head of the Child Development Unit at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. She is also Clinical Advisor to the Friendship Circle. Her work focuses on autism assessment, diagnosis, and clinical care, alongside teaching and research in child development.
About Friendship Circle:
Friendship Circle Sydney and Friendship Circle Melbourne further inclusion in our community by creating opportunities for young people with disability and their peers to experience genuine connection, mutual friendship and belonging. Through social, recreational, educational, and volunteer-led programs, young people with disability are able to build confidence, independence, and meaningful relationships, while fostering communities grounded in empathy, respect, and inclusion. Their work also empowers young volunteers to become compassionate leaders and active advocates for a more connected and inclusive society.