Professor Robyn Young

Professor Robyn Young is an internationally recognised autism researcher, clinician, academic leader, and expert witness whose work has shaped the understanding, identification, and support of autistic people across the lifespan. As Chair of the Flinders Autism Research Initiative (FARI), she leads collaborative research that brings together researchers, clinicians, autistic people, industry, and government to improve inclusion, wellbeing, access, and outcomes for autistic communities.

Professor Young's interest in autism began during her doctoral studies of Savant Syndrome, a fascination that led to pioneering research into exceptional abilities and autism and became the subject of the ABC documentary Uncommon Genius. Building on this early work, she went on to develop the Autism Detection in Early Childhood (ADEC), an internationally recognised screening tool suitable for children as young as 12 months. The ADEC operationalised the early behavioural indicators of autism and has influenced clinical practice and research both nationally and internationally. Together with colleagues at Flinders University, she also developed SPECTRA, an evidence-based  program designed to support autistic children and their families. 

Over more than three decades, Professor Young's research has expanded from early identification  to broader questions affecting autistic people throughout their lives. Her work now focuses on autism in adulthood and later life, including trauma, social inclusion, barriers to support, and interactions with legal and criminal justice systems. In particular, she is interested in understanding why some autistic individuals may become unwittingly involved in criminal activity, how concepts such as wrongfulness and criminal intent are understood by autistic people, and how justice systems can respond more fairly and effectively to neurodivergent individuals.

In addition to her academic and research leadership, Professor Young is a highly experienced expert witness, regularly preparing expert reports and providing evidence across Australian jurisdictions. Her expertise is sought by courts, tribunals, and legal practitioners in criminal, civil, and other legal proceedings where autism, neurodevelopmental disorders, cognitive capacity, vulnerability, and behavioural presentation are relevant issues. She has extensive experience translating complex psychological and autism-related evidence into clear, impartial, and accessible opinions to assist judicial decision-making.

A passionate advocate for translating research into practice, Professor Young's work continues to influence policy, professional practice, and community support systems. Through her leadership of FARI, she is committed to ensuring that rigorous, community-informed research produces meaningful real-world outcomes that enhance the lives of autistic people and their families while promoting greater understanding of autism across health, education, community, and justice settings.