Autism & ADHD Support Services in Ballarat
Building Social Confidence, Friendships and Genuine Community Participation for Neurodiverse Adolescents and Young Adults in the Ballarat Region
Evidence-based assessment, PEERS® social skills training, and ongoing social participation support delivered through the Unified Social Model of Care.
NOW ACCEPTING REFERRALS FOR PEERS®, SOCIAL SUPPORTS AND LIFE TRANSITION PLANNING
NOW ACCEPTING REFERRALS FOR PEERS®, SOCIAL SUPPORTS AND LIFE TRANSITION PLANNING
Who We Are
Unified Care Solutions is a specialist disability support provider based in Ballarat, Victoria. We focus on improving social communication and participation outcomes for adolescents and young adults living with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD and Global Developmental Delay.
We work with individuals and families seeking more than general support. The participants we support choose us for our expertise in structured, evidence-informed programs that build real-world social capability.
Our approach connects assessment, intervention, and community-based support into a single coordinated pathway — delivered to families across Ballarat and surrounding areas including Wendouree, Sebastopol, Delacombe, Buninyong and Alfredton.
Meet the Ballarat-based team behind Unified Care Solutions
What Makes Us Different
Many services focus either on learning skills in isolation, or on general community support without structured skill development.
Unified Care Solutions connects these areas into one coordinated pathway. Our approach includes:
Evidence-based PEERS® program delivery
Structured functional assessment processes
Support workers trained in social participation coaching principles
Real-world application of social communication skills
Ongoing monitoring of progress and outcomes
This ensures support is not fragmented, but continuous and purposeful.
Our Services
Structured, evidence-based social skills groups for autistic adolescents and young adults. Participants learn to start and maintain conversations, build and maintain friendships, and navigate peer relationships and social settings. Delivered via telehealth in small groups, allowing participants to practise skills in a safe, structured environment.
PEERS® Social Skills Programs
Our support workers help participants apply social skills in real-world environments — attending community activities, joining social or recreational groups, and building confidence in independent participation across Ballarat and the surrounding region. This support is focused on real-world application, not just supervision.
Social Participation Supports
Comprehensive assessment of social communication and participation needs, covering how autism impacts social interaction, friendship development, community participation, and confidence in social settings. Assessments guide meaningful support planning and intervention pathways.
Functional Assessment
Life Transition Supports
Supporting adolescents and young adults to navigate major life transitions with confidence, independence, and practical skills — including secondary school, university/TAFE, employment preparation, independent living, and community participation.
Unified Model of Social Care
A structured pathway to social participation
Our Ballarat-based team delivers a connected model of care that ensures skills are not only taught, but actively used and reinforced in real life.
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![A man with glasses and a beard, wearing a white shirt, is holding a clipboard and writing, while a woman with short brown hair, wearing a striped shirt, sits on a sofa facing him. They are in a cozy, well-lit office or therapy room with framed pictures, books, and plants in the background.]()
01. Social Functional Capacity Assessment
We begin by understanding each person’s strengths, challenges, and social participation needs. Our functional assessment process uses a combination of standardised psychometric tools and structured clinical interview to build a clear picture of social communication and participation needs.
The purpose of this assessment is to identify specific functional barriers to social participation. Results are used to inform targeted intervention planning within the PEERS® program and ongoing support structure, ensuring that each participant’s pathway is individually tailored and clinically anchored.
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![A diverse group of young adults sitting around a conference table, engaged with laptops, tablets, and papers during a meeting or workshop.]()
02. Social Skills Development Programs
PEERS® is a structured, evidence-based social skills intervention that teaches adolescents and young adults explicit, practical strategies for developing and maintaining friendships. Unlike unstructured social groups, PEERS® uses a manualised curriculum with clear, step-by-step instruction in social communication skills, supported by guided practice in realistic scenarios.
A key feature of the program is the active involvement of caregivers or key support people as social coaches. Caregivers are supported to reinforce and prompt the use of PEERS® skills in everyday environments, helping participants apply what they learn outside of structured sessions. This promotes long-term skill retention and real-world application.
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03. Community-Based Social Participation Supports
Following PEERS® training, participants are supported to apply social skills in real-world community settings where opportunities for friendship development naturally occur. This includes community activities, social groups, recreational, educational, and vocational environments where peers can be met and interactions practised.
The focus is on enabling access to settings where participants can identify shared interests, exchange information, and build friendships over time. Support workers use PEERS-informed coaching to reinforce skills in context, promoting independent social engagement and reducing reliance on structured support.
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![Four women seated around a conference table working on laptops, with papers and charts, in a meeting room with gray acoustic panels and a whiteboard with sticky notes.]()
04. Review and Progress Tracking
Progress is reviewed regularly to understand how skills are being applied in everyday life and whether supports remain aligned with the participant’s goals. This includes monitoring social confidence, community participation, friendship development, and the ability to apply skills across different environments.
Review findings are used to refine goals, adjust support strategies, and identify ongoing areas for development. This ensures supports remain purposeful, responsive, and focused on promoting long-term independence and social participation.
Is Unified Care Solutions Right for Your Family?
Unified Care Solutions supports neurodivergent adolescents and young adults, and those with a developmental delay, who are looking to build social confidence, develop friendships, and participate more independently in community life. We deliver support to clients in Ballarat, VIC and surrounding areas, plus telehealth support and Life Transition Planning for those outside the region.
Does your loved one:
Find it difficult to make or maintain friendships, initiate conversations, or navigate peer relationships?
Struggle to understand social expectations or respond appropriately in group settings?
Understand social rules in theory, but struggle to apply them in real-world situations at school, work, or in the community?
Experience teasing, bullying, or social exclusion?
Need clear, structured teaching of social skills rather than informal learning through observation?
Want to build meaningful friendships, increase social confidence, or become more involved in community life?
Need support that connects skill development with real-world practice and ongoing reinforcement?
If this sounds familiar, Unified Care Solutions is designed for your family's needs. The next step is choosing the right entry point into support.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No referral is required — participants, families, or carers can self-refer directly. We also accept referrals from support coordinators, psychologists, GPs, schools, and other allied health professionals. If you're unsure whether UCS is the right fit, get in touch to discuss your needs, undertake program-specific screening, and identify any functional assessment needs — or join the PEERS® waitlist.
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Yes. Contact us directly or complete an intake enquiry, and we'll guide you to the most appropriate entry point based on your goals and support needs. Self-referral is common for families, young adults, and participants already engaged with the NDIS.
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UCS services are typically delivered under NDIS funding, subject to plan goals and funding categories. We support both plan-managed and self-managed funding arrangements, and can discuss private funding where appropriate.
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Yes, some services may have a waitlist depending on demand, particularly PEERS® program groups. Wait times vary by intake timing, program availability, and participant age group - we aim to give clear timeframes at the point of enquiry.
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Join the PEERS® waitlist, book a functional assessment, or submit a referral (for professionals or support coordinators). Once we receive your enquiry, we'll confirm suitability and guide you to the right service pathway.
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PEERS® programs are typically delivered via telehealth to improve accessibility across regional and rural areas. Community-based support is delivered in person, focused on real-world participation in local environments such as community spaces, education settings, and social activities across Ballarat.
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We support participants face-to-face across Ballarat and surrounding regions, including:
Ballarat CBD
Sebastopol
Wendouree
Delacombe
Mount Clear
Alfredton
Buninyong
Smythesdale
Creswick
Daylesford and the wider Central Highlands surrounds
We also support individuals based in regional Victoria and nearby areas wherever possible. Get in touch to discuss whether direct supports are available in your area. Contact us.