Social Skills Programs
A structured, evidence-based pathway to social confidence and friendship — from preschool through to adulthood, delivered via telehealth to families across Australia
Unified Care Solutions delivers a full suite of evidence-based social skills programs — including the internationally-recognised PEERS® curriculum and Children's Friendship Training (CFT) — teaching social communication and friendship skills to autistic and neurodivergent people, and those with ADHD or a developmental delay. Each program is matched to a specific age and developmental stage, so participants learn the right skills, in the right way, at the right time.
Why Evidence-Based Social Skills Programs?
Our Preschoolers, Adolescents, Young Adults, Careers, and Dating programs follow PEERS® (the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills), developed at UCLA and the most researched, evidence-based social skills curriculum in the world, validated across more than a decade of clinical research and used in over 150 countries. Our primary-school-aged program uses Children's Friendship Training (CFT), a related but distinct evidence-based curriculum developed for younger children — not a PEERS® program, but built on the same core principle of explicit, structured skill-teaching.
Unlike unstructured social groups, both curricula use a manualised program with clear, step-by-step instruction in social communication skills — taught, modelled, practised, and then reinforced in real life with the help of a caregiver or "social coach." This is what makes our programs different from general social support: skills are explicitly taught, not left to be picked up through observation.
At Unified Care Solutions, every social skills program sits within our Unified Social Model of Care — meaning assessment, structured skill-building, and real-world community-based support are connected into a single pathway, rather than delivered as one-off, disconnected services.
Evidence-based, manualised social skills development programs— not informal social groups
Caregivers or "social coaches" actively involved at every age and stage
Delivered via telehealth, so families anywhere in Australia can access the program that best suits their region
Skills can be reinforced in real-world settings through our Community-Based Social Supports (available to participants in the Ballarat region)
Suitable for Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, social communication difficulties, and developmental delay
Our Social Skills Programs
Four active programs, spanning early childhood through to adulthood, with two further programs in development. Choose the entry point that matches your loved one's age and stage — or get in touch and we'll help you find the right fit.
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A parent-mediated program that helps young children build foundational social skills — sharing, turn-taking, joining in play, and handling teasing — through guided practice in natural settings like playdates and playgroups. Caregivers are coached directly, giving them practical tools to support social development in everyday moments at home and in early education settings.
Best for: young children showing early signs of social difficulty, or families wanting to build strong social foundations before school.
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Children's Friendship Training is a separate, evidence-based social skills curriculum — not a PEERS® program — purpose-built for primary-school-aged children. It teaches the concrete steps of making and keeping friends: starting conversations, joining groups, good sportsmanship, and handling disagreements or exclusion. Delivered with active parent involvement, so skills learned in-session are reinforced at school, on playdates, and in the wider community.
Best for: primary-school-aged children who struggle to make or keep friends, or who experience teasing or social exclusion.
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The flagship PEERS® program for teenagers, delivered in small telehealth groups. Participants learn to start and maintain conversations, choose appropriate friends, use humour appropriately, navigate group dynamics, and handle conflict, rejection, and bullying — all through structured lessons, role-play, and guided practice with peers. A parent or caregiver attends a concurrent session as the participant's social coach.
Best for: adolescents who understand social rules in theory but struggle to apply them in real-world situations at school or in the community.
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Builds on the same evidence-based curriculum, adapted for the real-world social demands of adulthood — dating readiness, workplace-appropriate communication, managing conflict, and building a genuine social network outside the family home. Delivered via telehealth in small groups, with a social coach (family member, friend, or support worker) attending alongside each participant.
Best for: young adults wanting to build social confidence, expand their social network, and participate more independently in community life.
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Dating and relationship skills are taught in the final block of the 16-week PEERS® for Young Adults program, covering how to show interest, ask someone on a date, handle rejection, and understand consent.
For adults who want to work through this area one-to-one rather than in a group, our nursing team also offers individual sessions covering relationships, communication and personal safety.
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A forthcoming program focused on the social communication skills that matter most in the workplace — job interviews, workplace small talk, professional boundaries, giving and receiving feedback, and navigating workplace relationships. Designed for young adults preparing for, or already navigating, employment.
Register your interest to be notified when this program launches.
Which Program Is Right for Your Family?
Not sure where to start? Organise a no-obligation screening phone call to identify specific social communication needs and confirms the most appropriate program and entry point.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Most participants have a diagnosis of Autism, ADHD, or a developmental delay, but a formal diagnosis is not always required. Get in touch and we can discuss whether our programs are a good fit.
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No. While PEERS® has extensive research involving autistic children, adolescents and adults, many of its principles are relevant for anyone experiencing social communication challenges more broadly.
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Yes — every program in our social skills suite, from Children's Friendship Training through to PEERS® for Young Adults, involves a caregiver or "social coach" attending alongside the participant. This is a core, evidence-based feature of both curricula, not an optional extra, and is what helps skills transfer from the group into everyday life.
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Our social skills programs are delivered via telehealth in small groups, so families anywhere in Australia can take part — not just those in the Ballarat region. Real-world skill practice can then happen through our in-person Community-Based Social Supports, currently available to participants in the Ballarat region.
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Groups are kept small, typically 8 to 12 participants, to support individual coaching and meaningful practice. One-to-one sessions can be facilitated for those uncomfortable participating in group events, or where the participant’s individual learning needs are better suited to independent sessions.
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You can still participate in PEERS with appropriate adaptations to the program. Such adaptations are more common in the Young Adult versions of the program, reflecting participants’ general independence in daily life and resultant lack of such a support person. Unified Care Solutions can also provide supports from one of our Disability Mentors, who have received training and instruction on the PEERS Program, who can perform this social coaching function.
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Social skills training may be incorporated into NDIS capacity-building supports, depending on participant goals and funding arrangements. Our programs are delivered by nursing professionals, and billed as “Therapy - Other Professional” or “ECI Professional - Other Early Childhood Professional” depending on the participant’s age. Alternative NDIS codes may be used where this is reasonably justifiable and in support of individual budget needs.
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Unlike general social skills groups, PEERS® uses a manualised, evidence-based curriculum developed at UCLA, teaching concrete and specific social rules rather than abstract concepts. It's backed by extensive published research demonstrating measurable improvements in social competence, friendship development, and community participation.
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Yes. Because PEERS® is delivered via telehealth, participants and families from outside Ballarat and across regional Victoria can join. Participants in other states and territories in Australia are welcome to participate, though separate groups for non-Victorian based participant may be required where time zone or daylight savings time changes are likely to impact the participant’s capacity to engage with the group throughout the teaching period.
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Get in touch or book a Functional Assessment, and we'll help match you to the right program based on age, goals, and current social communication needs.
Build the Skills Needed for Meaningful Social Connection
