PEERS® Programs
Making Connections Toowoomba is proud to have been certified facilitators of the PEERS® programs, developed by UCLA, for several years. We have consistently achieved excellent outcomes in providing neuroaffirming, evidence-based support for neurodivergent teens, young adults, and their caregivers.
In 2025, we’re thrilled to be among the FIRST certified providers in the world to also offer PEERS® for Preschoolers, specially designed for children in Prep and Year 1!
Are the PEERS® programs 'neuroaffirming'?
Absolutely, otherwise we would not be delivering them. The PEERS® programs are both evidence-based and neuroaffirming. They value neurodiversity, acceptance, and authenticity without viewing neurodivergent people as needing to be 'fixed', 'changed' or 'cured'. They honour the diverse ways people experience the world and respect each person’s unique perspectives, interests and communication styles. Recognising that there is no single "right" way to connect with others, PEERS® emphasises that learning and using its strategies is a personal choice, ensuring that participants can build social connections authentically without feeling pressured to mask or camouflage.
What Our Families
Have to Say
"I just want to thank you both for not just 'running' such a fabulous program, but also tell you how much I appreciate the sensitivity with which you ran it. It was just so refreshing to know that we could attend the course without worrying about the frame of mind we were in, becuase of 'life'. Many people have commented on the fact that our son seems to have 'come out of his shell'. I have no doubt this was because of PEERS for Teens."
"The PEERS for Teens program was invaluable for our daughter. We both learnt skills to develop quality relationships and how to survive difficult social situations. I wish I had access to it sooner. "
"My daughter used to just sit at home all day on her computer or phone while not at school, now she is out a lot more and interacting with family and friends more easily than before. Thank you so much."
"The PEERS course has been a game changer for my son and myself. It has enabled my son to be more confident in his interactions with others and also to motivate him to join social activities outside his comfort zone of school. It has really helped me to break down interactions between my son and his peers, so that we may talk more about areas that work well for him and areas he needs more support in. We are so pleased we were a part of the PEERS for Teens program."
"Having completed the course has given me the wording to use with my teen so we are on the same page. I do not think I could have supported her as well as I have if I did not participate. Through the PEERS program we have not only gained knowledge but a common language we can use with our teen to support her with making and maintaining friendships. The 14 weeks was a commitment, but definitely worth it."
"The Making Connections Team provide a fantastic program for parents and teens. It was very informative and a pleasure to participate, for both of us. The skills my teen has learned and experienced will stay with him and be beneficial as he progresses through his life. Thank you."
PEERS® for Preschool
Ages 5-7
Details Below
PEERS® for Teens & Adults
Ages 14-18
Ages 18-30
Details Below
PEERS® for Preschool
Ages 5-7
ABOUT
PEERS® for Preschool
Prep & Year 1
PEERS® for Preschool is a 16-week program designed to help 5-7 year old children develop essential social strategies through interactive, play-based learning and parent coaching.
Each week, children engage in fun activities specifically designed to teach them a series of foundation strategies that are helpful for making and keeping friends. At the same time, caregivers attend caregiver sessions to learn practical strategies for supporting their child's social development at home. Towards the end of each session, parents rejoin the children's group to practise social coaching with assistance from our team.
The program helps children build stronger social strategies, gain confidence in social settings, and transition smoothly into school life, while also providing caregivers with useful tools and a shared learning experience.
Who Is This Program For?
Children between 5-7 years of age who:
- Struggle with making or keeping friends
- Find group play overwhelming or confusing
- Face challenges with turn-taking, sharing, or joining in games
No formal diagnosis is required. This program supports all children who could benefit from guided social learning.
Families who:
- Want to learn skills and strategies to help their child build social confidence
- Prefer a strengths-based approach
- Are ready to support social coaching at home between sessions
Is this a good fit?
So that all participants have the best opportunity to benefit from the program, children must meet certain participant criteria. These include:
✅Have social challenges
✅5-7 years of age
✅Within the average range for cognition and language (including can speak consistently and flexibly in sentences)
✅Not have any significant behavioural problems (e.g., aggression, running away) or significant self-care requirements (e.g. needing help with toileting)
✅Must have one parent who will attend the 16-week program with them
What’s In It for Your Child?
Stronger Social Skills
Learning the foundations for making friends, joining in play, and enjoying positive peer interactions.
- Greater Confidence in Social Settings
Guided practice helps your child feel more comfortable in group play and social situations. - Smoother Transitions into School Life
Learns helpful strategies and expectations to make social environments less confusing. - More Positive Moments at Home
Growing confidence and strategies often lead to calmer, more connected family interactions, especially with siblings.
What’s In It for Caregivers?
- A Practical Toolkit
Walk away with ready-to-use language and strategies—taking the guesswork out of tricky social moments. - Clarity About Social Development
Understand what’s typical at this stage and how to set realistic, supportive social goals. - A Shared Learning Experience
Build connection, trust, and confidence as you work together toward common social goals.
Program Overview
- Duration: 16 weeks (8 weeks in Term 3 and 8 weeks in Term 4 of 2025)
- Schedule: Thursdays, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
- Dates:
Term Three: 24th July to 11th September
Term Four: 9th October to 4th December (no session 13th November)
- Location: Making Connections Toowoomba
- Format: Concurrent sessions for children and caregivers
Topics of Instruction
Participants will about:
- Listening and following directions
- Asking and using names
- Greeting friends
- Sharing and giving turns
- Asking friends to play
- Joining ongoing games
- Keeping cool during play
- Being a good sport
- Transition to new play activities
- Using good volume
- Maintaining good body boundaries
What's Included:
- Parent Information Session
- Pre-Post Program surveys and results
- 16 x 90-minute weekly structured group sessions for your child
- 16 x 90-minute caregiver support sessions
- Caregiver Handouts & Resource Folder
- Certificate upon completion of the program
- Graduation party celebration
- Summary Report after completion of the program
How We Deliver Value
- Collaborative:
Unlike a one-on-one model, the group format is an authentic context for children to learn and practise friendship skills. It also brings parents and children together—so families grow in confidence and build capacity together. - Practical and intensive:
With 32 sessions (16 for children and 16 for caregivers), it’s a deep dive into real-world social learning, not just theory. - Community-based:
Families benefit from learning in a warm, supportive group setting, where shared experiences create connection and encouragement. - Cost-effective:
With 32 sessions included (16 for children and 16 for caregivers), the per-session cost is significantly less than most private clinical appointments—while offering double the impact. - Designed to complement—not replace—1:1 therapy:
This program builds on existing support by helping parents carry therapeutic strategies into everyday life, and into supported, naturalistic group contexts.
Want to know more? Email to:
-Request a complimentary 10-15 minute phone call to discuss the program, or
- For an information sheet with costs and details.
fiona@makingconnectionstoowoomba.com.au
Research on PEERS® for Preschoolers
- Remote PEERS® for preschoolers: A pilot parent-mediated social skills intervention for young children with social challenges over telehealth (Factor et al., 2022)
- Examining Feasibility and Outcomes of the PEERS® for Preschoolers Program (Factor et al., 2022).
- An Initial Pilot Study Examining Child Social Skills, Caregiver Styles, and Family Functioning in the PEERS® for Preschoolers Program for Young Autistic Children and their Caregivers (Factor et al., 2021).
- Long‑Term Treatment Outcomes of PEERS® for Preschoolers: A Parent‑Mediated Social Skills Training Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Tripathi et al., 2021).
- PEERS® for Preschoolers preliminary outcomes and predictors of treatment response (Antezana et al., 2022)
- Parent-Assisted Social Skills Training for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: PEERS for Preschoolers (Park et al., 2022)
- Pilot Study Examining Caregiver–Child and Family Functioning in PEERS® for Preschoolers (Factor et al., 2022)
- Parent perspectives on treatment: A mixed methods analysis of PEERS® for Preschoolers (Tripathi et al., 2023)
PEERS® for Teens & Adults
Aged 14-18 Years
Ages 18-30 Years
PEERS® for Teens (14–18) & PEERS® for Young Adults (18+)
PEERS® is an evidence-based social skills training program developed at UCLA to support people with social communication challenges—including those with autism, ADHD, or social anxiety—to build meaningful friendships and navigate social settings with greater confidence. No formal diagnosis is required to participate.
What’s the Difference Between the Teen and Young Adult Programs?
Both programs teach the same core skills—like conversation strategies, making and keeping friends, handling peer conflict, and navigating social situations—but differ in delivery to best suit each age group:
PEERS® for Teens (14-week program)
Teens between 14-18 years of age attend weekly face-to-face sessions while parents or caregivers participate in parallel coaching groups on-site. These caregiver sessions equip parents with tools to support social learning outside the program and help teens generalise their skills in real life.
Please note: This program is currently underway for 2025. We are now taking Expressions of Interest for 2026.
PEERS® for Young Adults (16-week program)
Adults aged 18-30 years attend weekly face-to-face sessions independently. A nominated social coach (usually a parent or support person) joins a weekly online coaching session, offering greater flexibility—ideal for families balancing study, work, or living arrangements. This format helps build independence while still offering strong support behind the scenes.
We are currently taking Expressions of Interest for this program, either for 2025 or 2026.
Topics of Instruction
✅ Covered in Both PEERS® for Teens and Young Adults
- Conversational skills (starting, maintaining, exiting)
- Finding common interests and making friends
- Using humour appropriately
- Handling rejection, teasing, and bullying
- Dealing with gossip and rumours
- Conflict resolution and managing disagreements
- Choosing good friends
- Hosting and attending get-togethers
- Repairing reputations or misunderstandings
- Appropriate use of technology (texting, social media)
➕ Additional Topics Exclusive to PEERS® for Adults
- Dating etiquette and forming romantic relationships
- How to meet new people as an adult (outside of school)
- Planning and initiating get-togethers independently
- Navigating workplace, uni, or TAFE social situations
- Managing peer pressure and setting boundaries
- Maintaining friendships while balancing adult responsibilities
- Online safety and using dating or social apps appropriately
- Assertiveness in adult interactions
What's Included
- Parent/Social Coach Info Session
- Pre- and post-program surveys and individualised feedback
- Weekly 90-minute group sessions (for teens or adults)
- Weekly 90-minute parent/social coach sessions (face-to-face for teens, online for adults)
- Take-home handouts and resource folders
- Certificate of Completion and Graduation Celebration
- End-of-program Summary Report
Is It the Right Fit?
PEERS® is best suited for people who:
- Are aged 14–18 (Teens Program) or 18-30 (Young Adults Program)
- Have difficulty making or keeping friends
- Are motivated to learn and apply new social strategies
- Are within the average range for cognition and language
- Can self-manage emotions, behaviour and self-care in a group setting
- Are willing to participate in weekly sessions and brief home practice tasks
While many participants are neurodivergent (autistic, ADHD, or socially anxious), a diagnosis is not required. We welcome all who would benefit from structured, supported social learning.
Research
The PEERS® Programs are backed by over 20 years of scientific research showing their long-term effectiveness in helping teens and young adults make and keep meaningful friendships.
Click here for links to the research.
Want to Learn More?
Email fiona@makingconnectionstoowoomba.com.au to:
- Request a free 10-minute call to ask questions
- Receive an info sheet with key dates and pricing
