ABA Social Skills Program for Kids in Casula

An ABA-based socialisation program building the skills children need for school, friendships and community life

Some children need more than time around other kids to learn how to play, share, wait and communicate with peers. They need those skills broken down, taught directly and practised until they become natural. Our ABA Social Skills Program does exactly that.

Run in small social skills groups at our Casula clinic, serving families across Liverpool and South West Sydney, the program uses the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) to teach children the social, communication and self-management skills that support successful participation at preschool, school and in the community.

What is an ABA social skills program?

Applied Behaviour Analysis is the science of how behaviour is learned and how it changes. ABA therapy is one of the most extensively researched approaches for supporting children with autism and other developmental differences.

Our ABA socialisation program applies these principles in a group setting. Every child has individual goals, and every goal is taught through structured, measurable teaching combined with real play and interaction with peers. Children do not just learn a social skill with a therapist. They learn to use it with other children, in busy environments and across different situations, which is where social skills actually matter.

Who is our social skills group for ?

Our social skills groups run in two age groups: 3 to 6 years and 7 to 11 years. Children are grouped with peers of a similar age and developmental level.

The program suits children who:

Have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Global Developmental Delay (GDD), ADHD or another developmental condition
Find it difficult to play with, approach or respond to other children
Struggle to follow group instructions, wait, take turns or cope with transitions
Are preparing to start preschool or school and need school readiness support with classroom routines
Are currently at school and struggling with friendships, classroom expectations, playground interactions or managing their emotions
Find community outings such as shopping, appointments or playgrounds difficult
Show behaviours that make group settings challenging

How our ABA social skills program works

1. Initial assessment
If your child has not already been assessed by our Behaviour Therapy Team, a behaviour therapist will first assess their current skills across social, communication, play, learning readiness and self-help areas. We also talk with you about your priorities, your child's school or preschool setting, and any behaviours of concern. If your child is an existing client, we use their current assessment and goals.

2. Individual goals
Using the assessment, we set clear, measurable goals for your child. Goals are written in observable terms so progress can be tracked and reported.

3. Small group teaching
Children attend in small groups with a high therapist-to-child ratio. Each session combines structured ABA teaching with naturalistic, play-based practice.

4. Evidence-based ABA teaching methods
Our therapists use proven ABA strategies including:

Positive reinforcement to strengthen new skills and make learning motivating
Modelling and video modelling so children see exactly what a skill looks like
Behavioural skills training: instruction, demonstration, rehearsal and feedback
Prompting and prompt fading so children move from supported to independent
Naturalistic and incidental teaching that uses real play moments to practise skills
Peer-mediated practice where children learn with and from each other
Functional replacement skills that teach appropriate ways to get needs met in place of challenging behaviour

5. Data-driven progress
Therapists collect data on each child's goals every session. Teaching is adjusted based on that data, not guesswork, so time is spent on what is working.

6. Generalisation
Skills are practised with different peers, therapists, materials and routines so they carry over into school, home and the community.

7. Parent involvement
Parents receive regular updates and practical strategies to support the same skills at home and on outings.

Who Can Benefit from the Program?

Our School Prep Socialisation Program is ideal for children aged 3 to 6 who:

Have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or other developmental conditions.
Experience attention and focus challenges due to ADHD.
Show delays in reaching developmental milestones.
Struggle with emotional regulation or behavioral challenges like ODD.
Have learning disabilities or difficulties adjusting to structured environments.
Need support in communication and socialisation skills.

Social Skills We Target!

School readiness and learning skills

Sitting and attending in a group
Responding to name and attending to a speaker
Joint attention: looking where others look and sharing interest
Waiting for a turn or an adult's attention
Working on an activity until it is finished

Following instructions and classroom routines

Following group instructions ("Everyone, line up")
Participating in circle time and mat time
Transitioning between activities without distress
Lining up, walking with the group and staying with the group
Packing away, hanging up a bag and finding their spot
Raising a hand and waiting to be called on

Social and play skills

Parallel play progressing to cooperative play
Joining a game and inviting others to play
Sharing materials and taking turns
Following game rules and coping with losing
Imitating peers and following a peer's lead
Noticing and responding to how others feel
Giving and accepting compliments

Community access skills

Waiting in lines and public spaces
Staying with an adult and responding to safety instructions
Tolerating noisy or unfamiliar environments
Appropriate interactions with familiar and unfamiliar people

Communication skills

Requesting items, help, a break or "finished"
Greeting peers and adults and responding to greetings
Answering and asking simple questions
Commenting and sharing information with peers
Saying "no" and protesting appropriately
Following simple conversational turn-taking

Emotional regulation and flexibility

Identifying and labelling feelings
Using coping strategies when upset or frustrated
Accepting "no", "wait" and changes to plans
Tolerating non-preferred activities
Asking for help instead of becoming distressed

Social skills for school-aged children

Starting, maintaining and ending conversations with peers
Understanding personal space and social rules in the playground
Working cooperatively in group tasks and accepting others' ideas
Handling teasing, conflict and disagreements appropriately
Being a good sport in games and competition
Self-monitoring behaviour and using independent coping strategies
Asking a teacher for help or clarification

Independence and self-care

Opening a lunchbox and eating with peers
Toileting and handwashing routines
Managing belongings
Putting on shoes, jackets and hats

What to expect from our social skills group

Program structure

Runs over 8 to 12 weeks
Two sessions per week, 2 hours each

A typical session

Arrival routine: greeting, unpacking and settling in
Group circle time: instructions, discussion and taking turns to speak
Structured teaching: focused practice on individual goals
Play and social practice: guided peer play, games and group activities
Snack time: eating with peers, requesting and conversation
Transitions and community practice: moving between activities and settings
Pack up and goodbye routine

Progress reporting
You will receive updates throughout the program and a progress summary at the end, showing where your child started, what they achieved and recommended next steps.

Why choose Kids Therapy Clinics for your child's social skills program?

ABA socialisation program designed and overseen by our Senior Behaviour Therapy Team
Individual, measurable goals within a small group setting
Data collected and reviewed every session
Access to Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Psychology under one roof
NDIS Therapy Funded (depending on individual plans), with reporting suited to NDIS plan reviews
Conveniently located in Casula NSW 2170, close to Liverpool, Prestons, Moorebank and Edmondson Park

Book your spot now!

Secure your child's place in our ABA Social Skills Program at Kids Therapy Clinics. Each group is kept small so every child receives focused teaching, individual goals and consistent practice with peers, which means places are limited and fill quickly.

Whether your child is getting ready to start school or is already at school and finding friendships, routines or big feelings difficult, our Behaviour Therapy Team will build a program around your child's needs and track their progress every session. The program can also be combined with Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy or Psychology at our Casula clinic for a coordinated approach under one roof.

Book now: places are limited

To keep teaching effective, every social skills group is capped at a small number of children, and each age group fills quickly. Once a group is full, new enrolments move to the waitlist for the next intake.

Call 1300 877 789 or book online today to secure your child's spot in the next intake.

Book your spot now!

What is ABA therapy?

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is an evidence-based approach that uses the science of learning to teach meaningful skills and reduce behaviours that interfere with learning. Learn more on our ABA Therapy page.

Is this social skills program only for children with autism?
No. The program supports children with autism, ADHD, Global Developmental Delay, social communication difficulties and other developmental conditions, as well as children who simply need extra help with social skills.

Can I use NDIS funding for the social skills group?
Eligibility depends on your child's plan and funding categories. Contact our team and we can talk you through your options.

My child is already at school. Is it too late?
No. We have programs designed specifically for school-aged children who are struggling with friendships, playground interactions, classroom expectations or emotional regulation.

Does my child need an assessment first?
Only if they have not already been assessed by our Behaviour Therapy Team. Existing clients start with their current goals.

How is progress measured?
Therapists record data on your child's goals every session and provide a written progress summary at the end of the program.

Book now: places are limited

Secure your child's place now by calling 1300 877 789 or booking online. Our team will confirm your child's age group, arrange an initial assessment if needed and let you know the next available start date.

[Book Your Spot Now]