Current understanding of the aetiology and intervention strategies for autism spectrum disorders is very limited.

The WA Autism Register serves as a primary resource to researchers, clinicians and service providers to assist with our knowledge of these complex disorders.

Western Australia (WA) has a variety of comprehensive state databases and its geographic isolation and centrally distributed population makes it an ideal location to establish and manage a register.

The WA Autism Register is prospective, collecting information on all people diagnosed in WA since January 1999.

Purpose and aims
The Register collects information that is useful in describing the pattern of autism diagnoses in WA, including:
• The number and ages of people diagnosed
• The severity of disability
• Shared biological, psychiatric and developmental features
• Individual or group changes over time

The Register has several applications;
• Research
- Epidemiology
- Biology and psychology
- Longitudinal studies
• Planning for services
- Health
- Education
- Disability