LEANS Australia Welcomes A New Chapter in Neurodiversity Education for Primary Schools

Across Australia, more families, teachers and therapists are calling for classroom environments that truly understand and support neurodivergent children. Today, a major step toward that future was announced.

Announced yesterday, December 4 2025, Australian charity Reframing Autism has confirmed that the internationally acclaimed Learning About Neurodiversity at School (LEANS) program will be adapted for Australian primary schools, becoming LEANS Australia, which will launch in 2026.

Image provided in LEANS Australia Press Release

Originally developed by a neurodiverse team at the University of Edinburgh’s Salvesen Mindroom Research Centre, LEANS is a teacher-delivered, evidence-based, free curriculum that helps children aged 8–11 understand neurodiversity through stories, hands-on activities, videos and classroom discussion.

Since its global release in 2022, educators in more than 80 countries have downloaded the program over 12,000 times, with early research showing measurable improvements in students’ understanding, empathy and inclusive behaviour. One student said it best: “Everyone is different … you can just be you.”

Now, with funding from the Australian Government’s Inclusion and Accessibility Fund, Reframing Autism will make Australia the first country to localise and adapt the program, ensuring it reflects Australian culture, students, classroom needs and curriculum.

Why this matters for Australian classrooms

Australia has no nationwide program designed specifically to help children understand neurodiversity in a structured, developmentally appropriate way. With neurodivergent students making up a significant proportion of every classroom, this gap affects everyone: ND children, their peers, teachers, and families.

LEANS Australia aims to change that by offering:

• whole-class learning (not singling out neurodivergent students)

• clear, teacher-friendly resources

• age-appropriate language and activities

• curriculum-mapped content

• updated visuals and examples created here in Australia

A diverse advisory panel, including First Nations representatives, educators, neurodivergent adults and young people, will guide the adaptation process.

Reframing Autism CEO Sharon Fraser says,

“When children learn early that every brain is different and valuable, it lays important foundations for more understanding and inclusive classroom cultures.”

What families and educators should know about LEANS Australia

• Thriving Kids (the new foundational supports system) is separate from this program, but LEANS Australia aligns with broader national goals for inclusion.

• LEANS will be free for every school to download.

• An evaluation study led by OTARC at La Trobe University will begin in 2026.

• Local illustrations will be created by NSW artist Cherie Hurley.

Stay informed

You can sign up for updates at: www.leansaustralia.com.au

This announcement marks a hopeful shift — one that moves Australian classrooms closer to celebrating all kinds of thinkers, learners and communicators. A future where every child can say, “I can be me here.”

Note: Information in this article includes details sourced from an official press release provided by Reframing Autism.