Meet your social coaches.

The team behind Australia’s online PEERS® programs.

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Meet your Social Coaches

Hello, I'm Christine, but my friends call me Chris.

If your adolescent or young adult needs help making and keeping friends, and gaining social skills and confidence - you're in the right place!

I'm a fellow parent. For the past 18 years, I’ve been raising my own children and step-children with autism and ADHD, and I know what it’s like to have a child who finds it hard to make and keep friends, who feels socially awkward, and who’s beginning to isolate. I first discovered PEERS® when my son asked for help with learning social skills, and he and I completed the course together, with me as his social coach.

The difference was profound. Today my son is a happy and confident young man with a beautiful group of friends around him - and seeing that transformation firsthand is why I trained as a Certified PEERS® Provider through the University of California, so I could share everything I’ve learned with other families.

I bring 28 years’ experience as a communications specialist - much of it in the not-for-profit, education and disability sectors - to every warm, relaxed, small-group session. Social skills can be explicitly taught, and learning them is actually SO much fun. I look forward to helping your young person flourish as the beautiful individual they are. Get in touch - I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Christine O’Leary

Certified PEERS® Provider & Social Skills Coach

PEERS® Credentials (Adolescent) - PEERS® Credentials (Young Adult)

Social Coache

Meet your facilitators

Maria Pido

Certified PEERS® Provider
Social Behavioural Coach

Maria holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Primary Education and has international teaching experience. As a PEERS® facilitator with Social Skills Australia since 2023, she is also an experienced social skills coach. Maria is committed to helping individuals build meaningful connections and overcome social challenges.

BEd (Primary Education)

PEERS® Credentials

Maegan Shipley

Certified PEERS® Provider
Social Behavioural Coach

Maegan is a Certified PEERS® Provider with extensive experience as a Montessori and ESL teacher across diverse age groups and cultures. She brings lived insight into neurodivergent experiences and a deep commitment to helping others build social confidence and real-world skills. Maegan holds a Diploma in Child Development and a Bachelor's Degree in Human and Social Sciences.

BA (Psychology and Social Sciences)
Dip. Education
Dip. Child Development

PEERS® Credentials

Janet Smit

Social Behavioural Coach

Janet is a Group Facilitator with a decade of experience leading structured psychoeducational groups for adolescents and adults, many of them neurodivergent. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling with specialised training in ADHD and neurodivergence, and has extensive experience supporting participants and their families, as well as training fellow facilitators.

BA (Social Work)
PG Dip. Counselling (ADHD and Neurodivergence)

Social Skills

We’re excited to work with you and your loved one to achieve your family goals!

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we got answers

Frequently asked questions.

    • 14-Week Program for Adolescents and Young Adults

      • Price: $3,300 incl GST ( interest-free payment plan available). Or $2,800 incl GST with $500 discount when paid in full up front).

      • Overview: This comprehensive program spans 14 weeks and is designed to help adolescents and young adults develop crucial social skills, including conversation techniques, managing social interactions, and building friendships.

      Self-Paced Start Anytime PEERS® Course

      • Price: $695 incl GST (one-time payment)

      • Overview: A flexible, on-demand course covering the full PEERS® curriculum, including conversation skills, friendship building, bully-proofing, and dating etiquette. Includes lesson videos, workbook, app access, private Facebook forum, and two 1:1 coaching calls.

      Self-Paced PEERS® Dating Intensive

      • Price: $495 incl GST (one-time payment)

      • Overview: A focused self-paced program designed for individuals aged 16+ who want to strengthen their dating skills. Covers choosing appropriate partners, flirting, asking someone out, handling rejection, and going on successful dates. Includes bonus lessons and personalised coaching.

      Self-Paced PEERS® Over 30s Social Skills Workshop

      • Price: $385 incl GST (one-time payment)

      • Overview: Tailored for adults aged 30+, this workshop helps participants develop and strengthen social confidence, communication skills, and strategies for building meaningful friendships and connections.

  • PEERS® (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) is an evidence-based social skills training program designed to improve social interactions for individuals with autism, ADHD, and other social challenges. It focuses on teaching practical skills for building and maintaining friendships and relationships.

  • Our programs are open to adolescents, adults, and parents. We tailor our courses to meet the needs of individuals with social challenges, including those on the autism spectrum, with ADHD, or experiencing other social difficulties.

  • Our main program runs for 14 weeks.

    And our Self-Paced courses can start anytime but with a limited access of 4 months.

  • Yes, parental involvement is highly encouraged, especially in our PEERS® programs.

    Parents often serve as social coaches, reinforcing the skills taught during the sessions. For the 14-week programs parents have their own coaching sessions each week.

    For the Self-Paced courses, parents receive pre recorded coaching webinars to support their child’s progress.

  • Once you enroll in a course, you’ll receive login details to access the materials online or via email. For the Self-Paced PEERS® course, you’ll have access to the videos, PDFs, and other resources.

  • Participants are encouraged to ask questions during weekly sessions. You’ll also have access to our members portal where you can ask questions and share experiences with other participants. Additionally, for certain courses like the Self-Paced PEERS® program, you receive two 30-minute 1:1 coaching calls with the instructor to address any specific concerns or questions.

  • Yes! If you missed the current round of PEERS®, you can enrol for the next round we do 3 intakes a year or enrol in our Self-Paced Start Anytime PEERS® course, which will is available all year. This allows you to start the program at your convenience.

  • We are not NDIS registered and we require payment upfront. However if you are Self Managed you may be able to claim a reimbursement from the NDIS.

  • We do not offer refunds for any of our courses. Please ensure you’re committed to the program before enrolling.

  • You can schedule your two 30-minute coaching calls through the calendar link inside the members portal within 4 months of purchasing the course. These sessions are conducted via Zoom/Phone Call.

  • The online format of our courses, combined with the flexibility of accessing materials at your convenience, helps promote consistent attendance. Participants attend one 90-minute session each week for the 14-week program. We also provide tools and reminders to help you stay on track.

  • The online PEERS® course offers the same evidence-based curriculum as our in-person sessions, with the added benefits of reduced anxiety for participants, greater convenience, and more focused learning. The virtual format allows participants to engage deeply with the material in a comfortable setting. If you want more practical and proven benefits of PEERS® online please click here. https://www.socialskillsaustralia.com.au/blog

  • We offer introductory videos and sample lessons on our website, so you can get a feel for the course content and structure before making a commitment. We also share with you the breakdown of topics per week. https://www.socialskillsaustralia.com.au/sample-content

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