MELBOURNE: When Professor Andrew Whitehouse started researching autism more than two decades ago, very little was known about the neurodevelopmental condition.
Thanks to his pioneering research the world not only has a far greater understanding of autism, but children born with the condition are diagnosed and given access to life-changing supports far earlier.
Professor Whitehouse’s world-leading work over 25 years was recognised on Monday night when he was named Scientist of the Year at the 2026 Premier’s Science Awards.
Professor Whitehouse is the deputy executive director at The Kids Research Institute Australia and director of CliniKids, the institute’s first clinical service which provides tailored, best-practice therapies for children with autism or developmental delay.
He is also the Angela Wright Bennett Chair of Autism Research and chaired the committee which recently created Australia’s first national autism diagnosis guidelines.
Professor Whitehouse said he felt fortunate that his career had tracked the modern history of autism.
“It’s been a genuinely thrilling ride. Not just because of the thousands of families that I’ve been lucky enough to meet and be part of their lives along the way, but because it has been a scientific revolution in terms of how we can best support kids,” he said.
“(It’s gone) from guessing, all the way through to genuine evidence-based decision making.”
The scientific field was a “different world” when he first started out, and most people’s understanding of autism was limited to the film Rain Man.
“Now if you ask the average person on the street, they would certainly have a pretty good understanding about autism and how we can best support people within the community,” he said.
At the same time, “snake oil and unevidenced therapies” had been replaced by highly effective treatments.
“That is a huge change over the last 25 years. And kids, and families, are better because of it,” he said.
While the science has come a long way, Professor Whitehouse now wants to see change in the education system when it comes to supporting autistic children.
“We know schools are struggling to cater for the large numbers of neurodivergent children. I’m also a true believer that, if there was ever a silver bullet to transforming happy and healthy kids into happy and healthy adults, it is schools,” he said.
“And so, where we’ve had the clinical revolution in how we support autistic children, we also now need that educational revolution, and that’s the next frontier.”
The Scientist of the Year award recognises a world class scientist who, over the past 10 years, has demonstrated excellence in a field of science, scientific research or technological advancement.
Professor Whitehouse said it was an honour to be named in the prestigious Scientist of the Year category alongside respected scientists Penelope Hasking and Thomas Wernberg.
Professor Hasking, from Curtin University, is transforming how Australia responds to self-harm and suicide among young people.
Professor Wernberg, a University of WA Laureate Fellow and marine ecologist, reshaped understanding of the critical socio-economic importance of kelp forests and how marine heatwaves impact species and ecosystem services.
“These awards are critical platforms,” Professor Whitehouse said.
“They enable us to speak about areas of passion that we’ve dedicated our lives to, but more importantly for me, it’s about the people that I’ve dedicated my professional life to.
“These awards are about them.”
The Premier’s Science Awards are now in their 25th year. Other winners on Monday night included Professor Pat Dudgeon, who was named Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist of the Year.
Dr Mark Harvey from WA Museum, and Emeritus Professor David Groves, from UWA’s School of Earth and Oceans, were inducted into the WA Science Hall of Fame.