Autism Research in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand (2023–2025): A Mapping Review of Research Focus, Participant Representation, and Demographic Reporting

Authors

Abstract

This mapping review will examine the contemporary autism research landscape in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Although research activity has expanded in recent years, it remains unclear whether this growth reflects the breadth of issues affecting autistic people or whose experiences are visible within the evidence base (Emerson et al., 2024). The applicability and interpretation of research findings depend in part on how study populations are described and whether diverse social, cultural, and support contexts are represented. Demographic characteristics are often inconsistently reported in autism research, with key characteristics such as race and ethnicity frequently absent or variably defined (Steinbrenner et al., 2022). Existing reviews have typically focused on specific variables or subfields, rather than mapping the broader research landscape (Steinbrenner et al., 2022). This review will address this gap by examining autism research conducted in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand between 2023 and 2025. The review has three aims: to map the primary focus domains of published research, to examine the types or roles of participants represented, and to analyse how demographic characteristics of autistic individuals are reported across studies. The focus on reporting practices, rather than demographic distributions, reflects the variability and inconsistency in how such data are captured and described. A mapping review methodology will be employed (Khalil et al., 2025). Reporting categories for participant characteristics will be informed by PROGRESS+ guidelines (O’Neill et al., 2014) and national priority groups identified in Australia's National Autism Strategy (Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Social Services, 2024). The expected outcome is a structured overview of research focus, participant representation, and demographic reporting practices, to inform future research, policy, and funding priorities. Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Social Services. (2024). National Autism Strategy 2025–2031. Australian Government. https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-07/national-autism-strategy-2025-2031.pdf Emerson, L. M., Monk, R., van der Meer, L., Sutherland, D., & McLay, L. (2024). Autistic co‑led community priorities for future autism research in Aotearoa New Zealand. Autism in Adulthood, 6(2), 141–151. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2022.0109 Khalil, H., Welch, V., Grainger, M., & Campbell, F. (2025). Methodology for mapping reviews, evidence maps, and gap maps. Research Synthesis Methods, 16(5), 786-796. O’Neill, J., Tabish, H., Welch, V., Petticrew, M., Pottie, K., Clarke, M.,... & Tugwell, P. (2014). Applying an equity lens to interventions: Using PROGRESS ensures consideration of socially stratifying factors to illuminate inequities in health. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 67(1), 56–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2013.08.005 Steinbrenner, J. R., McIntyre, N., Rentschler, L. F., Pearson, J. N., Luelmo, P., Jaramillo, M. E.,... & Hume, K. A. (2022). Patterns in reporting and participant inclusion related to race and ethnicity in autism intervention literature: Data from a large-scale systematic review of evidence-based practices. Autism, 26(8), 2026-2040.

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