Bikers for Autism - Australia

*** ABOUT BIKERS FOR AUTISM – AUSTRALIA ***

Bikers for Autism – Australia (BFAA) ABN 13 679 844 753 is a registered national sub-entity of the Australian Autism Aspergers Network Inc. IA40857 a national registered charity under the Australian Charities Commission and registered tax concessions under the ATO. The Australian Autism Aspergers Network Inc. is currently registered as a Public Benevolent Institution (PBI) with a variety of categories to help families and individuals on or related to the Autism Spectrum.

For more information on our endorsements, tax concessions and Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status please visit the following links. Also you can download and read our constitution through the Australian Charities Commission website as per link below.

http://www.acnc.gov.au/RN52B75Q…

www.abr.business.g7ov.au/SearchByAbn.aspx?abn=13679844753

All donations over $2.00 are tax deductible with tax receipt.

Bank details for donations to Biker for Autism:
Westpac Bank Maroochydore
Bikers for Autism
BSB 034198
Acc 542336

Bank details for donations to the Australian Autism Aspergers Network Inc.
Westpac Bank Maroochydore
Australian Autism Aspergers Network Inc.
BSB 034198
Acc 542299

The committee for the Australia Autism Aspergers Network Inc. and sub-committee of Bikers for Autism – Australia have strict guidelines in regards to requirements for being part of the committee. Our committees have a majority of members who are formally diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and other members have a direct family member eg sibling, parent or child with an ASC. We believe to truly understand and best support the autism community, our committee members need to have lived this first hand. Unlike other organisations that have only a couple if any of their committee on the Autism Spectrum, our values and beliefs are that our committee must be a majority.

Founders and directors Barb Cook and Paul Kay were both formally diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome as adults and have both experienced firsthand the difficulties and hurdles growing up not knowing they were both on the Autism Spectrum. Finally after receiving their diagnosis in 2009 and 2008 respectively, life began to make a lot more sense and was a huge relief to both to finally have an understanding of their differences and embracing what they had to offer the community in a different way.

Both Barb and Paul created the Sunshine Coast Autism Aspergers Network in 2009 when they found it difficult to find local information and support for those on the Autism Spectrum.
As time progressed the Australian Autism Aspergers Network Inc. was created in 2012 and formal national charity status was given in March 2013.

Another highlight to the charity came with Professor Tony Attwood and Dr Michelle Garnett coming on board as patrons to the charity and are advisors on Autism Spectrum Conditions to the network.

During these years Barb has been the editor and publisher of the Autism Aspergers Network Magazine, an international publication that saw Barb being nominated for a national and international awards for her professional and information packed magazine.

Barb has also been a regular on radio, television and in newspapers in regards to her advocacy and advice on the Autism Spectrum. Barb was recently involved in a mini documentary produced by SBS and The Feed on Women with Autism. Barb has also endorsed books and written reviews in regards to the Autism Spectrum.

Bikers for Autism – Australia was created to embrace the joy of riding motorcycles as both Barb and Paul have been keen motorcyclists for 30+ years. Motorcycles have been a major part in both their lives as a way to find a calm and sense of peace away from the everyday world. Also the motorcycling community have been a great place to find acceptance of difference and becomes like “family”.

Bikers for Autism – Australia’s vision is to help families and individuals directly through the means of fundraising events and rides with the proceeds from these events going directly to the families and individuals without having money or goods “lost” to administration fees and costs as does happen to large organisations.

Our events are family orientated and we are not associated in any form to motorcycle organisations or clubs. We embrace all who come to our events whether or not you ride and our outlook is of a positive and uplifting nature.
Our merchandise we sell directly benefits families and individuals. All merchandise is not an association with membership to a club or entity of any form.

As with our use of the terminology Autism Spectrum Condition rather than Disorder, we have chosen to follow the terminology that Professor Tony Attwood and many of those in the Autism Community who embrace and support the positives that so many of us on the Autism Spectrum have to offer. We want to show the general community that with a helping hand we can achieve great things and have a positive effect on our own self esteem and the community.

If you would like further information in regards to our organisation, or about Barb’s achievements and publications please email us at contact@bikersforautism.org

For more information on upcoming events, please follow our facebook page or visit our website www.bikersforautism.org

We thank you all for getting behind and supporting those families and individuals in need!

“Together we ride to enrich the lives of others…”