Dr. Lauren Taylor serves as a clinical lecturer and clinical psychologist in the School of Psychological Science at the University of Western Australia. With clinical experience spanning the full lifespan, she has contributed to transdisciplinary teams supporting children, adolescents, and adults with autism spectrum disorder, including those with significant disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions. Currently, she works in a multidisciplinary team conducting diagnostic evaluations for adolescents and adults seeking autism assessments. Taylor completed her postgraduate training in psychology at UWA before undertaking a postdoctoral research position at King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. There, she led the London research arm of the Paediatric Autism Communication Trial-Generalised (PACT-G), the largest multisite randomised controlled trial for children with autism. She achieved research reliability on key tools such as the ADOS-2 and ADI-R, and is now an independent ADOS-2 trainer—one of only two in Western Australia. Additionally, she is an AHPRA Board-Approved Supervisor.

Taylor coordinates and teaches the Graduate Certificate in Autism Diagnosis at UWA, the world’s only postgraduate program dedicated to autism diagnosis. She led a national research project on diagnostic practices for autism in Australia, informing the National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism. Her research focuses on enhancing diagnostic experiences for autistic individuals not identified in early childhood and understanding co-occurring mental health, particularly in those with intellectual disability. With around 20 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, notable works include “Combined social communication therapy at home and in education for young autistic children in England (PACT-G): a parallel, single-blind, randomised controlled trial” (The Lancet Psychiatry, 2022), “Using implementation science frameworks to explore barriers and facilitators for parents’ use of therapeutic strategies following a parent-mediated autism intervention” (Autism, 2023), and “An investigation of adherence to best practice guidelines for autism diagnosis in New Zealand” (Autism, 2021). She co-supervises PhD students on autism screening and anxiety projects and received the 2025 UWA Award for Excellence and Innovation in Learning and Teaching (Digital Transformation) shared with colleagues. Taylor also holds a Research Associate position at King’s College London.

Professional Email: lauren.taylor@uwa.edu.au