Helping teens build stronger peer connections.
PEERS® for Teens is a 16-week evidence-based social skills intervention for motivated teens in high school who are interested in learning new ways of making and keeping friends.
This internationally acclaimed program, used in over 35 countries, was originally developed at UCLA by Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson.
During each group session, teens are taught important social skills and are given the opportunity to practise these skills in session during socialisation activities.
Parents attend separate sessions and are taught how to assist their teens in making and keeping friends by helping to expand their teen’s social network and providing feedback through coaching during weekly socialisation homework assignments.
Your teen will learn about
- Conversational skills
- How to use humour in a helpful way
- Forming and maintaining friendships
- Electronic communication
- Bullying and bad reputations
- Managing arguments and disagreements
- Organising get togethers with friends
- Organising get togethers with friends
- How to be a good sport
- How to handle rumours and gossip
Frequently Asked Questions
What parents are saying
My teen used to walk around at lunch time all by themself, now they hang out with friends.
What teens are saying
School is so much more fun when you have someone to hang out with at lunchtime.
Who can join PEERS® for Teens?
PEERS® for Teens was developed for autistic teens, and since has had good clinical response in teens with ADHD and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. PEERS focused on skills development rather than correction of social mistakes. It for teens in high school or of high school age. We may accept students in Year 6 on occasions, though they might be better suited to our other programs. This is something we will determine when we meet with you and your teen.
How many teens are in each group?
Our groups consist of between 7-10 teens per group. This means that places are limited, we work really hard to match your teen with other teens we think they will work well with. This at times may mean we may suggest you wait for another intake to ensure the group meets the needs of your family.
I really want my teen to join, but am not sure how to approach them with the idea.
Talking with teens about joining a program can be tricky—especially if they sense you’re trying to convince them.For PEERS® to be effective, your teen needs to want to attend and be socially motivated.
You might like to frame it in a way that makes sense to them: teens are often comfortable getting support from a sports coach or a tutor for academic subjects. In the same way, our social coaches help with all the “other” parts of high school life—the social interactions, teamwork, and navigating friendships—that aren’t covered in sport, academics, or performing arts.
We guide and support your teen in learning how to work well with others so they can enjoy a more positive and rewarding high school experience.
Do parents have to participate?
Yes. Your involvement makes a big difference.
If you can't participate, find a trusted adult who can act as a social coach and can attend weekly meetings.
PEERS® for Teens is most effective when parents (or a committed caregiver) attend the weekly parent group alongside the teen sessions. In the parent group, we coach you on the same strategies your teen is learning, so you can be their social skills coach and support them to practise these skills in real-life situations.
Think of it as becoming your teen’s “social coach” at home – reinforcing what they’ve learned, celebrating wins, and helping them problem-solve any challenges between sessions.
Do we need to commit to the whole program?
Yes – full commitment is important for success.
PEERS® is a step-by-step program where each week builds on the skills learned in the previous session. Attending the full program ensures your teen has the best chance to practise, master, and apply these skills in real-life situations.
Missing sessions can make it harder for your teen to keep up and may limit their progress, so we encourage families to commit to all sessions wherever possible.
What is a PEERS® bootcamp?
A PEERS® Bootcamp is a faster, more intensive version of the standard PEERS® program.
Instead of meeting once or twice a week over several months, the Bootcamp condenses the core evidence-based lessons into a shorter time frame – often over several consecutive days.
It’s designed for families who want the benefits of PEERS® but prefer a more concentrated schedule, such as during school holidays. Teens still learn a selection of the proven social skills, and parents/caregivers still participate in parallel sessions so they can support their teen at home.
We offer bootcamps on the following skills: Conversation skills, Friendship Skills, and Bully Proofing
When does the next Bootcamp begin?
Register your details to be the first to find out
When does the next program start?
We are currently taking expressions of interest for summer holiday bootcamp sessions.
How much does the PEERS® for Teens Program cost?
PEERS® for Teens is delivered as a 16-week Program of Support. We believe families should have a clear idea of costs before registering, so we provide an estimated program cost as well as a detailed individual Schedule of Supports before commencement.
For the 2026–27 NDIS Pricing Schedule, the rates used to calculate our PEERS® for Teens Program of Support are:
Developmental Educator — $193.99 per hour
Other Professional — $156.16 per hour
These are the national rates in the 2026–27 NDIS Pricing Schedule. The Developmental Educator rate applies to direct, telehealth and eligible non-face-to-face Developmental Educator supports, while the Other Professional rate is $156.16 per hour for the corresponding supports.
How is the Program of Support calculated?
Our PEERS® for Teens program involves considerably more than the 90 minutes your teen spends in their weekly group. The Program of Support includes:
an initial intake, assessment and individualised planning process
16 × 90-minute teen PEERS® sessions
16 × 90-minute parent/social coach sessions
two professionals involved in delivery of the group program — a Developmental Educator and Other Professional
approximately 1.5 hours per week of participant-specific non-face-to-face support, including reviewing homework and social-coach feedback, planning role plays and behavioural rehearsals, individualising examples and strategies, session preparation, participant notes, progress monitoring, team coordination and parent follow-up
a final progress report, where included in the participant's Schedule of Supports.
Non-face-to-face supports are only charged where they directly relate to providing the participant's disability support. General administration, enrolment and NDIS payment processing are not charged as non-face-to-face supports.
What should I budget for the 16-week program?
The final cost depends partly on the number of participants in the group. Group-delivery costs are shared between participants, while individual planning and non-face-to-face supports remain specific to each participant.
Based on our current pricing structure, a family can generally expect a Program of Support of approximately $6,500–$8,600 per participant for a group of 4–8 participants.
These amounts are an estimated funding allocation for the complete 16-week Program of Support, rather than an upfront course fee. Participants are invoiced for the supports provided in accordance with their Service Agreement and Schedule of Supports.
Before you commit to the program, we will provide a detailed individual quote showing the supports, anticipated hours, applicable hourly rates and estimated total funding required.
Can I use NDIS funding to access the program?
Yes—self-managed or plan-managed participants may apply NDIS funds. Plan-managed families must confirm with their plan manager to determine whether the program meets your teens goals.
