THE Austism Advisory and Support Service has come a long way since Grace Fava started it in her living room only a few years ago.

Ms Fava had became frustrated by the lack of information available to parents of autistic children.

``We're very lucky now because we have this house at 88 Memorial Avenue,'' she said. ``With the help of our volunteers and donations from very generous local business, we've been able to really fix the place up.

``It's very different from what it looked like earlier this year.It was completed gutted when we got here, but now it's amazing.''

Ms Fava said advisory service had now introduced new services, including an occupational therapist and a speech therapist.

A psychologist is still needed.

Twenty volunteers work at advisory service and some of them are parents of autistic children.

``We welcome people to come in every day between 10am and 2pm and also have a 24-hour hotline to help parents who need advice on how to look after their children, or who are having a crisis.''

Ms Fava said volunteers answered the hotline all over Australia.

``We've also got several support groups and play groups for families to come along too and are planning a Cantonese support group to start up soon,'' she said.

``Parents of children with autism often need a lot of help and guidance, but it can be very difficult to find.''

Ms Fava said one of the most difficult things to deal with was the community's attitude to autism.

``A lot of teachers and people in general just don't understand,'' she said.

``They think you have a naughty child, or a spoilt child, or you can't control them.

``The number of children on the spectrum who are still being suspended and expelled from schools is just unbelievable.

``There needs to be much more support for families with autism, more places in schools and more training for teachers as well.''

The service will be closed from December this Frisay until January 18, but the hotline 1300222777 will will be operating.