Co-ordinated by a committee comprising Karen Meiring de Gonzalez, Francine Bishop, Sharon Pannewitz, Henny Williams, Deborah O'Brien and Glenda Pearce, it catered for people of all ages who are on the autism spectrum, and their families and friends.

Adriana Stranges and her sons Gabriel and Michael each enjoyed their night out at City Beach Function Centre for different reasons.

Michael couldn't stay off the jumping castle while his brother Gabriel enjoyed wandering around and checking everything out, particularly in the room with the music, lights and dancing.

And their mum said it was "just lovely to get to do something as a family".

"There are lots of things for autistic kids to do here that they find enjoyable," she said. "There is a sensory part and there is a jumping castle. It caters for all their needs."

With only one entrance, parents could relax and socialise, knowing Care & Share committee members, Aspect South Coast School staff members and volunteers from Interchange Illawarra were monitoring every zone.

Care & Share for Autism was founded by Karen Meiring de Gonzalez, of Skin Correctives, to help Illawarra families affected by autism. She has previously held pampering days for mothers of autistic children.

Aspect South Coast School's Deborah O'Brien said that, from the moment she met Mrs Meiring de Gonzalez, she wanted to do things to help families affected by autism.

Interchange Illawarra's Glenda Pearce said the group that provided support for people with disabilities and their families sponsored the event because it saw the need Mrs Meiring de Gonzalez was targeting.

"We thought this was a great event to be able to put some financial support towards and for our families to come along with their children and relatives and meet up with other families," she said. "There's never been anything like this. Not something so autism specific.

"Karen and her team... are making an enormous effort to make sure that people with disabilities and their families and particularly children with autism have the opportunity to participate in everything that other children get to do."

Mrs Meiring de Gonzalez said 150 people attended the first dance party and she expected it to grow just as the pampering days had.