Sixteen Dapto High School students will show off the fruits of their labours when they perform the salty-themed circus show, Down Under, next week.

The year 7 to 11 students, from Wollemi, the school's autism support unit, will spin plates, walk the tightwire, hang from aerial ribbons (tissu), bounce on a mini-trampoline and perform comedy at Circus Monoxide, Fairy Meadow, on September 17. Down Under is open to the public and runs from 5pm-6pm.

The show is the result of two terms of weekly circus workshops at Circus Monoxide.

"It will give these students an opportunity to work in a group to perform in front of an audience in a way that many of them have rarely, or never, done before," Wollemi support teacher Fiona McKay said.

"It's that opportunity to be accepted and recognised for their efforts."

When Ms McKay first started at Wollemi she realised many of the students had difficulty fitting into mainstream sport and began working with Circus Monoxide in 2010.

She said she had seen the benefits circus had on her daughter Shona Conacher. The former Circus Monoxide performer has just returned to Australia after performing overseas and will MC Down Under.

"[Shona] hadn't been really interested in team sports very much and she was very creative," Ms McKay said.

"It [circus] really accepted the individual, it promoted creativity, it didn't have to tie kids down into a neat set of rules with whistles blowing."

Ms McKay said circus helped autistic children's social and emotional development with its focus on fun and pushing boundaries.

The first circus classes in 2010 proved successful and a regular program was established, backed by Arts NSW.

"We had one young man who hated people touching him and yet he was able to participate in an activity where everyone had hands on him and lifted him up ... an amazing achievement."

Last year's show also built teamwork.

"To see the way young people supported each other ... it moved me so much, we decided to go again."

Tickets from $5 to $24.

Tickets: trybooking.com