Professional Learning Courses

Do you teach or support autistic students in your classroom? Are you seeking effective strategies to enhance their participation and inclusion?

This full-day course looks at the unique learning styles and challenges that autistic children experience. It is designed for teachers, support staff, and school leaders who are committed to helping autistic students be successful in their learning in school.

Educators will enhance their understanding of Autism by covering four essential topics.

First, the course looks at how autistic children process information differently. It also looks at how these differences may heighten their experience of anxiety. Next, it addresses communication, focusing on both receptive and expressive skills. It also explores sensory processing differences specific to autistic children. Finally, the course emphasises the importance of routines in helping autistic children become active and engaged members of their school, including how routines support transitions.

Participants will learn how to choose and use strategies and practical supports in their schools. Please see below an outline of the topics that make up this course.

Topic 1: Cognitive Differences

Participants will:

• Broaden their understanding of Autism by learning about the different strengths and preferences that Autistic children have in thinking, socialising and processing information from their surroundings
• Explore some of the challenges that Autistic children may experience in a school setting
• Consider how practical supports and strategies might be implemented to enhance a student’s engagement

Topic 2: Impact of Anxiety on Behaviour and Engagement

Participants will:

• Consider how neurodevelopmental differences can lead to increased anxiety and stress in autistic individuals
• Explore practical strategies to use in the classroom to actively support student well-being

Topic 3: Sensory Processing

Participants will:

• Develop an understanding of sensory processing
• Acknowledge the impact of sensory processing throughout the day
• Consider how sensory processing styles may present within the school setting
• Learn about key strategies for supporting sensory processing

Topic 4: Communication Supports

Participants will:

• Discover why communication supports are not only useful, but often essential for both speaking and non-speaking autistic students.
• Understand the communication preferences of autistic students, and use the knowledge to explore the specific preferences and support needs of an autistic learner in your class
• Explore a range of communication supports for different purposes, including the use of concrete supports for supporting understanding and expression

Registered Music Therapists and music therapy students are invited to attend our full-day workshop at Giant Steps Melbourne, where we will share some of the rich knowledge and practical music resources developed by the music therapy team to engage autistic students.

Coming from the school context, we will examine the advantages and challenges of working with individuals and groups, the crucial role of support staff in music sessions and how collaboration can maximise confidence in supporting students. Current research from neurology, psychology and music therapy will be discussed, along with how it informs our practice and enables advocacy for our work. We will also look at programming considerations including assessment strategies, goal setting, and decision making around equipment purchases.

Our presenters will share a practical range of songs, instrumental activities and dances specifically designed to target a range of individual and group goals. There will also be the opportunity, under the guidance of the facilitators, to create a resource for your own work.

This will be a hands-on workshop, so come along expecting to sing, play, move and groove!

This day will earn 6 CPD points, and certificates will be sent by email after the course.

Do you teach or support autistic students who engage in ‘challenging behaviour’? Does an autistic student you teach frequently withdraw or refuse to engage in the classroom program?

Heightened anxiety is known to increase ‘challenging behaviour’ and have a negative impact on a student’s participation and engagement in the classroom. Please join us to develop your understanding of how best to support autistic students learning in your school setting.

In this one-day course, you will:

• consider the impact of information processing differences for Autistic individuals on their experience as a learner in the classroom. The course also explores how individuals understand and recognise internal states and emotions;
• understand how anxiety may manifest in the context of the classroom for Autistic students;
• explore a range of practical strategies that can be implemented in the classroom that positively support student well-being

This course is designed for classroom teachers, learning support teachers, school leadership teams and therapists supporting children in schools. It will help participants to better understand the impact of heightened anxiety on autistic children’s learning and understand how they might positively enhance a student’s experience of school through appropriate additional supports and strategies.

The nervous system impacts how your students function, their ability to regulate their emotions and in turn their successful engagement in your classroom.

This full-day course looks at the model of sensory processing and the current research into student’s arousal and emotional regulation. Participants will carry out standardized sensory assessments and an Adult Sensory Profile to gain a deeper understanding of how sensory information is processed. It will also provide a better understanding of the experiences of your students.

Learn practical ideas for managing differences between students and ensure that your children with autism cope with their environment and increase their ability to learn and engage in your school.

Explore the different types of approaches for managing sensory processing disorders including adapting the environment, the task and child-specific techniques to support arousal levels.

This course is relevant to teachers, support staff, childcare educators, and other professionals from health and social services working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder who present with sensory needs.

Autistic individuals with an intellectual delay often present with complex communication difficulties. The use of multi-modal and individualised communication supports are often used to develop and extend their communication abilities across a range of learning. Understanding how individuals with autism learn language and process information is critical in the design and implementation of communication supports, including Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

During the course, different types of expressive communication systems (including AAC) and/or strategies to develop expressive communication (which may include non-speech and/or speech and language development) will be included. Participants will observe different individualised communication systems within some of the classrooms at Giant Steps.

A planning matrix that supports assessment of communication and AAC will be introduced and used to explore appropriate strategies and/or types of AAC for individuals with autism and an intellectual delay. This course also focuses on exploring some of the potential barriers and relevant strategies to successfully implement a communication system for your client/s or child.

This course is relevant to speech pathologists and students, teachers, support staff, child care educators, and other professionals from health and social services working with individuals with autism and an intellectual delay.

Completing this course will contribute to 7.5 hours of teacher directed professional development 1.1.2, 3.1.2, 3.5.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

Do you teach or support autistic students in your classroom? Are you seeking effective strategies to enhance their participation and inclusion?

This full-day course looks at the unique learning styles and challenges that autistic children experience. It is designed for teachers, support staff, and school leaders who are committed to helping autistic students be successful in their learning in school.

Educators will enhance their understanding of Autism by covering four essential topics.

First, the course looks at how autistic children process information differently. It also looks at how these differences may heighten their experience of anxiety. Next, it addresses communication, focusing on both receptive and expressive skills. It also explores sensory processing differences specific to autistic children. Finally, the course emphasises the importance of routines in helping autistic children become active and engaged members of their school, including how routines support transitions.

Participants will learn how to choose and use strategies and practical supports in their schools. Please see below an outline of the topics that make up this course.

Topic 1: Cognitive Differences

Participants will:

• Broaden their understanding of Autism by learning about the different strengths and preferences that Autistic children have in thinking, socialising and processing information from their surroundings
• Explore some of the challenges that Autistic children may experience in a school setting
• Consider how practical supports and strategies might be implemented to enhance a student’s engagement

Topic 2: Impact of Anxiety on Behaviour and Engagement

Participants will:

• Consider how neurodevelopmental differences can lead to increased anxiety and stress in autistic individuals
• Explore practical strategies to use in the classroom to actively support student well-being

Topic 3: Sensory Processing

Participants will:

• Develop an understanding of sensory processing
• Acknowledge the impact of sensory processing throughout the day
• Consider how sensory processing styles may present within the school setting
• Learn about key strategies for supporting sensory processing

Topic 4: Communication Supports

Participants will:

• Discover why communication supports are not only useful, but often essential for both speaking and non-speaking autistic students.
• Understand the communication preferences of autistic students, and use the knowledge to explore the specific preferences and support needs of an autistic learner in your class
• Explore a range of communication supports for different purposes, including the use of concrete supports for supporting understanding and expression

Do you teach or support autistic students who engage in ‘challenging behaviour’? Does an autistic student you teach frequently withdraw or refuse to engage in the classroom program?

Heightened anxiety is known to increase ‘challenging behaviour’ and have a negative impact on a student’s participation and engagement in the classroom. Please join us to develop your understanding of how best to support autistic students learning in your school setting.

In this one-day course, you will:

• consider the impact of information processing differences for Autistic individuals on their experience as a learner in the classroom. The course also explores how individuals understand and recognise internal states and emotions;
• understand how anxiety may manifest in the context of the classroom for Autistic students;
• explore a range of practical strategies that can be implemented in the classroom that positively support student well-being

This course is designed for classroom teachers, learning support teachers, school leadership teams and therapists supporting children in schools. It will help participants to better understand the impact of heightened anxiety on autistic children’s learning and understand how they might positively enhance a student’s experience of school through appropriate additional supports and strategies.

Do you teach or support autistic students in your classroom? Are you seeking effective strategies to enhance their participation and inclusion?

This full-day course looks at the unique learning styles and challenges that autistic children experience. It is designed for teachers, support staff, and school leaders who are committed to helping autistic students be successful in their learning in school.

Educators will enhance their understanding of Autism by covering four essential topics.

First, the course looks at how autistic children process information differently. It also looks at how these differences may heighten their experience of anxiety. Next, it addresses communication, focusing on both receptive and expressive skills. It also explores sensory processing differences specific to autistic children. Finally, the course emphasises the importance of routines in helping autistic children become active and engaged members of their school, including how routines support transitions.

Participants will learn how to choose and use strategies and practical supports in their schools. Please see below an outline of the topics that make up this course.

Topic 1: Cognitive Differences

Participants will:

• Broaden their understanding of Autism by learning about the different strengths and preferences that Autistic children have in thinking, socialising and processing information from their surroundings
• Explore some of the challenges that Autistic children may experience in a school setting
• Consider how practical supports and strategies might be implemented to enhance a student’s engagement

Topic 2: Impact of Anxiety on Behaviour and Engagement

Participants will:

• Consider how neurodevelopmental differences can lead to increased anxiety and stress in autistic individuals
• Explore practical strategies to use in the classroom to actively support student well-being

Topic 3: Sensory Processing

Participants will:

• Develop an understanding of sensory processing
• Acknowledge the impact of sensory processing throughout the day
• Consider how sensory processing styles may present within the school setting
• Learn about key strategies for supporting sensory processing

Topic 4: Communication Supports

Participants will:

• Discover why communication supports are not only useful, but often essential for both speaking and non-speaking autistic students.
• Understand the communication preferences of autistic students, and use the knowledge to explore the specific preferences and support needs of an autistic learner in your class
• Explore a range of communication supports for different purposes, including the use of concrete supports for supporting understanding and expression

The nervous system impacts how your students function, their ability to regulate their emotions and in turn their successful engagement in your classroom.

This full-day course looks at the model of sensory processing and the current research into student’s arousal and emotional regulation. Participants will carry out standardized sensory assessments and an Adult Sensory Profile to gain a deeper understanding of how sensory information is processed. It will also provide a better understanding of the experiences of your students.

Learn practical ideas for managing differences between students and ensure that your children with autism cope with their environment and increase their ability to learn and engage in your school.

Explore the different types of approaches for managing sensory processing disorders including adapting the environment, the task and child-specific techniques to support arousal levels.

This course is relevant to teachers, support staff, childcare educators, and other professionals from health and social services working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder who present with sensory needs.

The early years of learning and development are foundational for all children but are particularly important for Autistic children who often require additional considerations and adjustments to support their engagement within the early childhood setting. This course is specifically designed for Early Childhood Educators who are keen to foster participation and inclusion of all children in the Early Learning setting including children with diverse needs. The full-day course will help improve educators understanding of Autism by exploring four fundamental topic areas.

Firstly, the course explores differences in the way Autistic children process information. Secondly, it addresses communication and a range of considerations in exploring the communication profile of students, both receptive and expressive communication. It also explores sensory processing differences and how these are different for Autistic children. Finally, the course looks at the importance of using routines and how they support Autistic children to become more active and engaged members of their Early Years setting. The use of routines in supporting transitions will also be explored.

Educators are offered practical strategies for supporting all of these key considerations for Autistic children, in particular related to early childhood learning environments and teaching and learning experiences in these settings.

Topic 1: Cognitive Differences

Participants will:

• Broaden their understanding of Autism to include the different strengths and preferences Autistic children have in thinking, socialising and processing information from the world around them
• Explore some of the challenges that Autistic children may experience in your early childhood setting
• Consider how practical supports and strategies might be implemented in your setting to enhance a child’s independence and engagement

Topic 2: Communication Supports

Participants will:

• Understand how to support the comprehension of children in an early childhood setting
• Acknowledge the different ways children communicate
• Multimodal communication
• Echolalia (gestalt language processing)
• Communication as a function of behaviour
• Learn about key strategies to support a child’s understanding and use of communication
• Brainstorm practical strategies to implement with a focus child

Topic 3: Sensory Processing

Participants will:

• Develop an understanding of sensory processing
• Acknowledge the impact of sensory processing throughout the day
• Consider how sensory processing styles may present within the early childhood setting
• Learn about key strategies for supporting sensory processing

Topic 4: Routines and Transitions

Participants will:

• Understand the importance of establishing routines to help children learn
• Learn how to establish routines
• Understand what is involved in a transition
• Learn creative strategies to support transitions