Workshops and Online Learning
Professional Learning
Professional learning for teachers and educators
An autism friendly school provides opportunities for autistic students to succeed and flourish. Our professional learning workshops, online modules and webinars will assist educators to create real change in their school and establish learning environments that will support all learners.
What teachers and educators will learn
Our workshops help educators strengthen their understanding of autism and improve their skills and expertise when working with autistic students. They also provide strategies and resources for strengthening relationships between home and school.
The professional learning workshops focus on:
- the most up-to-date information about autism and its impact on student learning
- working in partnership with parents and carers
- developing learning profiles and effective teaching strategies for autistic students
- making curriculum adjustments in accordance with the needs of the student
- working with education assistants and other support personnel
- understanding the mental health issues autistic students may face
- developing strategies to help students strengthen social relationships
- understanding how to support students during change and other significant events
- planning autism friendly cultures in schools and developing productive partnerships with the wider community
- creating a professional network where additional information, resources and knowledge can be accessed and shared
Eligibility and involvement criteria
Teachers and school leaders in government, non-government, primary and secondary schools throughout Australia are eligible to participate.
We work closely with key education sector personnel to ensure we provide a balanced schedule of workshops across the country. We invite you to make contact with the Positive Partnerships coordinator from your state or territory to find out more about how to get involved. You can do this through the ‘click to learn more’ link under each workshop type.
Program Formats
Schools and Families Together program
In this program, teachers and parents/carers come together to strengthen partnerships, share knowledge and explore strategies that support young autistic people.
Teachers attend a one-day workshop, ideally with a leadership representative. They return a few weeks later for another day of professional learning, this time accompanied by a parent/carer of a student.
Two Day Professional Learning program
This program aims to strengthen knowledge, skills and understanding of participants that work with autistic students. It consists of pre-workshop and post-workshop online learning activities and two in person workshop days. A personal survey completed by participants prior to starting the program helps inform shifts in knowledge, skills and understanding.
Whole School Professional Learning program
We designed this program to support whole school, sustainable change. It provides practical ways to strengthen partnerships between families and school staff and promote improved learning outcomes for autistic students.
This program involves setting up a School Action Team (4-5 staff) that will put into practice the plans developed during the staff professional learning days. All members of staff participate in this program.
Take a look at our video interview with Anna, a school teacher and Loraine, a parent. In the video, they discuss:
- the schools and families together workshop they attended
- their expectations of the workshop and
- the journey they went through as they learned more about how to strengthen positive partnerships between home and school.
