Other Dates for this Course16/10/2025 9:00 am
06mar9:00 am3:30 pmEarly YearsSupporting Autistic Children9:00 am - 3:30 pm Course Venue Location
Cost
$ 280
Course Registration
BOOK NOWTime & Date
06/03/2025 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Venue
The Autism Training Hub Sydney
Building 21, Suttor Street, Gladesville NSW 2111
Course Description
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
Course Description
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
Course Schedule
- Course 1
- Course 2
- 27/02/2025
- - Details to come
- 16/10/2025
- - Details to come
Future Dates for this Course
Presenter(s) for this Course
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Meg Hodgson
Meg Hodgson
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (University of Otago)
Meg Hodgson, being from New Zealand, carried out her studies in her home country, and upon graduation made the move to Sydney to pursue her passion in paediatrics. Meg has been an occupational therapist since 2020 and has been working at Giant Steps since 2021. Meg finds joy in working with children to make their activities of daily living more meaningful and accessible while encouraging them to meet their potential through fun and creative ways. Meg highly values teamwork and collaboration whilst using a holistic approach to therapy.
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Nicole Dugdale
Nicole Dugdale
Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy (Charles Sturt University)
Nicole Dugdale has been working as a Speech Therapist since 2017 and working at Giant Steps since 2022. Nicole previously worked in early intervention in Sydney and then worked in London in primary schools with children aged 4-11 years. Nicole is passionate about supporting young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder and intellectual disability, as well as their families to be able to gain independence with their communication in whatever way is best for them. Nicole also enjoys working in a team with other therapists, teachers and educators to provide a holistic approach to supporting communication, language development and social interactions. Believing that when everyone works together; parents, family, educators, teachers and therapists, a young person is able to achieve and be at their best.
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Sarah Rawlins
Sarah Rawlins
Master of Special Education (University of Newcastle)
Bachelor of Education (Music Education) (University of Sydney)
Graduate Certificate in Music Therapy (University of Technology Sydney)Sarah is the Co-Director of Primary and has been working in the field of Special Education for over 15 years with a special interest in Early Childhood early intervention. She has worked closely with both families and mainstream Early Childhood education and care settings to foster and support successful partnerships and collaborative teams around the child and family. Additionally, she has provided training and support to mainstream settings to build capacity and develop quality inclusive practices to support the inclusion of all children within Early Childhood settings.
Venue Accessibility
Building
Ramp or level access
Parking
Available close by
Toilets
Available in the building or nearby
Enquiries
The Autism Hub professional learning courses aim to increase participants knowledge and confidence to best support the learning of autistic children and adults.
For enquiries specific to this course please contact autismhub@giantsteps.net.au