This is a Twilight Series Course over Multiple Dates
Mon 8 Sep | Mon 22 Sep | Mon 20 Oct | Mon 3 Nov | Mon 17 Nov
Cost
$ 220 (for 5 sessions)
Course Registration
BOOK NOWTime & Date
08/09/2025 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Venue
The Autism Training Hub Sydney
Building 21, Suttor Street, Gladesville NSW 2111
Course Description
A five-part course tailored specifically 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
Course Description
A five-part course tailored specifically 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 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. The course will help improve understanding of Autism by exploring five fundamental topic areas.
Each session lays the groundwork for subsequent topics with an expectation that participants attend all 4 sessions. Early Childhood 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.
Twilight Series: Session 1
Understanding Autism
Monday 8th September
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Rachael Bowen and Sarah Rawlins
This session will support educators to further understand Autism. It will explore differences in the way Autistic children learn and engage with the world, considering the whole child. Suggestions for supports and strategies will be offered.
This session provides foundational understanding for educators that will be helpful for future sessions in the five-part series.
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
Twilight Series: Session 2
Supporting Communication
Monday 22 September
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Katherine Halter and Nicole Dugdale
Understanding the communication profile of each individual child is fundamental to providing supports and strategies that foster engagement and participation in Early Years settings.
This session will address a range of considerations in exploring the communication profile of our students, including both receptive and expressive communication. Examples of practical supports and strategies relevant for both speaking and non-speaking children will be provided.
This course is presented as part of a series about understanding Autism in the Early Years.
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
Twilight Series: Session 3
Sensory Processing Differences
Monday 20 October
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Meg Hodgson and Sarah Rawlins
The world can often feel like an overwhelming place for the Autistic children we support. This session will explore the sensory processing differences that exist for Autistic children and how this may present for every individual.
Practical suggestions for supporting the sensory needs of Autistic children, including considerations related to the environment and teaching and learning experiences, will be shared.
This course is presented as part of a series about understanding Autism in the Early Years.
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
Twilight Series: Session 4
Transitions and Routines
Monday 3 November
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Katherine Halter and Lene Jeffrey
This session will explore how routines support Autistic children to become more active and engaged members of their Early Years setting. Transitions often present some challenges for Autistic students. The session will also explore how the use of routines, in addition to other supports and strategies, can be useful in establishing successful transitions.
This course is presented as part of a series about understanding Autism in the Early Years.
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
Twilight Series: Session 5
Supporting Play
Monday 17 November
4:30 pm –6:00 pm
Sarah Rawlins and Meg Hodgson
There are some key neuro-developmental differences in how Autistic children play. Understanding what play may look like for Autistic children and how to scaffold and provide opportunities for their play to develop and evolve will be covered in this session.
This course is presented as part of a series about understanding Autism in the Early Years.
Participants will:
- Develop a deeper understanding of the importance of play
- Consider how to support play for Autistic children in the Early Years
- Explore practical strategies for supporting play
Presenter(s) for this Course
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Lene Jeffrey
Lene Jeffrey
Bachelor of Arts (Design) (First Class Honours) (University of Technology Sydney)
Master of Arts in Music Therapy (University of Technology Sydney)
PhD candidate (Western Sydney University)Lene Jeffrey has supported students of all ages as a Music Therapist at Giant Steps since 2013. She has presented her work on self-reflective music therapy methods, the use of tablets for enhancing the music therapy experience of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, dance and movement in music therapy and multicultural family-centred practice at national and international conferences, and is a recipient of the ‘Denise Grocke Award for Excellence’.
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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
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