Cost
$ 330
Course Registration
BOOK NOWTime & Date
10/06/2025 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Venue
Giant Steps Melbourne
11 Malmsbury Street, Kew VIC 3101
Course Description
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
Course Description
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.
Presenter(s) for this Course
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Dale Rugachwa
Dale Rugachwa
Bachelor of Arts (LaTrobe University)
Diploma of Education (Swinburne University)
Master of Teaching (Primary) (Swinburne University)Dale Rugachwa has 20 years’ of experience in the disability sector working in schools, day programs, and residential houses with people of all age groups. Dale has spent the last 15 years specialising in autism spectrum disorders, both in the school setting, and working privately with families, in the UK, Tanzania and Australia.
Dale worked as an educator at Giant Steps Sydney in 2009, before moving to Melbourne. Dale was part of the inaugural Giant Steps Melbourne team that helped open the school in 2016. Dale is passionate about building capacity of staff, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and ensuring our programs, and classroom management remain unparalleled in the field of special education.
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Dr. Helen Appleton
Dr. Helen Appleton
Bachelor’s Degree of Science (major in Psychology) (Sydney University)
Post Graduate Diploma in Social Psychology (Sydney University)
PhD; ‘An Exploration of the Presence and Behavioural Manifestation of Anxiety for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability’ (2022)(Griffith University)Dr. Helen Appleton is the Family and Student Support Therapist for Giant Steps Australia. In this role, she oversees psychological supports throughout our schools, with a special interest in mental health concerns, complex support needs and interagency training and liaising. She has created a school-wide Siblings Support Program and is currently Director of the Rob Llewelyn-Jones Clinical Centre at Giant Steps.
Helen is now sharing her research internationally, through conferences and upcoming publications. This unique research comes from her PhD completed in 2022 and focuses on how anxiety manifests in individuals with autism and an intellectual disability.
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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