The two-day professional learning program is a workshop designed to benefit teachers working directly with students on the autism spectrum.
We know that the best educational outcomes for autistic students are enhanced when:
- a strong, positive relationship exists between home and school
- teachers feel confident in their knowledge and understanding of autism
- classroom and school environments reflect the unique needs of autistic students.
Workshop requirements for teachers:
- Completion of the Positive Partnerships online module - An Introduction to Autism
- Completion of individual survey (pre-workshop and post-workshop)
- Attendance at the 2-day workshop
- Completion of 2 or more post-workshop tasks (online)
- Completion of an action plan (post-workshop)
Broad overview of topics covered:
The following topics are explored across the 2 days.
Day 1
- Setting the scene
- Strengths and interests
- Connections to culture and community
- Executive Functioning
- Social Skills and Communication
Day 2
- Sensory Processing
- Self-care and Independence
- Mental Health, Well-being and Behaviour
- Working in partnership with families and students
- Next steps
Professional Learning hours:
For NSW teachers:
Completing 2 Day Positive Partnerships Professional Learning will contribute 16 hours of NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Accredited PD in the priority area of Students/children with Disability addressing standard descriptors 1.1.2, 1.5.2, 1.6.2, 7.3.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.
For ACT teachers:
This program is accredited with the ACT Teacher Quality Institute (TQI) for 10 hours.
Our 'Introduction to Autism' pre-workshop module is accredited for two hours.
For all teachers:
The program meets Standards 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
Frequently asked Questions
What does it cost to attend the workshops?
- There is no cost to attend Positive Partnerships workshops.
Can a school have more than 1 teacher attend?
- Yes, we encourage schools to send up to 3 staff that teach students on the spectrum to attend the workshop. This group of teachers are well placed to share more broadly, the impact of the workshop with school leadership and other staff on their return to school. Collectively they can explore ways to initiate positive changes within the classroom and school environments.
What resources do we receive?
- A small funding allocation is available to support schools’ participation in the program. (contact us for more details)
- Attendees will also get access to templates and tools that help them to better understand how to support a student and to work in partnership with families.
Find out more
If you think this program may be suitable for your school and you want to speak to one of our team, please click on the coordinator for your state or territory and complete the enquiry form. You can also download a brochure of the program specific to your state or territory.
