ABIA provides intensive workshop and training programs for families, professionals, schools and students to better understand and manage children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Please refer to this page for forthcoming events, workshops, training programs and information sessions relevant to you.

GENERAL:

• New Parent/Carer ABA Information Mornings

These sessions help parents and carers who are contemplating or already involved in an ABA program to find out more about ABA, the hours required, the types of funding available and how to recruit and retain therapists etc.  Sessions are run monthly on a Tuesday.  Dates for future sessions are listed below.

FOR PARENTS/CARERS/FAMILIES:

• Parent Info Mornings

ABIA runs parent information mornings for its members and bases them around topics that are common to parents of children with an ASD such as social skills, toilet training, siblings, etc. Our next info morning is on Tuesday 12th August.  Please click here to download a flier.  Info mornings are for members of the ABIA only.

Our next program is:

• Parent Education Programs

"Parenting with Confidence - How to parent your child with an ASD" is a six week behaviour management course specifically developed for parents of children with an ASD.  The course is facilitated by a psychologist with extensive experience working with families and children with an ASD. Please click here to download a registration form.

Topics covered by this course include:

• Why does my child to that? Understanding challenging behaviours
• Planning for positive behaviour
• Responding to challenging behaviours
• Developing a behaviour plan
• Behaviour in public areas/school

FOR TEACHERS & SCHOOLS:

• School Integration Programs:

Making it Work: A Program for Teachers and Integration Aides Working with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Making It Work is an intensive three-day training program specifically designed for Teachers, Childcare workers and Integration Aides working with school age and/or pre-school children with ASD.

This program is presented by trainers with extensive experience in working with children with ASD in mainstream education and includes a range of practical strategies to help these children adapt to a mainstream school environment. The Making It Work program is highly recommended for anyone wishing to develop their teaching and inclusion skills.

» Theory of Autism Spectrum Disorder
» Understanding behaviour and behaviour management
» Inclusion and integration philosophies
» Effective teaching strategies
» Prompting and reinforcing
» Defining roles and professionalism
» Developing social skills
» Facilitating independence

Venue: ABIA, 276 Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills

Cost: ABIA members - $370; Non-members - $450 (includes GST)

FOR THERAPISTS & PROFESSIONALS:

• Therapist Training

ABIA’s Therapist Program is an intensive 10-week evening course or 3 full day course aimed at providing the skills needed to become an ABA therapist. The program covers both the theoretical and practical knowledge as well as the requirements in working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Click here for an Expression of Interest form.

A minimum of eight Therapist Programs are conducted each year. Class sizes are limited to allow for individual assessment.

This program is conducted by ABA-trained professionals with extensive experience in the Autism field.

Topics covered include:

• Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Functional Behavioural Assessment
• Behaviour Management Strategies
• Task Analysis
• Problem Solving
• Reinforcement
• Generalisation and Maintenance of behaviours

Upon successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate which is highly regarded by people seeking to employ ABA Therapists and Aides, and can be used in seeking other avenues of employment in the education and disability fields.

• Social Skills Training Program for Professionals

ABIA's Social Skills Training Program has been specially designed for Teachers, Psychologists, School Support Staff and other professionals working with children with an ASD.

The teaching of social skills plays a vital role in enabling children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders to adapt to mainstream society - but how is that done within a school environment?

ABIA’s new 3-day intensive workshop has been specially designed for Teachers, school support staff and other professionals who work with children on the Autism Spectrum and is based on the “Social Club Model”.

Participants learn how to develop their own social skills groups. Through small group work, role plays and discussion, the Workshop equips them with a range of new strategies and ideas.

The Social Club Model is aimed primarily at children between the ages of 10-14yrs. However, it can be adapted for other age groups. All participants receive a copy of the ABIA Social Skills Manual as part of the workshop price, so they can pass the benefits on to others working in their schools.

Topics covered include:

• An introduction to the Social Club model
• Notes on forming groups
• Developing group and individual goals
• Teaching activities for groups
• Outdoor activities
• Relaxation exercises
• Sample lesson plans
• Debriefing parents