August 2025 | Live webinar

A framework for understanding and responding to behaviours that challenge

A groundbreaking, research-informed program

  • Feel like you’ve done everything to reduce behaviours that challenge?
  • Confused about which strategies to use?

Register for our new evidence-based program 

A framework for understanding and responding to behaviours that challenge 

Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett, Academic Director of the Early Years at the University of Wollongong, has designed this interactive training program to help educators and teachers understand the underlying drivers of children’s behaviour, develop practical relationship-based strategies and strengthen their professional capacity.

By the end of this training, you’ll feel better equipped to meet children where they are and guide them toward positive ways of expressing themselves.

➡️  5-part live online masterclass program.    

  • Spaces are limited to optimise engagement. 
  • Team ticket + recordings available 

 

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Photos from our October 2024 face to face masterclass sessions
Photos from our October 2024 face to face masterclass sessions
Photos from our October 2024 face to face masterclass sessions
Photos from our October 2024 face to face masterclass sessions
Photos from our October 2024 face to face masterclass sessions
Photos from our October 2024 face to face masterclass sessions
Photos from our October 2024 face to face masterclass sessions
Photos from our October 2024 face to face masterclass sessions
Photos from our October 2024 face to face masterclass sessions
Photos from our October 2024 face to face masterclass sessions
Photos from our October 2024 face to face masterclass sessions
Photos from our October 2024 face to face masterclass sessions
Photos from our October 2024 face to face masterclass sessions
Photos from our October 2024 face to face masterclass sessions
Photos from our October 2024 face to face masterclass sessions
Photos from our October 2024 face to face masterclass sessions

Develop your knowledge with a leading expert and receive ongoing support

To be effective and ensure each child can reach their potential, early childhood professionals need to clearly understand what drives children’s behaviour. This interactive professional development program, created and facilitated by child development expert Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett, will empower you with an evidence-informed framework to help you navigate behaviours that challenge.

Unpacking the 6Rs framework

This workshop series unpacks a practice framework called The 6 Rs to Understanding and Supporting Children’s Behaviour (6Rs). This framework is designed to help teachers and educators comprehend the complexities of children’s behaviour and intentionally develop children's capacity to navigate their environment.
Each component of the framework is informed by a rich evidence base on children’s behaviour, effective early childhood pedagogy, and the practices and principles embedded in the EYLF V2.0.


​READ ABOUT FRAMEWORK


Participants will complete the program equipped with a comprehensive set of strategies and tools. These tools are designed to help you understand and respond to children’s intentions and behaviours 'in the moment', as well as to foster their self-regulatory capacity across various learning contexts. 

 

As the Director of two pre-schools, I was motivated to engage with this professional learning because of the unique and challenging environment we work in. Many of our children come from very disadvantaged backgrounds and have experienced significant trauma. Our classrooms are complex, with a range of differing abilities and behaviours that can be quite extreme and confronting for both the children and our educators. I would highly recommend this training to others as it provides clarity, strategies, and hope—not just for supporting the children, but for supporting the educators as well.

Debbie S, Preschool and Children's Services Director, NSW


Who should attend? 

Any early childhood professional who: 

  • Recognises that they need to know more about understanding and supporting children's behaviour.
  • Wants to expand their skills and toolkit around supporting challenging behaviours, including knowing what to do and how to approach situations 'in the moment'.
  • Wants to feel more empowered in their practice and approach when engaging children and their development and improve your personal wellbeing.


Click here to read FAQs

 

Event details

Price includes access to recordings for your entire team, a bonus audit tool and follow up support Q&A session. 

Where: Online - Live streaming
When: 5-part series: Wed 13, 20, 27 Aug + Wed 3 & 10 Sept 🕒  10am-12pm
Price:  $710 member/ $790 non-member 

 

A recording of each session will be provided within three working days of each webinar's live date. The recordings will remain available for your team to watch for two weeks after the final session.

What you'll discover

More about the 6R framework 

Effective support is informed by a comprehensive understanding of children’s needs, the origins or routes behind children’s behaviour, and the practices and pedagogies needed to create responsive environments. 

The benefit of the 6R Framework is in the way it encourages us to consider the uniqueness and complexity of children’s behaviour, and to move away from the common misconception which typically positions the behaviour (or the child) as the problem to a perspective which instead asks – what happened to this child and how can I support them to reach their full potential? 

The 6R framework is not prescriptive but is designed to empower teachers and educators to recognise the key determinants of children’s behaviours, to critically reflect upon existing program strengths and potentialities for growth and development, and to use this framework to create individualised and responsive approaches to supporting children. 

As educational professionals we have the power and potential to create positive environment that support children to flourish.

IMPORTANT: This training will provide you with the essential tools to effectively manage situations 'in the moment,' helping you support a child while also considering the well-being of other children and educators who are in the room.

The effectiveness of this framework of practice relies on adults:  

  • holding high expectations for every child 
  • understanding the factors underpinning children’s behaviour 
  • prioritising respectful relationships and responsive engagement 
  • creating an environment that both acknowledges and embraces equity and diversity 
  • prioritising the use of assessment for learning and development 
  • adopting an integrated and holistic approach to teaching and learning.

We highly recommend that as many members of your team attend this professional development as possible. That is why we are offering team packages that include recordings.  

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Did you know that choosing CELA as your training partner benefits you and your team?

CELA is a not for profit peak body. Any profits from training fees are reinvested into our advocacy work, member benefits and professional development initiatives.

Changing the way we understand children’s behaviours is key to how we respond to children – and it is key to how they behave toward us."

Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett is the Academic Director of the Early Years, University of Wollongong and Framework creator.

About Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett

Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett is the Academic Director of the Early Years, University of Wollongong, is a member of the National Early Childhood Development Council and sits on both government and non-government advisory committees and boards in Australia and internationally.

She has demonstrated leadership and scholarship in translational research with a strong track record in developing and delivering professional learning initiatives across the early childhood education sector. She has co-led numerous large-scale research projects, has authored and co-authored academic papers and been recognised for her expertise in children’s behaviour, self-regulation, early childhood pedagogy and workforce development. 

LIVE ONLINE WORKSHOP PROGRAM

Workshop 1 Exploring the Why Behind Behaviour

Child development expert Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett will guide participants through an exploration of the crucial role of the brain in shaping behaviour, children's developmental capacities in relation to behaviour responses, and the influences of trauma and challenging environments.

In this first webinar you will be introduced to the 6R framework - an evidence-based approach to responding sensitively and effectively to behaviours that challenge. Participants will be supported to understand the “why” behind children’s behaviours, and to critically reflect upon existing program strengths as well as potentialities for growth and development. 

Cathrine will discuss the routes to behaviours that challenge: The interrelated factors in a child’s life such as temperament and diagnosis, familial dynamics, parenting approaches, neighbourhood influences, early childhood education settings, as well as broader socioeconomic contexts, and their impact on behaviour and development.

Workshop 2 Trauma Responsive Practice and Pedagogies

In this webinar, child development expert Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett will explain how to foster safety and security for children through relational pedagogy and intentional teaching. Participants will learn practical strategies to build self-regulatory capacity - a skill critical for children’s learning, wellbeing and development. Participants will be introduced to the innovative and popular Self-Regulatory Ship, a teaching tool that brings the 6Rs together in a fun analogy that is easy to understand and remember.
 
Participants will leave the session armed with a toolbox of tools and tips that are designed to not only help you to better understand and respond to children’s behaviours ‘in the moment’ but to build their self-regulatory capacity across a range of learning contexts. 

Webinar 3 Community of Practice Q&A session

During the session, you will be discussing the audit tools and focusing on the Routes, Relate, and Respect components of the audit tool. This session will also make space to explore the role of educator wellbeing in the context of supporting behaviours that challenge.

Remember: "You can't move a child from the hull to the deck when you're sitting in your hull."
 

Webinar 4 Empowered and Enabled

Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett will explore the significance of staff wellbeing and capacity to effectively respond to behaviours that challenge.

Together you will examine the way that supported and empowered educators can engage in relational pedagogy to provide a sense of safety and security for the children in their care. You will discuss the key characteristics of enabling environments, including consistent routines and clear expectations and the important role of the environment in shaping behaviour.

Participants will develop an understanding of effective communication and collaboration and how this supports a consistent response to children’s behaviour. The session will also cover the importance of consistency in educator-child interactions, the role of clear communication in setting behavioural expectations, and how respectful, trust-building practices can reduce the incidence of behaviours that challenge. Cathrine will share practical strategies for creating a relationally inclusive and supportive environment that supports capacity building.

Workshop 5 Building Better Behaviours

During this workshop, you will explore tools and techniques for building children’s self-regulatory capacity and the development of strong, respectful relationships with children, emphasising the significance of a nurturing and responsive environment. We will explore activities and pedagogies designed to build self-regulatory capacity across everyday experiences (i.e., within STEM-based activities, through imaginative play, through dialogical reading experiences)

Participants will be introduced to tools designed to audit and enhance their service’s physical, relational and pedagogical environments, ensuring they are responsive to children's developmental needs, interests, and cultural backgrounds. By understanding and applying these principles, educators can create enriching environments where children feel safe, respected, and engaged, ultimately leading to more positive behavioural outcomes.

Want to ask a question?

Get in touch! We are here to help. Call us on 1800 157 818 or email training@cela.org.au

 

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FAQs

When will the webinar recordings be made available?

The recording of each webinar will be made available to ticket holders via email within 3 working days of each live online workshop.  

For how long will the recordings be available?

All recordings will remain available to watch for 2 weeks after the last live workshop.

When will I receive my certificate of attendance?

A survey will be sent out after the event to gather attendee details. Details will need to be completed for a certificate to be issued.

  • Certificates for face-to-face attendees will be emailed within three weeks of the event.
  • Certificates for live webinar attendees will be emailed within three weeks of the final webinar session.

How many team members can attend if I have purchased a team ticket for the online session?

A Team Ticket covers all staff members who work within your service. 

For how long will I have access to the Padlet resource library?

The Padlet resource library is packed with supporting resources to the training. It’s important you work through the supporting resources in your own time. You will have ongoing access to the Padlet resource library.

Why am I being charged for multiple team tickets at the booking page for the online sessions?

When booking, please enter the name of only one attendee. At the end of the training, CELA will gather the names and details of all team members through an evaluation survey. This survey will also be used to gather names so that we can issue certificates of attendance and verify payment for all participants.

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