When behaviours keep escalating, it can feel like you have tried everything and still cannot find the right strategy in the moment. If you are feeling stuck, second-guessing your approach, or looking for a fresh way for your team to approach behaviours that challenge, this program is for you and your team.
A Framework for Understanding and Responding to Behaviours that Challenge is a 4-part recorded masterclass series created and facilitated by child development expert Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett. Across the series, you will unpack the evidence-informed 6Rs framework to better understand what drives behaviour, strengthen relationship-based practice, and build a practical toolkit for responding with clarity and confidence.
Note: The price includes access to the self-paced course for up to 6 people for an 8 week period. After purchase, you will receive a link to a form to add each person's details so that we can enrol them in the course.
How to get the most from this course
We recommend watching one webinar per week with other members of your team, so that you can pause and reflect on what you have learnt, and build a shared approach to behaviour guidance across your service. Each webinar is designed to be practical and immediately applicable, with clear examples, prompts for discussion, and strategies you can trial right away.
By the end of the recorded webinar series, you will feel better equipped to meet children where they are, respond calmly and consistently, and guide them towards positive ways of expressing themselves, while strengthening the relationships and environments that support belonging, wellbeing, and learning.
Course details
Understanding and Responding to Behaviours that Challenge unpacks a practice framework called The 6 Rs to Understanding and Supporting Children’s Behaviour. 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.
Participants will complete the program equipped with a comprehensive toolbox of strategies and tips. 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.
After you have watched each webinar, you will need to answer two quiz questions relating to the content in the webinar. Each short quiz is designed to help you reflect on key concepts from the webinar and check your understanding before moving on.
Webinar topics:
- Webinar Recording 1 | Exploring the Why Behind Behaviour
- Webinar Recording 2 | Trauma Responsive Practice and Pedagogies
- Webinar Recording 3 | Empowered and Enabled
- Webinar Recording 4 | Building Better Behaviours
Important information
12 weeks to complete
After enrolment, you and your team will have access to the course for 12 weeks. You will also gain access to a library of tools and resources to keep forever.
Certificate of completion
You will need to correctly answer at least one of two quiz questions relating to each webinar in order to move to the next webinar and receive a certificate at the end.
When registering
At checkout, enter only one attendee name. We will gather the names of additional attendees via a form in your booking confirmation email.
Team access price:
Member: $450
Non member: $495
Note: Only enter one attendee name at check out. You will receive a form to submit the names of your 6 chosen team members after booking. The 12 week period will apply after you have filled in the form with the names of the people you wish to enrol.
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Hear from Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett
Watch Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett share 3 key points to understanding and responding to behaviours from this webinar series.
About your trainer
Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett was 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.
More details about this course
Webinar 1 recording: Exploring the Why Behind Behaviour
Duration: 1hr 45 minutes
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.
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Webinar 2 recording: Trauma Responsive Practice and Pedagogies
Duration: 1hr 45 minutes
Cathrine 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 finish the session armed with tools and tips 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.
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Webinar 3 recording: Empowered and Enabled
Duration: 2hrs 15 minutes
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 discover 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.
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Webinar 4 recording: Understanding and Responding to Children's Behaviour: Building Better Behaviours
Duration: 2hrs 10 minutes
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.
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FAQs
Who is this course designed for?
This course is designed for early childhood educators, teachers, directors, and teams who feel stuck when behaviours escalate, are unsure which strategies to use, or want a more consistent, evidence-informed approach to behaviour guidance. It is suitable for whole teams wanting to build shared practice and confidence.
What does the course include?
The course includes four recorded masterclasses facilitated by child development expert Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett. Across the series you will explore the evidence-informed 6Rs framework, examine the drivers behind children’s behaviour, and learn practical strategies for responding calmly and effectively.
You will also receive access to a library of tools and resources that you can keep permanently.
How long do we have access to the course?
You and your team will have twelve weeks of access from the day that the names of your team are enroled and uploaded. Within this period you can view each webinar recording as many times as you wish.
How many people can take part?
Your purchase includes access for up to six team members. After booking, you will receive a short form to provide the names and email addresses of your participants so that we can enrol them. Some people may wish to just book and enrol themselves.
Is there a discount for single users?
No, the price is the same whether you enrol a single person or a team.
How should we structure our learning?
We recommend watching one webinar per week with other members of your team. This allows time to pause, reflect, and build a shared approach to behaviour guidance. Each webinar includes practical examples, discussion prompts, and strategies that can be implemented straight away.
Do I need to complete a quiz?
Yes. After each webinar you will complete a short quiz containing two questions related to that session’s content. These are designed to help you reflect on key ideas and check your understanding before moving on.
What score do I need to progress?
You must answer at least 50 percent of the quiz questions correctly to unlock the next webinar.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. A certificate of completion will be issued for each person once they have watched all four webinars and successfully completed the quiz for each lesson. They will need to get at least 50% of the answers correct to move on to the next lesson. A link to the certificate will be automatically emailed to the participant once they have completed the series.
What is the 6Rs framework?
The 6Rs is an evidence-informed practice framework that helps educators understand children’s behaviour and respond in intentional, relationship-based ways. It supports educators to consider the routes to behaviour, respond sensitively in the moment, and build children’s capacity to self-regulate over time. The framework is aligned with the EYLF V2 and is grounded in current research on behaviour, pedagogy, and child development.
How do I enrol my additional participants?
At checkout, enter only one attendee name. After booking, you will receive a link to a form where you can provide the details of the team members you wish to enrol. Each team member will then receive an email with their individual access details.
Do we need to complete the course as a group?
You may complete the course individually, but many services find greater impact when educators watch and reflect together. The course is designed to support whole-of-team learning and consistent behaviour guidance across the service.
National Quality Standard Areas
Area 1 – Educational Program Practice
Area 2 – Children's health and safety
Area 5 – Relationships with children
Area 6 – Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
Available Dates