Managing Challenging/Distress Behaviours in Schools 2026043F

Date and time

Thursday 6 August 2026, 9.30 am to 3.30 pm

Delivery mode

In person at ISV, 40 Rosslyn St, West Melbourne

Audience 

Teacher, Head of Individual Needs, Head of Student Wellbeing

Cost

• Course Fees: Fully Funded. We have secured a grant to ensure the program is available to you at no cost
• Admin Fee: $100. A small contribution that helps us cover the "basics" like catering and logistics, and ensures that limited places are utilized by those who can attend

Description

Looking to register more than one person? Contact us at isLearn to arrange a group discount for your school.

Challenging and distress behaviours are on the rise in many school settings and they can significantly impact on a student’s ability to learn. These behaviours are usually tricky to navigate and impact other students and teachers. Understanding how to support students with these behaviours is important, and becoming a priority in today’s education climate.

This workshop will be user-friendly and engaging, and will cover the why, the what and the what next of challenging/distress behaviour support in a mainstream school context. You will gain practical knowledge that you can apply immediately.

Key takeaways

• understanding challenging behaviour vs distress behaviours
• awareness of the impacts of these behaviours on learning
• understanding the science of distress in a user-friendly way
• knowledge of what triggers may increase challenging/distress behaviours in a school context and what can you change environmentally to support these students
• proactive and reactive planning strategies
• strategies to manage the impacts on others – peers, teachers, who may also be affected.

Presenter information

Emma-Rose Parsons      

A thriving mental health can make the world of difference and it’s Emma-Rose’s passion to work in this space.

Emma-Rose loves the variety in her role. To highlight her areas of practice, she currently:

•  consults at her psychology clinics
• supports school teams to understand the nuances of neurodivergent students
• supervises other psychologists locally and interstate
• presents to schools, local community groups, at conferences and seminars
• assists workplaces to better understand mental health and to better engage and support neurodivergent team members

ALL with a particular interest in creating a neuro-affirming community, where difference is celebrated and understood.

As the director of Spectrum House Psychology and Emma-Rose Consulting and a Co-Director of the Paediatric Health Collective, she has been working in this space for 20+ years, both in Australia and abroad.

Although her work is naturally grounded by science, it is designed to be interactive, engaging, and even a little fun! Mental health can be a heavy topic and Emma-Rose aims to present information in an easily digestible manner, that at heart is applicable and user-friendly.

When not working in the mental health space, Emma-Rose has a love for parenting her two sons, camping, and ultra trail running.