Start anytime. Learn at your own pace.

Complete three short, practical projects — no deadlines, no pressure.

  • Practical classroom strategies.

    Use practical, evidence-based strategies to support autistic students.

  • Better understanding of diverse student needs.

    Recognise how autism presents differently across students and apply targeted strategies to support their learning.

  • More confidence and clarity in your role.

    Respond confidently to student needs, make practical adjustments, and create a calm, inclusive classroom.

What you’ll learn...

Each week builds your confidence and gives you tools that work in classrooms.

    1. Welcome

    2. Before we begin

    3. Meet your Instructor

    4. Let's introduce ourselves

    5. Quiz: Getting Started

    6. Overview of Worksheets

    7. Test

    1. Week 1 Overview

    2. Video: What is Autism?

    3. Quiz: Support Strategies — What Would You Do in Class?

    4. Case Scenario: Meet Jack and Luca – Spot the Individual Needs

    5. Meet Whitney: Real insights from lived experience

    6. Video: Understanding Social and Communication Challenges

    7. Quiz: How These Challenges Show Up in the Classroom

    8. Video: Making Sense of Sensory Differences

    9. Case Scenario: Jamie

    10. Meet Michael

    11. Quiz: How Sensory Factors Affect Learning and Behaviour

    12. Meet Elise

    13. Quiz: Integrating Support Strategies

    14. Week 1 Project: Creating your Student Profile

    15. Week 1 Review

    1. Week 2 Overview

    2. Video: How Reinforcement Really Works

    3. Guidelines for Using Rewards Effectively

    4. Video: Rewards vs Bribery - Avoid Bribery

    5. Knowledge Checkpoint

    6. Discussion Activity

    7. Quiz: Putting Reinforcement Into Practice

    8. Case Study: Applying Reward Strategies in Context

    9. Week 2 Project: Create Your Own Reward System

    10. Week 2 Review

    1. Week 3 Overview

    2. Video: Understanding Behaviour — What’s Really Going On?

    3. Positive Behaviour Support and Autism

    4. The Five “Whys” Behind Behaviour

    5. Quiz: Decoding Behaviour

    6. Video: Catch Them Being Good — The Power of Positive Reinforcement

    7. Quiz: Proactive Strategies in Action

    8. Video: Responding to Challenging Behaviour Calmly and Effectively

    9. Quiz: What’s the Best Response?

    10. Discussion Activity

    11. Week 3 Assignment: Behaviour Management Plan

    12. Key Takeaways and Final Reflections

About this course

  • 20 hours of real-world professional development — without sitting through another dry PD day.
  • Learn when it suits you — no timetables, no pressure, no fuss.
  • Ask questions, share ideas, and get thoughtful replies from instructors — all through our flexible discussion forums.

Earn a Digital Badge and Certificate

On completion, you’ll receive a digital badge and Certificate of Completion — a simple way to showcase your learning. Add it to your PD record, include it in your appraisal documentation, or keep it for your own portfolio.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to…

  • Recognise how autism can affect social communication, interaction, and sensory processing — and what this means in everyday classroom settings.

  • Assess which support strategies work best for different students with autism — and how to apply them in real classrooms.

  • Explore which support strategies work best in schools — and how to assess their impact for different students.

  • Develop a student profile that highlights strengths, challenges, and needs — and use it to plan personalised support strategies.

Rochelle
Grade 3 Teacher

The strategies and insights I gained have been invaluable in supporting my students with autism.

Enrolling in this course was a game-changer for my teaching approach. The strategies and insights I gained have been invaluable in supporting my students with autism. The small group sessions allowed for personalised feedback that directly addressed the challenges I face in my classroom.

Since completing the course, I’ve seen a remarkable improvement in engagement and interaction from all my students, especially those with autism.

Jules
Grade 5 Teacher

I now feel more confident and equipped to meet the needs of all my students.

As someone who has struggled with effectively integrating students with autism into my classroom, this course was a revelation. The balance of theory and practical application was perfect, and the flexibility of the online format eased seamlessly into my hectic schedule.

The guest lectures were particularly enlightening, offering fresh perspectives that I hadn't considered before. I now feel more confident and equipped to meet the needs of all my students, and I've already seen positive changes in their learning outcomes. This course is a must for any primary school teacher.

Andrea
Learning Support Officer (LSO)

Each module provided not just theoretical knowledge, but practical, applicable strategies that can be immediately implemented in our work.

As someone who works alongside children with ASD, this course has been a turning point in my professional development. Kieran's passion and expertise in each module provided not just theoretical knowledge, but practical, applicable strategies that can be immediately implemented in our work. The insights into understanding and managing different behaviors associated with ASD are invaluable.

The course format, with its flexibility and online accessibility, was perfectly suited for education support workers juggling various responsibilities. The inclusion of real-life examples and downloadable notes further enriched the learning experience.

I now feel more equipped and confident in my role, and I am excited to apply these new strategies in my daily interactions with children with ASD. I highly recommend this course to all education support workers looking to enhance their skills and make a meaningful impact.

Select key testimonials that will help bust objections people will have (time, costs, effort). They want to know about results that your course provides.

Your Instructor

Kieran Thorpe

BHealthSc, GCertEd, GDipPsych, MSc (Psych), MAPS

Hi, I’m Kieran — a Psychology Lecturer and mental health educator with over 20 years of experience supporting people through challenging moments. I’ve worked across education, community services and mental health, helping individuals, teams and organisations build the skills to respond calmly, confidently and compassionately when someone is struggling. This course was designed to give you practical tools — not just theory — so you can feel ready to help when it matters most. My goal is to make sure you leave with simple, real-world strategies that you can use straight away, no matter your role or background. You don’t need to be a psychologist to support someone — you just need the right approach. That’s what this course is all about.

Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely — this course is designed with beginners in mind.

You don’t need prior experience supporting autistic students. We’ll guide you step by step through practical strategies, real classroom examples, and clear explanations. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to build your confidence, this course will give you the tools you can use straight away.

The course is designed to fit around your schedule.

You’ll need about 20 hours in total, but it’s fully flexible — you can log in anytime and complete the content at your own pace. 

There are no live attendance requirements, and most activities can be done in short, manageable blocks. 

Most teachers complete the course over four to five weeks, taking it at a pace that works alongside their busy workload. It’s practical, low-pressure, and designed to support real-life teaching commitments.

No problem — live sessions are completely optional.

All core course content is available online, and you can complete everything at your own pace. If you can’t attend a live session, you won’t miss out — you’ll still get full access to the materials, activities, and support through the discussion forums.

Yes — you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion and a digital badge.

Once you finish the course, you’ll get a certificate to recognise your learning and a digital badge you can include in your professional development records or portfolio. These are a great way to show your commitment to inclusive teaching practices.

This course is designed to be interactive — not just passive watching.

You’ll engage in practical activities, real-world case scenarios, discussion forums, and short quizzes to apply what you’re learning. You’ll also get feedback from instructors and connect with other educators. It’s designed to keep you involved and build skills you can use straight away.

Yes — many of the strategies you’ll learn are helpful for all students, not just those with autism.

While the course focuses on supporting autistic students, the approaches are grounded in inclusive teaching practices. You’ll find that strategies like positive behaviour support, sensory-aware adjustments, and effective reward systems benefit a wide range of learners in your classroom.

You’ll continue to have access to your course materials after the course ends.

You can revisit the content, download resources, and use your notes anytime. You’ll also keep access to the discussion forums and chat space for a full year — so you can stay connected, ask questions, and keep learning alongside others. While direct instructor support is focused during the course period, we’re committed to helping you apply what you’ve learned well beyond the three weeks. in future teaching contexts.

While the course is fully online, you’ll take part in practical activities, case studies, and real-life scenarios to apply what you’re learning.

We use a mix of teaching methods — including interactive tasks, visual resources, discussion forums, and group activities — to suit different learning styles and help you build skills you can use straight away.

At this stage, course fees need to be paid in full before you can begin. We’ve kept pricing simple and straightforward, with full access provided once your enrollment is complete.

Yes — if you’re unable to pay by credit card, please contact us at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to arrange an alternative payment method, such as bank transfer.

You’ll receive immediate access to the course as soon as your payment is processed. You’ll also receive a confirmation email with login details and instructions so you can get started right away.

No problem — we understand that things come up. If you need to defer your course registration, please email us at [email protected] and we’ll help you arrange a new start date that suits your schedule.

We’d love to support your team. For group enrolments or staff training packages, please email us at [email protected] and we’ll help you organise a simple group registration process — including invoice options if needed.

Unlike typical PD, you’re not limited to one session and a rushed Q&A.

You can ask as many questions as you like in the discussion forums — not just during the course, but all year long.

The Wellbeing Project was launched in 2018 through the Spark Deakin Accelerator, a university-backed program supporting ideas that make a real difference in people’s lives.

This site is intended to provide general information and strategies to assist with the management of behavioural challenges. This is not a substitute for specialist medical advice and you should always consult a qualified health professional before commencing any intervention.

The Wellbeing Project acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise their ongoing connection to land, waters, and culture. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.