Training Course Introduction
Positive Behaviour Support for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a self-paced, neuroaffirming online course designed to equip you with a practical, evidence-informed toolkit to create environments that genuinely support autistic children and adolescents — leading to calmer, safer and more successful outcomes for everyone.
Through this tailored Autism Spectrum Disorder training, you will deepen your understanding of autism and learn how to strengthen communication, social connection, emotional regulation, behaviour, and learning in ways that honour each young person’s neurotype. You’ll gain step-by-step PBS strategies to support distressed behaviours compassionately and develop a proactive prevention plan grounded in understanding, predictability, collaboration, and respect for autistic strengths and needs.
Course Training Objectives
Overall Aim
Equip parents, educators, allied-health and behaviour support professionals with a deeper understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through the Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) framework — and the skills to apply evidence-based, practical strategies that support attention, emotional regulation and meaningful participation by reducing barriers and supporting each child’s unique way of engaging with the world.
This course is designed to build supportive environments, activities and interactions across home, school and community settings, promoting positive behaviour, improved learning access and overall wellbeing for children and adolescents with ASD.
Learning Objectives
(by the end you will be able to)
Knowledge
- A deeper, neurodiversity-affirming understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and how autistic children experience the world.
- How the Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) framework can be applied to support autistic children in respectful and meaningful ways.
- How sensory processing, communication styles, thinking patterns and emotional regulation differences influence behaviour and participation.
- How to identify setting events, triggers and unmet needs that contribute to stress or distress.
- How to interpret behaviour through a functional lens, without judgement, to understand its purpose.
- How to recognise early signs of escalation and respond with stage-appropriate de-escalation strategies.
- How to design supportive environments, interactions and activities that reduce barriers and increase engagement.
- How to develop proactive prevention plans that promote wellbeing, learning and positive behaviour across home, school and community settings.
- How to collaborate with families, educators and professionals to create consistent and effective support plans.
Skills
- Apply the Assess–Manage–Prevent cycle to understand the function of challenging or inattentive behaviours and design supports that meet underlying needs and reduce barriers.
- Conduct or contribute to a Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA) to identify setting events, triggers, maintaining factors and areas where additional support or scaffolding may be needed.
- Develop and implement Behaviour Prevention and Support Plans that promote emotional regulation, sensory wellbeing, clear communication and meaningful participation.
- Teach and reinforce new or alternative skills, such as expressing needs, navigating routines and transitions, managing sensory overload, and using personalised coping and calming strategies that align with the child’s neurotype.
- Collaborate effectively with caregivers, teachers and allied professionals to build consistent, respectful approaches, monitor progress and celebrate successes across home, school and community settings.
This course will equip you with a toolkit of practical strategies to help autistic children and adolescents strengthen their social, emotional, behavioural and learning outcomes, and to support their behaviour effectively across home, school and community settings.
Course Curriculum
This course is structured into six progressive modules, each designed to deepen your understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder and guide you step-by-step through the Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) framework.
Across the modules, you’ll progress from building a clear, neurodiversity-affirming understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), to learning how to assess, prevent and respond to behaviours in ways that promote regulation, safety and connection. Practical, evidence-based strategies are woven throughout to help you apply the learning directly within your setting — whether at home, school or in the community.
By the end of the course, you will have a clear understanding of how to use the PBS tools to complete a Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA), develop a Behaviour Prevention Plan, and design a Behaviour Management/Response Plan. These tools will equip you to support positive, sustainable behaviour outcomes for children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder — with confidence, competence and compassion.
Hi there, I’m Dolly Bhargava,
I completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Speech Pathology from the University of Sydney and a Master of Special Education from the University of Newcastle.
Midway through my career I realised my passion was in supporting children, adolescents and adults with emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD). So I work as a NDIS Registered Specialist Behaviour Support Practition and Speech Pathologist with individuals with EBD in a variety of settings such as family homes, childcare centres, schools, respite care, post school options, employment services and corrective services.
I have created this online course to equip parents, childcare staff, teachers, youth and allied health professionals with the knowledge, skills and tools to transform the lives of the individuals they support.
This online course is based on the practical wisdom I have gathered from working with individuals with EBD, their families and incredible staff over the last 25 years. I hope this course EDUCATES - EMPOWERS - ENABLES you to continue supporting the individual reach their full potential.
WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR:
Parents and carers
Childcare workers
Preschool educators
Primary and secondary teachers
Teachers assistants
Disability support staff
Youth workers
Behaviour Support Practitioners
Allied health professionals
This course has been incredibly helpful for our family. The way the information is explained — clearly, respectfully and in a way that truly honours autistic strengths — made everything finally make sense. I now understand my child’s behaviours through a new lens of nervous system needs, communication, and support, rather than ‘non-compliance’.
The practical strategies have been easy to use at home, and we’ve already seen positive changes in our daily routines, emotional regulation and overall calmness. I especially appreciated the focus on proactive, strengths-based support instead of trying to ‘fix’ behaviours. It has helped us create a more predictable, supportive environment where my child feels understood and safe.
I highly recommend this course to any parent wanting to feel more confident, connected and empowered in supporting their autistic child at home, at school and in the community.
Margaret - Parent
This course has been incredibly helpful for our family. The way the information is explained — clearly, respectfully and in a way that truly honours autistic strengths — made everything finally make sense. I now understand my child’s behaviours through a new lens of nervous system needs, communication, and support, rather than ‘non-compliance’.
The practical strategies have been easy to use at home, and we’ve already seen positive changes in our daily routines, emotional regulation and overall calmness. I especially appreciated the focus on proactive, strengths-based support instead of trying to ‘fix’ behaviours. It has helped us create a more predictable, supportive environment where my child feels understood and safe.
I highly recommend this course to any parent wanting to feel more confident, connected and empowered in supporting their autistic child at home, at school and in the community.
-Margaret, parent
"I'm very grateful to your training . Thank you a mil. It opened my eyes to many new strategies and importantly become calm to be with my son, to understand him and the reasons why he behaves the way he does."
Mum
Accompanying Book
Included in this course is an Amazon voucher that will be sent to your email address. You can use the voucher to get a free course book: the kindle copy of 'Positive Behaviour Support Strategies for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder' by Dolly Bhargava to accompany your study and provide lasting reference material after the course has been completed.
The free course book provides a step-by-step guide to assessing, preventing and managing emotional and behavioural difficulties and is the perfect companion for anyone taking this course.
The book can be purchased separately for self-guided study but is included for free as part of this course.
Course Modules
| Content | Course Time (hrs) | |
| Module 1 | Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
|
0:00 - 1:30 |
| Module 2 | Introduction to Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)
|
1:30 - 2:00 |
| Module 3 | Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA)
|
2:00 - 2:45 |
| Module 4 | Behaviour Prevention Plan
|
2:45 - 3:45 |
| Module 5 | Behaviour Management Plan
|
3:45 - 4:30 |
| Module 6 | Conclusion |
4:30 - 4:45 |
| Course Resource | Read course book and complete course tasks |
4:45 - 5:00 |