Resource information
This free online course is suitable for primary and secondary educators with an interest in supporting children and young people with emotional self-regulation, mental health and wellbeing, and social and emotional skills.
Across 6 interactive modules, this professional learning unpacks key concepts and outlines inclusive strategies which promote engagement with learning in a safe, comfortable classroom environment. It also explores a trauma-informed approach to supporting students who express big emotions or experience behavioural challenges.
The course is made up of 6 modules. They should all take about 20 minutes each to complete. You will receive a certificate of completion aligned to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
What’s in the course
Module 1: Introduction to self-regulation
You may have heard the term ‘self-regulation’ in an education context before. But what exactly is it? And how does it support students to engage in learning?
Module 2: Understanding interoception
Our bodies send us physical signals about our emotions all the time. Tapping into these changing signals and learning to understand them as emotions and/or feelings is called interoception or ‘mindful body awareness’.
Module 3: Individual differences, neurodiversity and mental health
Everybody’s natural interoception is different. Students with less developed interoception may struggle not only with managing big emotions, but with social interactions.
Module 4: Interoception in the classroom
This module unpacks inclusive strategies and activities for a practical application of interoception with primary and secondary students.
Module 5: Trauma and emotional dysregulation
What can cause students to express big emotions or experience behavioural challenges? And how do environmental or sensory triggers in the classroom play a role?
Module 6: Trauma-informed approach
You can support students who experience severe dysregulation by creating a safe environment, fostering relationships, and improving their emotional self-regulation skills.
How to access the course
The course is available on the Student Wellbeing Hub.
The Student Wellbeing Hub has been developed by Education Services Australia for the Australian Government Department of Education. It is free to access the course after you register.
