Determining the function of behaviour is one thing. Understanding the meaning of human behaviour is another.

Since 2022, CALMER® has been supporting families, schools, and professionals to understand the human side of behaviour — and the meaning behind it.

“Often we are told to focus on the functionality behind behaviour, but sometimes there is not a function — it could just be an emotion, a physiological response, or an internalised response. Very insightful, and justified a lot of unanswered questions.”
— Emma, Behaviour Support Practitioner

Welcome to CALMER® Neuro-Behavioural Approach: A Practical and Accessible Way to Understand the Meaning of Human Behaviour

By attending, you will:

Gain a practical, neuro-affirming framework to move beyond function and understand the meaning of behaviour.
Develop fresh perspectives on unsafe interactions by exploring what they communicate.
Apply hands-on strategies to uncover meaning in real-world scenarios.
Use clear tools to link emotions, experiences, and behaviour.
Co-design therapeutic supports grounded in shared meaning — practical and accessible in everyday practice.
Build capable environments where the environment is the focus of change, not the person.

Workshop Outline
Introduction to CALMER® — framework and neuro-behavioural foundations.
Co-designed Process — finding shared meaning; co-planning practical, accessible supports.
Plan Activation — turning plans into actionable steps.
Critical Analysis — identify root causes; ask whether the unsafe interaction is the problem or the consequence.
Shared Learning & Reflection — practice, feedback, and next steps for real-world implementation.

What Makes CALMER® Different?

Person-first approach — understand the person first, then their behaviour.
Neuro-behavioural foundation — connects emotions, thoughts, lived experiences, and environments to behaviour.
Co-designed process — plans are built together, practical, and accessible.
Environment focus — the person doesn’t have to fit the framework; the framework adapts to them.
Universal principles — feeling safe, connected, heard, and understood is a basic human right.

CALMER in Action
CALMER® has been presented at major national and international conferences including:
Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability (ASID) — 2025, 2024, 2022
Australia Association for Special Education (AASE) — 2025, 2023
Disability Support Workers Conference — 2025
PESI — 2024
Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint — 2023
National Disability Service (NDS) — 2022
…and more.
“As the principles of your model are universal, I see a real strength in helping carers, staff, and families challenge assumptions, perceptions, and labels.”
— Michael, Psychiatrist
With Over 20 Years’ Experience in the Disability Sector

From frontline support to management to advanced behaviour support, Francisco saw first-hand the gap between plans and implementation.

In 2017, a family told him: “We don’t need another plan; we need help implementing the one we have.”

That moment revealed a critical truth — and became the spark for developing CALMER®: a framework that bridges theory and practice through alignment with our shared humanity, co-design, and building capable environments —

so people receive the support they truly need, not just the support they are given.

The CALMER® Approach Limited

We are a not-for-profit organisation and a registered NDIS provider delivering:

0110 Behaviour Support
0118 Early Childhood Supports
0128 Therapeutic Supports

Our mission is to improve neuro-affirming practice by supporting people through co-designed therapeutic supports and environments that empower meaningful participation.

CALMER is more than a framework — it is a shared experience that transforms how we understand behaviour and co-design practical plans for effective implementation.

Testimonial

“You made us see that it was not complicated — it was simple. You gave us back our lives and made it easier to deal with. When we follow the steps and validate what my child is expressing, his behaviours have become so much easier to deal with.”
— Amy, Parent

“This approach brought together multiple theories in a practical framework I could use immediately. Explaining CALMER to participants allowed for a more inclusive, collaborative process.”
— Alicia McLachlan, Senior Behaviour Support Practitioner / Social Worker

About the CALMER® Framework

The CALMER® (Cortex, Amygdala, Limbic, Memory, Emotional Regulation) model is an evidence-informed practice framework designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice in Positive Behaviour Support.

Originally developed while supporting people with disability experiencing unsafe interactions (behaviours of concern), CALMER® is inclusive of everyone — it is not limited to disability. What makes CALMER® unique is its neuro-behavioural approach: understanding the person first, then their behaviour.

What to Expect from a CALMER® Workshop

CALMER® workshops are highly practical and interactive, led by the creators of the approach. You will:

Gain hands-on experience applying CALMER® to real-world scenarios.
Learn to identify root causes more efficiently, improving quality of life.
Explore a co-designed framework that fosters empathy, equity, and meaningful participation.
Build confidence in reducing or eliminating restrictive practices through more supportive environments.

CALMER® workshops move beyond theory into practical tools that create real change — for the people you support, their networks, and your own practice.

Who Should Attend?

Behaviour Support Practitioners and Allied Health Professionals
Teachers, aides, and school staff working with students who present behaviours of concern
Anyone committed to building safer, more neuro-affirming environments

Workshop Details

📅 Date: Wednesday, 1 October 2025
🕘 Times: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM or 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Location: Online via Zoom (recording included)

💲 Investment:

Single: $130
Group (3+): $110 per person
Student: $85

📝 Registration closes: 29 September 2025
🎓 Includes: 3 CPD hours + Certificate
⚡ Limited to 30 participants per session

👉 Secure your spot today — once 30 places are filled, registration will close early.
Understanding the Human Side of Behaviour — Making Sense with CALMER®

Your Facilitators: The Creators of CALMER®, Sharing Over 20 Years of Experience With You

Francisco de Paula is a Neurobehavioural Support Practitioner and the Director of The CALMER® Approach Limited. He is an NDIS Advanced Behaviour Support Practitioner and has worked in the disability sector since 2000 — beginning as a support worker for six years, moving into management for five years, and since 2011, practising as a Behaviour Support Practitioner.

Francisco completed his B.Ed. (Habilitation) at Australian Catholic University in 2005 and continues to invest in ongoing professional development. His training includes longitudinal Positive Behaviour Support with the Institute of Applied Behaviour Analysis (IABA), the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT), Polyvagal-Informed Practice, Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS), and more.

As the creator of the CALMER® Approach, Francisco has presented nationally and internationally — including ASID, AASE, and other major conferences — sharing his passion for closing the gap between theory and practice in behaviour support.

Amy de Paula is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years’ experience in community disability settings. With a passion for meaningful engagement and co-design, she is dedicated to supporting autonomy, participation, and authentic inclusion in people’s lives.

Together, Francisco and Amy developed the CALMER® Approach from a shared passion for evidence-informed practice and a commitment to embedding co-design into Positive Behaviour Support for meaningful, everyday impact.

For more information visit The CALMER® Approach website: https://www.calmerapproach.com

Notes: We aim to make our sessions financially available to everyone, so please contact us if money is a barrier. Custom sessions can be tailored for groups, please contact: info@calmerapproach.com