The Human Side of Behaviour - Making Sense with CALMER

The Human Side of Behaviour - Making Sense with CALMER

Functions may describe parts of behaviour, but they cannot capture the feelings, thoughts, and humanity behind it.

Yet, the behaviour of people with disability continues to be predominantly understood from the perspective of "functions" to get gain or to avoid something. This way of understanding behaviour is often at odds with the person's lived experience.

About The Webinar

This Webinar introduces you to:

• CALMER History since 2018

• CALMER Philosophy - Shared Humanity

• Guiding Principles - Everyone needs to feel safe

• Why CALMER - It is a shared experience

• Co-Designed Evidence-Informed Practice Framework

• CALMER Work Samples - What have we been learning?

You will have the opportunities to share and ask questions.

What you will gain

• Clarity through a neuro-behavioural approach

• Understanding of the foundation of safety and connection

• A wider, deeper understanding of factors influencing behaviour

• Understanding the relationship between emotions and behaviour

• An introduction to the CALMER Approach evidence-informed framework

Who Should Attend? CALMER is inclusive of everyone

• People with lived experience

• Families & caregivers

• Support workers

• Educators & school leaders

• Allied health & health professionals

• Leaders & managers in disability sector

• Psychologists & Behaviour Support Practitioners

What Others Are Saying

“I am an Autistic parent to two amazing multiply neurodivergent adult sons and have been supporting families for over 24 years. I was trained in ABA and PBS, but as a parent, none of it ever felt right. Later I explored approaches like the Neurosequential Model, the Low Arousal Approach, and the Trauma Wisdom Circle — all of which added value, but still felt incomplete.

What I love about CALMER is how it brings the research from all these pioneers and much more together into one approach.”
— Pam,

“As the principles of your model are universal, I see a real strength of your model in helping others — carers, staff, and families — to understand and challenge assumptions, perceptions, and labels relating to the person they support or interact with.”
— Michael, Psychiatrist

“CALMER simplifies the science of how the brain functions, feels, and reacts — across all ages, abilities, and conditions. It’s a quick, simple, and highly effective framework for people from any discipline or background.”
— Attendee Feedback

"I wasn’t sure about having yet another behaviour support plan... but you started from the beginning and helped us understand why the behaviours were escalating. You made it simple and practical—we feel like we have our life back."
— Amy, Parent

"It was good to hear a different approach... Very insightful, and justified a lot of unanswered questions."
— Emma, Behaviour Support Practitioner

"Thank you for the presentation, it has shifted my perspective on how I approach working with children, especially in how they perceive their emotional regulation and triggers."
— Tomme Murrone - Educator

As a final-year Occupational Therapy student, CALMER has shaped my practice to be more person-centred and capacity-building, while prioritising rights and dignity. It’s been great to see these learnings translated into practice straightaway.”
— Isabela, OT Student

“We see this training as a significant milestone in our focus to continuously improve the quality of supports delivered to participants”. – NDIS Provider

Webinar Details

When: Tuesday, 16 September 2025
Time: 7:15 PM to 08:00 PM (Online live – session will be recorded)
Where: Zoom (link sent upon registration)
Investment: Free
Registration Closes: 16 September 2025

Welcome to The CALMER Approach Limited

A not-for-profit organisation since April 2023

We are committed to improving neuro-affirming practice by supporting people through co-designing their therapeutic supports and building capable environments that facilitates meaningful participation.

NDIS provider since October 2023 delivering:

• 0110 Behaviour Support

• 0128 Therapeutic Supports

• 0118 Early Childhood Supports

CALMER Building Capacity in the Field -

• delivering CALMER® training for over three years

• equipping and empowering practitioners with clarity.

• supporting others with empathy and authenticity,

CALMER Attendees -

• People with lived experience, Families, Carers,

• Support Workers - Teachers, Managers, Counsellors.

• Behaviour Support Practitioners, Social Workers,

• Occupational Therapist, Speech Pathologist - Psychologist,

• Paediatrician, Psychiatrists,

CALMER® has presented at 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

Sharing the meaning of human behaviour with CALMER.

Your Facilitators:

Francisco de Paula is a Neurobehavioural Support Practitioner and the Director of The Calmer Approach Limited. He is a NDIS Advanced Behaviour Support Practitioner. He has been working as practitioner since 2011. He completed his B.Ed (Habilitation) at Australia Catholic University in 2005. Francisco continues committed with ongoing professional development, seeking best practice in supporting quality of life. He completed his longitudinal Positive Behaviour Support training with the Institute of Applied Behaviour Analysis (IABA), NMT, Polyvagal Informed Practice, CPS and more. Francisco has been presenting The CALMER® Approach model at national and international conferences including ASID, AASE and more as he has continued to pursue his passion for closing the gap between theory and practice in positive behaviour support.  

Amy de Paula is an Occupational Therapist who has been working in community disability settings for over twenty years. With a passion for meaningful engagement and co-design, she loves anything that leads to people having autonomy and participation in  their lives. Amy is also an experienced leader and educator in the disability sector.

The CALMER® Approach model has been developed by Francisco and Amy out of a passion for evidence-informed practice and a desire to embed co-design in practice for meaningful impact into everyday Positive Behaviour Support practice.  

Want to Learn More or Bring CALMER® to Your Team?

Note: Our website is currently being updated. For the most accurate and up-to-date workshop information and registration, please visit our Humanitix event page.

Notes: We aim to make our sessions financially accessible to everyone. Please contact us if cost is a barrier. Custom sessions can be tailored for groups—reach out to us at: info@calmerapproach.com