Decoding the Enigma of Human Unsafe Interactions (Behaviour of Concerns)

by understanding what truly matters to be human—feeling safe, connected, heard, and understood—with empathy and authenticity.

Intro

Understanding human unsafe interactions is like understanding gravity—we don’t always see it, but we feel it, and we’re shaped by it.

Just like with gravity:

Are we flying, gliding, or resisting the wind?
Whatever the path, we’re in the air—together.

And just like in every human unsafe interactions:

Are we in relationship with the person—or for them?
Either way, we are already in relationship.
The question is whether we’re truly present in it.

How CALMER Understands and Responds to Unsafe Interactions*

CALMER begins with this understanding:

We all behave in ways that, later, we may regret—or wish we had handled differently.
These actions are rarely intentional or malicious.
They reflect a moment when everything came together: emotions, stress, unmet needs, disconnection.
And none of us want to be defined by those moments alone.
CALMER recognises that the same compassion and context we seek for ourselves
must also be extended to the people we support—unconditionally and with positive regard.

So CALMER shifts the question from:

What is wrong with this behaviour? What is the function of the behaviour?

to:

What’s happening in the relationship right now?
What is the relationship between their emotions and interactions?
What is calming and aligning?
What is disrupting the alignment?
What are the misalignments?
Is the unsafe interaction the problem—or the consequence of a deeper problem?

Unsafe interactions: What some systems might label as “behaviours of concern”—but CALMER views as relational signals showing us that someone is not feeling safe, connected, heard, or understood. This shifts the focus from blaming the individual to exploring environmental and relational conditions.

A Glimpse Into CALMER

CALMER isn’t just another framework—it helps you rediscover what’s already there.
It’s not about adding more tools. It’s about seeing differently.
Because behaviour is variable, but the need to feel safe, connected, heard, and understood remains constant.
CALMER begins by believing that all practitioners come with good intentions.
They want to see the person, understand their behaviour, and offer meaningful support.
But there’s a blind spot—in plain daylight:
A gap between good intentions and the tools available—many of which were designed to separate the person from their behaviour or assign intent based on outside interpretation.
This creates a natural misalignment between practitioner values and the tools they are expected to use.
CALMER helps realign this gap—shifting from control to connection, from outside-in assumptions to inside-out understanding.

What We'll Share and Discover Together

Relational Understanding

Explore the connection between a person’s emotions, interactions, and environment—before focusing on behaviour.

Foundational Realignment

Learn how disconnection between good intentions and traditional tools creates a blind spot—and how CALMER realigns practice with what matters most: being human with.

Co-Designed Therapeutic Support

Replace top-down behaviour plans with support that is co-created, emotionally safe, and grounded in shared meaning.

Emotional Regulation & Neuro-Behaviour Science

Understand how the cortex, amygdala, limbic system, memory, and emotional regulation influence behaviour across time, settings, and relationships.

Shared Humanity and Practical Insight

Build capacity in teams and families using accessible tools like the Frannogram Infinity Profile to translate understanding into aligned support.

Learning Outcomes

Identify the limitations of traditional behaviourist models and discover a neuro-affirming alternative
Understand the foundations of human interaction using emotional, relational, and neurological insights
Apply co-regulation principles and relational safety practices across diverse environments
Learn to recognise when a plan is a reaction vs. when it is a response—and how to shift
See the person first, not the label or the behaviour—and understand what it means to be in the picture with, not just observing from outside

What Others Are Saying

"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

Highlight: Practical Impact in the Classroom
"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. I've adopted the strategy of asking the child to draw their zones of regulation and have seen some improvements in classroom attendance and engagement. It's also helped with setting up classroom supports and adjustments."
— Tomme Murrone

"This approach draws from multiple theories and gives us a practical framework we can actually use."
— Alicia McLachlan, Senior Behaviour Support Practitioner / Social Worker

“It enabled me, my team, and the whole school to completely shift how we understood behaviour. We started using the terms ‘safe’ and ‘unsafe interactions’—and looking at them in context with the environment too”.

— School feedback

Who Should Attend?

- Behaviour Support Practitioners
- Speech Pathologists
- Occupational Therapist
- Social Workers
- Allied Health Professionals

Workshop Details

When: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Online live – session will be recorded)
Where: Zoom (link sent upon registration)

Investment

$258 Full Price (Save 50% $129! End of $ year sale)
$129 now
Registration Closes: 23 June 2025

Includes

3 CPD Hours + Certificate + Resources

CALMER Is Grounded In:

Neuro Divergent Principals
Evidence-Informed Practice Frameworks
The Social Model of Disability
Neuro-behavioural and Biopsychosocial Approaches
Human Rights and Relational Safety Principles
NDIS Practice Standards

The CALMER Foundation

Like the law of gravity, CALMER invites us to understand our differences not as deficits, but as part of the shared reality we must learn to navigate—compassionately and with awareness.

Change can only occur when everyone feels safe, connected, heard, and understood—with empathy and authenticity.
This is the philosophical foundation CALMER is built upon.

You can shift how others understand and respond to behaviour—with empathy and authenticity from the start.

Join us for an interactive and practical workshop to build capability, improve implementation, and put people first—with empathy and authenticity.

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.

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