Introduction to The CALMER Approach: A Neuro-Behavioural Framework for Understanding Behaviour in Context

A neuro-affirming way of finding shared meaning in behaviour, centred on the person’s lived experience and perspective, particularly when distress shows up as behaviour.

Are We Asking the Right Questions to Understand Behaviour?

At the heart of The CALMER Approach is a simple but powerful shift: asking different questions to understand behaviour and find shared meaning from the person’s perspective.

Rather than starting with questions about “function,” CALMER invites us to pause and ask the right questions to understand behaviour, such as:

What might this behaviour mean to the person, and what is their perspective in this context?
What’s happening for them? Why did this happen in this way?
Was the behaviour the problem, or was it a consequence of something else?

These questions invite us to understand behaviour in context, recognising that the same behaviour can carry different meaning each time it occurs, depending on the person, the situation, and what is happening around them.

In Everyday Practice: How Do We Ask the Right Questions to Understand Behaviour from the Person’s Perspective?

In everyday practice, understanding behaviour from the person’s lived experience and perspective invites a different conversation than assigning a function to behaviour. Yet practitioners are frequently expected to rely on categorical, function-based explanations, while also being asked to work in neuro-affirming, trauma-informed, and person-centred ways.

This tension can create a genuine gap between theory and lived experience—particularly when distress shows up as behaviour and practitioners are required to make sense of what is happening in the moment through the familiar lens of “what is the function of the behaviour,” while simultaneously meeting ethical, organisational, and reporting expectations.

This workshop invites practitioners to stay curious about the questions they ask, and to keep learning how to understand and explain behaviour using a neuro-behavioural approach centred on the person’s lived experience and perspective. The focus is on finding shared meaning in behaviour in ways that support understanding, engagement, and safety, while continuing to uphold human rights, NDIS requirements, and everyday practice responsibilities.

This workshop offers:

A neuro-affirming evidence-informed practice framework for understanding the relationship between emotions and interactions from the person's perspective.
A non-linear approach to support collective information gathering, reflecting, and analysing what may have contributed to behaviour.
A co-designed therapeutic process and practical tools that supports engagement, participation and implementation
A shared neuro-affirming language and framework that supports alignment across governance, practice and lived experience

You’ll leave with:

Clear language and a practical framework to strengthen neuro-affirming practice
Accessible tools to use with people who access support to deepen shared understanding
Increased confidence to integrate new learning into existing frameworks and everyday service and NDIS requirements, without disruption

Includes:

3 CPD hours
Certificate of participation
Slide deck

Here’s what professionals and leaders are saying about CALMER®

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

Who Should Attend

Behaviour Support Practitioners
Allied Health & Health Professionals
Educators & School Leaders

Workshop Details

Title: Introduction to Neuro-Behavioural Approach to Understand Behaviour When: Wednesday, 4th and 11th March 2026
Time: 12:00 PM to 1.30 PM (Online live session)
Where: Zoom link sent upon registration

Investment: up to 31% saving

Standard (single): $189
Early-bird (single): $149
Standard (group 3+): $159 per person
Early-bird (group 3 +): $129 per person

Registration Closes: 2 March 2026

Places are limited

👉 Join us for two interactive and practical live workshops

The sessions will be facilitated by the founders of the CALMER Approach, Francisco and Amy with over 25 years of experience contributing to meaningful changes in the sector.

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 disability and health sectors.

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?

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

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