Join this practical, teacher‑focused presentation on adolescent mental health and its impact on learning, behaviour and classroom engagement.
Designed specifically for high school teachers and other professionals working with adolescents, this session explores common mental health conditions seen in young people and how diagnoses can shape a student’s academic experience. We’ll look at what this means in practice for teaching, learning and day‑to‑day classroom interactions.
What you’ll gain
Participants will gain practical insights into:
- Implementing supportive, inclusive strategies that promote both wellbeing and positive learning outcomes.
- Recognising early signs of mental health concerns in adolescents.
- Understanding the challenges students may face following a diagnosis.
Supporting students without a diagnosis
The session will also address the additional challenges faced by adolescents experiencing mental health symptoms without a formal diagnosis. These students’ experiences may be misunderstood, minimised, or dismissed as “typical teenage behaviour”. Without a diagnosis, it can be harder for them to access appropriate support or explain what they are going through.
This can make conversations with parents and carers particularly challenging. Students may fear judgement, dismissal or causing worry, while parents may struggle to distinguish between normal developmental changes and signs of distress. As a result, these discussions are sometimes avoided altogether.
We’ll explore how teachers can:
- create a safe environment that supports early conversations and timely support
- establish open, non‑judgemental communication
- validate students’ experiences and emotions
Details
Date: Friday 12 June 2026.
Time: 9:30am to 1pm (AEDT).
Location: Online webinar, attendees will receive their access details the week of the webinar.
Speaker: Heather Irvine-Rundle, senior clinical psychologist and director of The READ Clinic.
Ticket price: $210 per person (including GST).
Booking form: Download the booking form
Purchase tickets: Purchase tickets
If you would like to purchase your ticket via bank transfer, please email (info@committedtochildcareconferences.com) the team and we will send you our banking details.
Professional accreditation
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
This presentation meets the following Australian Professional Standards for Teachers:
- Standard 1 – Know students and how they learn.
- Standard 4 – Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments.
- Standard 6 – Engage in professional learning.
About the speaker
Heather Irvine-Rundle
Senior clinical psychologist, Conjoint Professor of Practice, School of Psychology at the University of Newcastle and director of The READ Clinic
Heather is a senior clinical psychologist and the director of The Read Clinic, which is one of the largest psychology practises in Australia. As well as practising in Australia, Heather has also spent three years in the UK working with some of the most deprived families in Liverpool and London. She also led a service providing advice and consultations on mental health to all the schools in the South London area.
As well as practicing for over two decades Heather has also found time to become a published author with her latest book Hello Baby. Heather speaks regularly on local ABC radio, has appeared on a number of television shows including 60 Minutes, and writes regular articles for print and digital media.
In 2019, Heather was appointed as Conjoint Professor of Practice in the School of Psychology at the University of Newcastle, NSW.
Registration policy
Read our registration policy.