Children in early childhood and primary school often experience big emotions that can lead to outbursts, withdrawal, or disengagement in the classroom. Teachers need effective strategies in these moments to keep children safe, supported and ready to learn.
This workshop will explain why dysregulation happens, what drives it, and how to apply step‑by‑step strategies to guide young learners back to a calm and focused state.
Although dysregulation can look the same on the surface, the underlying cause may be ADHD, trauma or other conditions such as PTSD, ODD or CD. Each requires a different approach. This workshop will help you recognise these differences and choose the right regulation strategies for the children in your care.
About the online workshop
You will gain practical, evidence‑based tools that you can use immediately in your classroom. These strategies will help you guide your students back to a regulated and focused state and create a safer learning environment where young children are ready to engage.
What you will learn:
- Understanding the developing brain: A deeper understanding of the early childhood and primary‑aged brain.
- Explaining brain basics: How to provide children with a simple understanding of how their brain works, helping them make sense of their emotional responses.
- Key influences on regulation: Key factors that influence emotional regulation in young children.
- Identifying drivers of dysregulation: How to identify what may be driving the dysregulation, allowing you to match the correct regulation strategy to the needs of the child.
- Practical regulation strategies: Practical, evidence‑based strategies to support students to move from dysregulation to regulation, manage their emotions and regain focus.
- Whole‑class approaches: Strategies applicable to the entire class that can be integrated into daily routines.
- Building emotional awareness: Strategies for developing positive thinking and emotional awareness.
- Supporting resilience through relationships: The importance of providing choice, reflective dialogue, and feedback that helps establish and maintain relationships that support emotional resilience.
Who should attend?
This professional learning is designed for teachers, school leaders and support staff working with children in early childhood and primary school settings
You will also have the opportunity to ask questions directly to the speaker or if you prefer submit questions via email prior to the presentation.
Details
Date: Friday 7 August 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.