About the online workshop
Adolescence is a time of significant brain development that directly impacts how young people think, feel, behave, and learn. During the teenage years, the brain undergoes major restructuring—especially in the prefrontal cortex, the region responsible for decision-making, self-regulation, and planning.
In your classrooms, this ongoing development often shows up as challenges with organisation, impulse control, risk-taking, and emotional regulation. Understanding what’s happening in the adolescent brain can help you respond with insight and support your students more effectively.
In this session, we’ll explore:
- How the adolescent brain—particularly the prefrontal cortex—develops over time.
- The impact of this development on student behaviour, learning, and relationships at school.
- The effects of toxic stress and trauma on brain development.
- Brain changes such as grey matter pruning and white matter strengthening.
- Strategies to promote positive behaviour, safe choices, and emotional regulation.
- Ways to talk with students about their developing brains to build self-awareness and resilience.
This session is designed to support your teaching practice with neuroscience-informed insights, helping you create more responsive and supportive learning environments.
Who is this professional learning suitable for?
This professional learning is suitable for all high school teaching staff, year advisors, school leaders, welfare and wellbeing teams.
Details
Date: Tuesday, 17 June 2025.
Time: 10am to 11:30am (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: $60 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.
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
This presentation meets the following Australian Professional Standards for Teachers:
Standard 1 – Know students and how they learn.
Standard 6 – Engage in professional learning.
What’s included?
All participants will receive a copy of the slides and a certificate of completion.
About the speaker
Heather Irvine-Rundle
Senior clinical psychologist, Adjunct 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.