Workshops and Training

We offer a comprehensive range of training services to families, schools, and other health and education professionals in Sydney, rural Australia, interstate and overseas.

Please contact us at anne.chalfant@anniescentre.com for further details about our education and training services.

Upcoming Courses

Accredited Training Courses

Dr Anne Chalfant, PsyD. offers the following training courses both within Australia and overseas.
Courses are held in Sydney – the specific venue for each will be determined closer to the date of each course. Please feel free to contact us regarding any of the courses listed below.

ADOS-2 Training

Training for Health Professionals in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2)

The ADOS-2 is a semi-structured, standardized assessment of communication, social interaction, imagination and play skills for individuals who are suspected of having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Training courses have been developed in order to teach health professionals and researchers how to use the ADOS-2 effectively and appropriately as a clinical and/or research assessment tool.

Although the ADOS-2 can be used independently, using it in conjunction with the ADI-R (see details below for ADI-R training) is considered the “gold standard”.  The combined use of the ADOS-2 and the ADI-R ensures a more thorough use of standardised tools in a comprehensive clinical assessment and diagnosis of ASD.

Due to COVID, the course will be delivered online as an interactive workshop.

Details for the next ADOS-2 course are:

ADOS-2 Toddler Module and Update Workshop

This course is for professionals who have already completed basic training in the ADOS-2 and are looking to learn how to administer and code the Toddler Module of the ADOS-2. The Toddler Module requires a high level of skill in administration because of the young focus age of 12 months to 30 months. We have developed a 1 day workshop to help clinicians:

• learn about the rationale for the Toddler Module activities
• learn how to code their observations with very young children
• watch the trainer administer the Toddler Module with a toddler who has a formal diagnosis of ASD
• conduct and code their own “live” ADOS-2 administration with a toddler
• workshop any challenges that they have been experiencing in their administration and coding in their workplace and recalibrate with the trainer

No dates have been set yet for the next ADOS-2 Toddler Module course:

Please contact us at anne.chalfant@anniescentre.com us for further details about or to register for our ADOS-2 training courses.

ADI-R Clinical and Research Training

The ADI-R is a semi-structured diagnostic interview to assess behaviours related to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The ADI-R typically takes between 90 minutes to 3 hours and is administered by an experienced clinician to the caregiver(s) of an individual suspected of having ASD.
Training courses have been developed in order to teach health professionals and researchers how to use the ADI-R effectively and appropriately as a clinical and/or research assessment tool.

Training participants will:

• learn about the rationale for the ADI-R items
• learn how to administer the ADI-R
• learn how to code the caregiver’s responses during the interview
• watch the trainer administer the ADI-R to caregivers of individuals who already have a formal diagnosis of ASD and code the assessments.
• learn how to summarise assessment results in order to give helpful feedback to families.

Please contact us at anne.chalfant@anniescentre.com us for further details about or to register for our ADI-R training courses.

In-Services

We provide customised in-services and workshops to day care centres, pre-schools, primary schools, high schools and universities across Sydney.
Our team of health professionals can prepare in-services on a wide range of topics relating to child mental health, development, behaviour and education. Topics that tend to be of interest for teachers include:

• Assessment of School Readiness
• Dealing with Challenging Behaviour in Children
• Identifying Children Who Need Extra Support
• Autism Spectrum Disorder: School Support Strategies
• Supporting Literacy and Language Skills in Children
• Managing Anxiety and Building Confidence in Children and Adolescents

Please feel free to contact us at anne.chalfant@anniescentre.com if you would like to discuss and/or schedule a time for the involvement of any of our experienced allied health professionals in an in-service for your staff.

Workshops

We offer the following workshops both within Australia and overseas. Please feel free to contact us at anne.chalfant@anniescentre.com regarding any of the workshops listed below:

Autism Spectrum Disorder: Assessment, Diagnosis and Intervention

This two day workshop presents a thorough overview of evidence based assessment and intervention methods for children who have or are suspected of having an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The content is appropriate for health and educational professionals including GPs, Psychiatrists, Paediatricians, Psychologists, School Counsellors, Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists. It includes hand outs, video footage, live demonstrations and case examples. The techniques discussed are applicable for use with individuals of all ages.
The workshop is presented by Dr Anne Chalfant Psy.D, Director of Annie’s Centre.

Day 1 topics include:

• Current literature about the main features and possible causes of ASD
• Understanding the DSM 5 Diagnostic Criteria for ASD
• Early indicators of ASD in infants
• Evidence based screening tools for infants, school aged children and adults (including demonstrations of their use)
• The “gold standard” diagnostic assessment tools (including demonstrations of their use)
• Differential diagnosis (via case examples)
• Report writing and providing feedback on assessment outcomes for families

Day 2 topics include:

• The “culture” (i.e., thinking and learning styles) of individuals with ASD
• An overview of the “gold standard” intervention methods for individuals with ASD (including Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), TEACCH methods, Early Start Denver Model (ESDM))
• Functional behaviour analysis for individuals with an ASD
• Teaching self-regulation skills to individuals with an ASD
• Teaching social skills to individuals with an ASD
• Managing anxiety difficulties in individuals with an ASD.

To express your interest in this workshop please feel free to contact us at anne.chalfant@anniescentre.com.

Cool Kids ASD: Assessment and Treatment of Anxiety in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder”

We offer two separate workshops on this topic for parents and professionals, which are conducted over 1 day.
The workshops are presented by Dr Anne Chalfant Psy.D, Director of Annie’s Centre and co-author of the Cool Kids ASD program.
Participants will:

• Learn about the main features of anxiety disorders in children
• Learn about current research regarding the incidence of anxiety in children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Learn about the main screening and diagnostic tools used to assess anxiety difficulties
• Review research regarding the most effective treatments for anxiety
• Review the main components of “cognitive behaviour therapy” for anxiety difficulties
• Workshop anxiety management strategies including relaxation techniques, cognitive therapy techniques and exposure exercises to help children learn how to “face their fears”
• Workshop strategies to maintain long-term coping skills for future anxiety provoking situations

To express your interest in this workshop please feel free to contact us at anne.chalfant@anniescentre.com.

Assessment and Treatment of Anxiety in People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

This very popular workshop is relevant for parents, teachers, teacher’s aides and allied health professionals. It is conducted over 1 day. The workshop is presented by Dr Anne Chalfant Psy.D, Director of Annie’s Centre and author of the internationally acclaimed book, “Managing Anxiety in People with Autism: A Treatment Guide for Parents, Teachers and Mental Health Professionals“.
Participants will:

• Learn about the nature of anxiety in children and adolescents
• Learn about current research regarding the prevalence of anxiety in people with an Autism
• Spectrum Disorder and why prevalence rates are so high
• Learn about the main screening and diagnostic tools used to assess anxiety difficulties
• Learn about the role of avoidance in maintaining anxiety difficulties
• Learn about the nature and impact of parent anxiety
• Learn strategies to combat parent anxiety
• Learn “indirect” strategies for use at home and in the classroom environment to manage anxiety in people with ASD
• Learn “direct” strategies for therapy with an anxious person with ASD
• Learn about how to adapt anxiety interventions to account for the learning style of someone with ASD.
• Have opportunities for individual case discussion

To express your interest in this workshop please feel free to contact us at anne.chalfant@anniescentre.com.

Managing Challenging Behaviour

This parent-only workshop is conducted over 1 day.
Participants will:

• Learn about the factors that predispose a child to developing challenging behaviours as well as the factors that maintain the behaviours
• Learn strategies for enhancing a positive relationship with their child
• Learn strategies to praise and reward children for appropriate/positive behaviour
• Learn strategies for how to react when challenging behaviours occur
• Develop “behaviour management plans” to help eliminate and prevent challenging behaviours
• Learn how to use effective parenting strategies more consistently

To express your interest in this workshop please feel free to contact us at anne.chalfant@anniescentre.com.

Learning Support for Children with Autism Spectrum Disoder in the Classroom and at Home

This workshop is conducted separately for parents and teachers over 2 days.
It was developed using evidence based support principles from the TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and other related Communication-handicapped CHildren) philosophy to learning support from the University of North Carolina, USA.
The workshop is presented by Dr Anne Chalfant Psy.D, Director of Annie’s Centre.
Participants will:

• Learn about thinking and learning styles in Autism (the “culture” of Autism)
• Learn about structured teaching approaches including the use of visual supports and work systems
• Learn how to assess, develop and teach independent work tasks
• Learn about and have hands-on experience developing systems to support communication skills
• Learn about and have hands-on experience developing domestic and daily living skills tasks
• Learn about and have hands-on experience developing social and leisure activities
• Develop plans for setting up classroom and home learning environments

To express your interest in this workshop please feel free to contact us at anne.chalfant@anniescentre.com.

Seminars for Parents in Child Health, Development and Education

Our seminars are conducted by our expert staff and cover a range of topics including:

• Speech and Language Development
• Communication Styles and Parenting Roles
• Getting Ready for School
• Red Flags and First Concerns
• Importance of Early Literacy

Please contact us at anne.chalfant@anniescentre.com to arrange training services in your area or to attend one of our centre based training courses.

Workshops for Children and Adolescents

Sometimes children and adolescents benefit from some “extra tips” in how to navigate making friends, dealing with bullying and managing learning tasks, especially as they move from mid-primary school into upper primary and high school. Our experienced professionals offer brief workshops for children and adolescents to address:

• Social skills
• Conversation skills
• Study skills
• Reducing anxiety and building confidence
• Dealing with bullying

We also offer several group programs to help address challenges with making friends, managing strong emotions and reducing anxiety and building confidence self esteem.
Please feel free to contact us at anne.chalfant@anniescentre.com regarding any of the workshops or group programs.