Divergent Matters

There is still time to grab your free tickets to Raelene's webinar for Belongside familes this evening. No problem if you can't attend live, all ticket holders will receive a link to the recording. :-) https://events.humanitix.com/aswebinar2411?fbclid=IwY2xjawOQr2VleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBrbG5jbUxUS2YxaER6ZFJIc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsedrk4tmemUI7qYqpWHQYU7Kf9rDAP9hcybEXtysGGMs1y5xTXRHXK9y9t5_aem_V5ECYJv5zr-iDGXUaeTjVg

Reframing Behaviour: Autism Webinar Get tickets on Humanitix - Reframing Behaviour: Autism Webinar hosted by Belongside Families . Online. Monday 24th November 2025. Find event information.

Day 1 of the Asia Pacific Autism Conference in Perth. Some great speakers and interesting research being showcased. Hoping to hear some more Autistic voices sharing their experience and expertise in the coming days. My Digital poster on Autistic Play was on display today. I'll be speaking tomorrow on Non Directive Play Therapy to support wellbeing in Autistic children. 😀

I was thrilled to be invited to speak at the Inaugural PDA Conference Australia in Perth today. So many fantastic speakers sharing their knowledge and experience of PDA with around 700 attendees. Thank you to Heidi and her team for a wonderful day. ❤️ - Raelene :-)

Pathological Demand Avoidance, or PDA, is a profile of Autism characterized by unique strengths and challenges.
Discussions about PDA often focus on what strategies adults should use to support PDAers at school, at home and in the community. But why are these approaches needed? How do they support PDAers to have their needs met?

What do PDAers actually need to thrive?
❤️Honesty
Authenticity and the freedom to be genuine without masking or pretending to be someone else
❤️Equilibrium
Balance, equality and fairness - experiencing mutual respect and being treated as an equal partner in all interactions
❤️Autonomy
Choice, control and time - having agency over decisions, processes, and pace without pressure or coercion
❤️Relevance
Personal connection and significance - engaging with things that feel meaningful and aligned with individual interests and values
❤️Trust
Connection and safety in relationships - feeling secure with others and confident that interactions are genuine and supportive

Understanding these fundamental HEART needs can help PDAers flourish authentically, honouring their ways of being.

Raelene was thrilled to visit St Mary's Primary School in Malvern East to speak to the wonderful teaching team and support staff about supporting Neurodivergent students. ❤️

St Mary’s staff were extremely fortunate to welcome psychologist and play therapist, Raelene Dundon to our school today! 🏫 With over 20 years of clinical expertise, Raelene facilitated an incredibly informative professional development session about understanding and supporting neurodivergent students.

Thank you Raelene. 💙 Okey Dokey

🌟 CALLING ALL PARENTS & CARERS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY! 🌟
Your voice matters, and we want to hear from YOU! 💙
We've just been awarded a grant from the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission to create something amazing - a completely FREE course designed to empower families like yours! 🎉
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
We're developing resources to help parents and young people better understand their rights and become confident advocates. But we need YOUR input to make sure this course actually meets YOUR needs!
WHO CAN HELP?
Parents & carers of children/young people with disability (up to 25 years old)
WHAT'S INVOLVED?
✅ Just 10 minutes of your time
✅ Completely anonymous survey
✅ Your honest experiences and insights
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
Your participation will directly shape resources that could help thousands of families navigate disability services more confidently. Together, we can create something that truly makes a difference! 💪
Ready to have your voice heard? 👇
https://divergentmatters.com.au/survey-help-us-understand-parents-knowledge-of-childrens-rights-in-ndis-services/

Please share this post if you know other parents who might want to contribute to this important work!

Help Us Understand Parents’ Knowledge of Children’s Rights in NDIS Services – Divergent Matters What is this survey about?We want to learn about what parents know about their child’s rights when using NDIS services. Your answers will help us create a FREE online training program and resources to support families like yours.Who can take part?Parents or carers of children with disability aged ...