Rock and Water Australia

18/08/2026

It was such a pleasure to deliver the two-day Rock and Water for ASD workshop at Perth's Spearwood Alternative School. This workshop provides the opportunity for participants to learn about the Rock and Water Programme, and how to use the principles and activities to develop more body awareness and emotional awareness for students with ASD or special needs. A wonderful workshop that left participants feeling excited, empowered and ready to really target the needs of the students they work with.

18/08/2026

A big thank you to Robin Schofield and Thornlie Senior High School for hosting a wonderful Rock and Water three-day training recently. Participants came from across Western Australia to play, learn and laugh together as they explored the ethos and potential of the Rock and Water programme. A special time to learn and share experiences and ideas. We can't wait to return to WA - watch out for 2027 workshop dates coming soon!

https://www.rockandwater.com.au/western-australia/

10/08/2026

I am so grateful for the beautiful contribution from Troy Robinson to the recent Coffs Harbour workshop. Troy works for Bularri Muurlay Nyanggan - 2 Path Strong and after giving a welcome to country in language he played some didgeridoo and sang.
Troy also closed the workshop with a ritual song, playing some beautiful didgeridoo after which he and his colleague Lucas sang as they moved around the group.
It was a beautiful ritual that demonstrated the universal theme in Rock and Water, that we are connected in ourselves, grounded and centred, and also to each other in our common desire for goodwill and mutual acceptance .

11/06/2026

The recent Mackay workshop was a dream time for us. The host school was Carlisle Adventist College and from the moment we walked in we were impressed by the hospitality, organisation and extra care shown by all staff we came in contact with, particularly Katie who checked in constantly to make sure we were doing well. I was also impressed that the Principal popped in to gauge the reaction of his staff to the workshop.
One of the staff members , Kalesita, wrote the following ;

“Brian and Sandy are the absolute dream team. Their passion and belief in the program is evident in the way they teach the program, it makes it more fun and interesting! They were amazing at making people feel comfortable and able to do anything. I am so excited to take everything I’ve learned into my workplace. Rock and Water needs to be implemented anytime there are young people in need.
I had so much fun and I wish it went longer.”

It is rewarding that teachers and support staff from several Queensland schools are ready and able to roll out this powerful evidence based social skills program.
Marion State School, Carlisle Adventist College, Halifax state school, Middlemount Community School, Biloela State High, Mirani State School, Proserpine State School attended the workshop.

21/03/2026

We just completed a wonderful workshop at Whites Hill State College in Brisbane. The Rock and Water program is attracting a lot of attention in Queensland at the moment. Teachers and educators recognise the need to promote wellbeing, reduce anxiety and promote resilience in the school community.
The best thing about a Rock and Water workshop is the level of participant engagement in the training. There is not a lot of time spent in chairs, as participants experience the practical , engaging exercises, exploring the psychophysical teaching approach that is particular to the Rock and Water method.
And best of all, teachers, chaplains, support staff, counsellors and youth workers talk about their experiences with young people , and laugh a lot….
It was great to see teachers from Nanango State High School, Dalby State High School, Coombabah State High School, Shailer Park State High School, Kilcoy State High School, Collingwood Park State School, Upper Coomera State College, Bundaberg State High School, East Brisbane State School, Wynnum West State School

12/02/2026

Rock and Water for the autism spectrum 2-Day course is currently underway at Beerwah Primary School, Queensland! Many of the Australian advanced trainers in the team are present including Master Brian Hayes, as well as Master instructors from New Zealand and the Netherlands, having a great time learning how to adapt rock and water for the autism spectrum and additional and related neurodivergence. We are honoured to be taught by master instructor Freerk Ykema himself! It is day one and we have already learnt so much, and can’t wait to see what the next two days will bring.

03/12/2025

It was nice to do a workshop back in Newcastle after crisscrossing the country a few times . Newcastle was the site of the first ever Rock and Water workshop in 1999, conducted by Dutch teacher and author Freerk Ykema. Freerk had been invited to Australia by the Family Action Centre and Richard Fletcher to present a workshop at a National Boys Conference. He named his fledgling resilience and social skills program “Rock and Water” , and this fantastic program took off.

Today, over 70,000 teachers have trained in the program in 40 countries, and in a world where the wellbeing of young people is of increasing concern , the program is more relevant than ever.

Teachers love the Rock and Water workshops. It is a unique professional development experience, as the participants learn the program in the same way that children do, through the experience of play , laughter, group reflection and deep introspection. It is a wonderful balance of top down self regulation scripts and strategies meeting bottom up somatic exercises , body check-ins and breathing exercises to promote a more resilient and socially skilled individual. The photos accompanying show the range of an activities and the engaging and joyful nature of the program.

Participants cane from Belmont High School, Morisset High School, Family Action Centre, public school, singleton council, ridge central school , learning centre, Macauley college Medowie.

27/11/2025

What a fantastic workshop hosted by CBC Fremantle! Thanks for sharing these great photos. Not a bad location either!

Keen to be apart of an upcoming workshop?
Visit our website to find one near you.
rockandwater.com.au

25/11/2025

Why does ASD training matter right now?

Across Australia, more autistic students and clients are being recognised and supported, but many educators and practitioners still feel under-resourced when it comes to practical, movement-based strategies that build independence and emotional regulation.

The Rock & Water ASD workshop directly addresses this need by giving participants concrete, physical tools to support self-regulation and social understanding, offering a strengths-based framework that honours the person’s identity while expanding their choices, and providing a shared language, Rock, Water, grounding, centering, and focusing that can be used consistently across staff teams, families, and services.

Because this particular workshop is being delivered by Freerk and Stijn, you’ll also be contributing to stronger links between Australian and Dutch practice, building a richer, more connected Rock & Water community for autistic people and those who support them.

READ MORE - https://www.rockandwater.com.au/2025/11/21/asd-workshops
BOOK NOW - https://rockandwateraus.zohobackstage.com.au/AutismSpectrumDisordersWorkshop #/

Rock and Water is a self development program designed to enhance children’s resilience skills; reactive behaviour, relationships, focus and determination.

23/11/2025

If you’re ready to deepen your Rock and Water practice, our specialised Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) workshops take your learning further and focus on supporting children and young people on the spectrum.

Across two practical days, you’ll experience physical Rock and Water exercises adapted for ASD, with a strong focus on self-confidence, communication, emotional regulation and anxiety reduction. You’ll walk away with concrete strategies, a comprehensive manual and new ways to connect with and empower your students or clients.

We have two ASD workshops coming up in 2026 – explore the details and book your place here:
https://www.rockandwater.com.au/two-day-rock-and-water-autism-spectrum-disorders-program/