Learning Keys

26/01/2026

Best wishes to everyone (students, parents and teachers) starting school tomorrow!

Week 1 marks the start of a partnership between home and school. For each student, their trusted adults have a key role to play in their learning and development.

Thank you to the amazing people at home and at school who are working so hard to help each child feel ready and supported to begin their 2026 learning journey ❤️

21/01/2026

Here are a few simple things you can try at home to help your child feel ready and confident for school:

• Practice getting dressed in their school uniform

• Open and close their lunchbox together, and practice refilling their drink bottle

• Talk about how they’ll recognise which bag belongs to them (a key tag or picture can help)

• Chat about something they’re feeling excited about for school

• Practice taking school shoes on and off independently

• Visit a local playground so they can build confidence using play equipment

• Start gently shifting bedtime and wake-up times to match the school-day routine

Small, everyday practice can make a big difference—especially in those first few weeks of school.

20/01/2026

It’s the week before school starts—classrooms are being set up, school bags are being packed, and families are working through those (very long!) back-to-school lists.

If your child is starting school this year, you might be wondering… are they ready for school?

Being ready for school is not about knowing letters and numbers. Instead, it’s skills like children using their body confidently, managing basic self-care, coping with big feelings, and getting along with others.

Every child starts school with their own strengths, and Term 1 is often all about learning how to use and build these skills in the classroom—one day at a time.

15/10/2025

Term 4…a time of preparation and change. The Learning Keys clinic has had some changes as well. We have said goodbye to Sarah (the friendly face who helped the clinic run smoothly). We welcome Nat who has stepped into the administration role with great ease. We also are expanding our psychology team. Planning for 2026 is underway!

03/09/2025

Free Autism Webinar: How We Talk About It

Hosted by Sandhya Menon (Onwards and Upwards Psychology) in conjunction with Belongside Families. A recording of the session will be available to registered participants.

For more information: https://events.humanitix.com/auwebinar1109?fbclid=IwdGRjcAMkZB1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhbzKs61xtWhzre888VbaFZxTbJXFWu-Mrt1SPlx1lfo8u33AqfhCwlLLiDY_aem_Zux1IOnlufKapWSzoBOxzA

02/09/2025

🎉Great Resource Alert🎉

Free Autism Webinar: How We Talk About It

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19hcBvBbx6/?mibextid=wwXIfr

📚Free Autism Webinar: How We Talk About It

Ever feel unsure about the 'right' way to talk about autism?

Join Belongside Families for this free webinar with me. We’ll unpack how language shapes our understanding of autism and why the words we choose matter.

In this 45-minute session, we’ll explore::

🔸 The shift from person-first to identity-first language
🔸What ‘neuro-affirming’ actually means
🔸Why functioning labels don’t tell the whole story
🔸Reframing traditional advice with a fresh, neuro-affirming view

It's a little bit of education, a little bit of community, and a fresh perspective that will help guide parents and caregivers in understanding current Autism narratives with a neuroaffirming lens. It's ideal for those people who are newer to the paradigm and would like to be engaged in these conversations.

Join me!

🗓 Thu, 11 Sep, 8:00pm AEST
📍 Online via Zoom (and yes, recordings will be sent out!)
🔗 Register now via https://events.humanitix.com/auwebinar1109

13/08/2025

Em neurowild_ has an amazing skill for translating complex concepts into accessible illustrations.

If your child has an assessment appointment coming up with a psychologist (or another professional), this may help your conversations 😊

28/07/2025

We are halfway through the learning year. Now is a good time to do a quick check-in.

What is working well this year?

Is there anything that needs to be flagged or better understood about a student’s progress?

What extra supports (if any) are needed to finish this year positively?

20/07/2025

Wishing all students and school staff a wonderful start to Term 3!

24/04/2025

Today we remember our servicemen and women. To those who serve at home or abroad, thank you for your service.

01/04/2025

Today is world Autism Awareness Day - but awareness is only the first step.

Getting out ahead of April this year!
(by a day... go Amy 😂😂)

Presenting the Autism Level UP! Guide to all the Autism Level UP! Levels to all those who are new here ❤️💛

Some of you might be wondering what that is or wonder how it relates to our name - Autism Level UP!

Autism awareness is not enough! It is time to spread this message far and wide.

What's your level? Awareness? Acceptance? Appreciation? Empowerment? Advocacy?

How will you take your next steps to Autism Level UP!?

The "guide" speaks for itself! We've created a downloadable Google Drive so you can grab the guide and share it. Will link in comments!

The Autism Level UP! Guide to all the Autism Level UP! Levels is actually in 11 languages. Thank you to our AMAZING community members for providing translations!

English
Portuguese
Spanish
Japanese
Chinese
French
Romanian
Dutch
Greek
Romanian
German
Italian

Image description- the essential guide in English- the link above will take you to all pdfs that can be used with .pdf screen reader

30/03/2025