Bridge to Understanding

16/05/2025

We are committed to continuous learning and using best-practice approaches to support children and their families. This week, Meg completed 12 hours of training in DIR Floortime®, a developmental model that aligns beautifully with our play-based, relationship-focused approach.

DIR Floortime® is highly recommended for supporting and building the capacity of Autistic children and their families. It focuses on emotional connection, co-regulation, individual strengths, and following the child’s lead.

THESE ARE foundational principles in creating meaningful progress through play.

Meg is excited to begin integrating this powerful approach into the playroom to further enrich the support we offer.

Dr. Jeffrey Guenzel, CEO of the International Council on Development and Learning (ICDL) and Director of DIR Floortime®, is joining the ACND Conference 2025 to present:
“Building the Essential Foundations of Development through Relationships, Movement, and Play”

Have you got your tickets yet?
https://acnd.org.au/speakers/dr-jeffrey-guenzel?year=2025

Explore the evidence behind this approach:
NDIS Evidence Review – Developmental Interventions - https://dataresearch.ndis.gov.au/research-and-evaluation/early-interventions-and-high-volume-cohorts/evidence-review-early-interventions-children-autism/developmental-interventions

16/05/2025

At Bridge to Understanding, our approach to Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is centred around connection, compassion, and collaboration.

We believe that every behaviour has a reason, and every individual deserves to be understood, respected, and supported in ways that are meaningful to them.

What is PBS?
PBS is an evidence-based, person-centred approach that looks beyond behaviour to understand what a person is trying to communicate. Our goal is not to "fix" behaviour, but to create supportive environments where individuals can thrive.

Here’s how we do it:

Connection First
We start by building trust. We take time to get to know the person and their family. We spend time to understand their strengths, interests, and the unique ways they experience the world. Our ConnectFirst™ model ensures that we prioritise relationships before introducing strategies.

Understanding the Why
We work closely with families, schools, and support teams to identify what’s behind a behaviour. Is it sensory overload? Difficulty with communication? A need for predictability? We explore the function of behaviour through observations, conversations, and data collection.

Strength-Based Plans
Our Behaviour Support Plans are tailored to each person. They focus on skill-building, emotional regulation, communication support, and proactive strategies. We empower the individual, their family, and their team with practical tools and visual supports to reduce distress and increase success.

Team Collaboration
We don't work in isolation. We meet with families, teachers, support workers, and therapists to ensure everyone is on the same page. Together, we co-create consistent routines, environments, and supports that help the person feel safe, valued, and in control.

Ongoing Support and Review
We provide regular check-ins, coaching, and professional development for those involved in the person’s life. Behaviour support is not a one-off plan, it’s a process. We review and refine our approaches to ensure they continue to meet the person’s evolving needs.

Neuroaffirming and Trauma-Informed
We honour neurodiversity. We acknowledge past experiences that may shape behaviour, and we always approach support with empathy and respect. Our goal is to increase autonomy, and celebrate progress, no matter how big or small.

- Behaviour is communication.
- Support should be proactive, not reactive.
- Every person deserves to feel safe, understood, and empowered.

If you'd like to learn more about how we can support your child or client, reach out today. We’re here to walk alongside you.

We specialise in supporting Autistic children, including those who present with a PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) profile.

16/05/2025

In today’s play therapy session, our participant built a delivery truck and carefully loaded it with parcels, each one full of imagination and meaning.

Through creative play, children find powerful ways to express emotions, solve problems, and build confidence.

Beautiful work in motion!

16/05/2025

14/05/2025

We are looking for an
Admin Assistant

-experience with NDIS essential

Part-time 10-20 hours a week, will consider full-time for the right person!

Very competitive rates and training provided.

Bridge to Understanding

14/05/2025

We are hiring!

Join Our Allied Health Team!
Location: Northern Tasmania | Flexible Hours | Supportive, Play-Based Practice

Are you passionate about supporting children and families through play-based, neuro-affirming, and trauma-informed approaches? We’re expanding our team at Bridge to Understanding and are seeking caring, creative professionals to join our warm and inclusive environment.

We are currently welcoming expressions of interest for part-time, full-time, and sub/contractors and contractor roles in the following areas:

Allied Health Assistants
Speech Pathologists
Continence Nurses
Occupational Therapists
Child & Family Counsellors
Psychologists (General or Provisional)
Positive Behaviour Support Practitioners

We are also looking for an:
Admin Assistant (experience with NDIS essential) Part-time 10-20 hours a week

Bridge to Understanding

14/05/2025

Brenna Hicks is amazing and offers a free podcast for gentle child-centred parenting.

Dr. Brenna Hicks, The Kid Counselor®, teaches fundamental parenting skills and theory from a play therapy perspective.

09/05/2025

We love our mums and we want to offer a little gift in celebration of Mothers Day this weekend 🥰😍

If you’ve been thinking about making a change, stepping into private practice, or diving into early intervention work… this is your sign.

Sign up to our Key Worker Clinical Training Course by Monday 12th May and get it for just $2,990 (usually $4,990! that’s a massive $2,000 saving.)

And because life gets busy, we’ve added a new weekend option too!

Choose what works for you:

-Holiday Live Intensive:
July 7–11 (Mon–Fri)

-Weekend Live Intensives:
June 7–9 (Sat–Mon) + July 19–20 (Sat–Sun)

Flexible, practical, and designed for people who want to make a difference on their own terms!

Sign up today and get access to the online component to start your portfolio next week. You’ll get access to a huge range of ready-to-use resources — including policies and procedures, service and support plan templates, and business plan frameworks (and that’s just the beginning!). You can use them as they are or customise them to suit your own business and practice needs.

Do you havee questions? Send me a pm and I’ll do my best to answer them!

Look forward to connecting with you!

Check out this Flyer (A4) designed by Meg Anne Dondas.

08/05/2025

‘Intentional educators and teachers are critical to maximising all children’s opportunities for learning and development’. AERO has released a discussion paper on play based learning with intentionality. Read more about the key findings:https://www.edresearch.edu.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/play-based-learning-with-intentionality-aa.pdf

Australian Education Research Organisation - AERO

07/05/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EPmm8wZ7b/?mibextid=wwXIfr

04/05/2025

We’ve recently added some exciting resources to our beautiful playrooms on George Street 🙌

These new additions are carefully selected to support the goals of play therapy, a child-led and evidence-informed approach that fosters emotional, social, physical, and cognitive development. In play therapy, toys are not just for entertainment, they are powerful tools that help children express themselves, explore their feelings, and build lifelong skills.

Through play, children can strengthen:

🧗 Gross motor skills: with activities like climbing, balancing, or jumping that build coordination, strength, and confidence

✂️ Fine motor skills: using puzzles, threading, and small construction toys to support hand-eye coordination and dexterity

💗 Emotional regulation: by practising turn-taking, role play, and expressive play that helps children understand and manage big feelings

🧠 Interoception: the awareness of internal body signals such as hunger, tiredness, or the need to use the toilet, which is foundational for self-awareness and self-care

Play therapy creates a safe, nurturing space where children can grow at their own pace. Every item in our beautiful playrooms have been chosen to support capacity building and meaningful developmental progress in a way that feels natural, engaging, and empowering for the child.

We are NDIS registered for:
- Play Therapy (suitable ages 3-12 years old),
- Counselling,
- Positive Behaviour Support and
- Early Intervention.

We have some capacity to take on some new families now!
Give us a call (03) 6310 8214 or email admin@btutas.com.au
www.btutas.com.au

Check out our website to see How NDIS Capacity Building Funding aligns with our services.