Diverse Learning Needs - Short Video Resources

Diverse Learning Needs Standard

When preparing a home education summary and program (HESP), you may need to provide information about your child's diverse learning needs.

An approved home education program is to provide for the relevant child to be provided with a rich educational program that meets their individual needs. 

This Standard is about any needs that your child may have which influence your decisions about your home education program. Diverse learning needs may include physical disabilities; learning disabilities; medical conditions; giftedness; behavioural conditions; psychological conditions; trauma and grief.

The OER, in collaboration with THEAC have been working with allied health professionals to develop short videos to support parents with children with diverse learning needs.  We are happy that these videos are now available in the links below.   You can also refer to these videos as part of your research Standard in your HESP.

We hope you find these videos useful in your home education journey. 

Amaze Autism Connect Services

The free National Autism Helpline is open 8am-7pm, Monday to Friday.  Autism Connect advisors (there are two currently in Tasmania and Amaze is looking to expand) offer advice across a number of areas including assessment and diagnostic support, the NDIS, referrals to peer-support services, school and education. Autism advisors can also be emailed at info@autismconnect.org.au.

DLN videos- Catherine Silcock

Topics covered by Catherine include:

Engagement in language therapy (50 mins) - Pivotal to the world of social emotional learning, and it's finding its place in conversations for neurodiverse populations as well as learners.

'Being with' engagement (60 mins) - 'Being with' in the concept of child development is about relational and emotional connection between the adult, usually the parent or caregiver, and the child.

The link below provides access to the two recordings. These videos will be available until 30 June so that you can access them at a time that suits you.

Catherine is a supporter, ally and advocate of differently-wired learners. Her love of working with children and their families has seen her in community, health and education speech pathology roles for nearly 30 years. After graduating from the University of Queensland, Catherine moved to Tasmania in 1993. She has since held clinical and teaching roles in Australia and the UK.

She has extensive training and experience in Floortime and Social Cognition Therapy. Her focus is to support children and teens to be their best, functional, independent selves.

Catherine works with her valued team of colleagues to provide a holistic, family-centred service. She works with children and teens in varied areas: developmental speech and language, Autism Spectrum, literacy support, communication devices, social cognition support and complex support needs.

DLN videos - Justine Demaine

Principal Family Therapist and Neurodiversity Consultant, Justine Demaine, is a highly qualified behavioural and family therapist. She specialises in working creatively and therapeutically with families, teens, and young people.

Recently, Justine was approached by the OER to create a series of short videos. These videos cover various topics and explores each in a home education setting.

You can find these insightful videos on YouTube.  Each video goes for approximately 10 mins.

Topic 1 – Community Connections and Family 

Topic 2 – Home Learning Space

Topic 3 – Wellbeing Natural Flow and Timing

Topic 4 – Autonomy and little choices

Topic 5 – Learning challenges, PDA, ADHD, Autism

Topic 6 – Motivation, timelines, values

Independant Kids and Adults Website

Alison Hopwood from IKOT has also provided the home education community with a discount code for their online webinars.  The code is theacdiscount.  To access, please go to All Products-Independent kids and adults’ site – link below.