Intensive Interaction Australia
My work is closely affiliated with the work being done in UK by Dr Dave Hewett, whose website you should definitely look at and I enjoy the support of the Intensive Interaction Institute in the UK.
I set up Intensive Interaction Australia in 2005 to provide support, training and critical friendship to the ever growing groups of Australian and New Zealand schools and agencies using Intensive Interaction. Intensive Interaction Australia distributes the Australian Intensive Interaction newsletter, research articles and resources as well as the UK Intensive Interaction Newsletter to all those interested in communicating with learners who experience social isolation because of their intellectual disabilities.
Intensive Interaction has been loyally supported by Bayside Special Developmental School in Melbourne which hosts frequent visitors interested to see the approach in its most established Australian setting. Since the Inaugural Australasian Conference on Intensive Interaction which was co-hosted by Bayside SDS and Red Hill Special School in Brisbane, practitioner networks have evolved in Victoria, South Australia and Queensland, in addition to the already established cross pollination going on between Arohanui School in Auckland, nearby schools and Patricia Avenue School in Hamilton.
These networks have already contributed to two newsletters which were distributed to over 230 email addresses in Australia, New Zealand and UK
Following the conference, groups of practitioners competed for two $2500 bursaries which were generated by profits. In Queensland; the Principal and staff of Clifford Park Special School generated a wonderful initiative to share their considerable expertise and provide training for over 45 remote area schools in Queensland. Staff at Sunshine Special Developmental School in Victoria forged successful professional links with Arohanui School in New Zealand to learn from each others ideas about multi-site schools and create a partnership which can only contribute to overcoming the barriers that lead to social isolation.
Intensive Interaction Australia provides a focal point for
information
Resources, including references and recently published articles in PDF, about the use and constantly growing insights into the approach.
Contact details of the schools and agencies using Intensive Interaction can be given, as well as details of the practitioner networks which meet to cross pollinate ideas, support and discuss issues of practice, as well as develop local initiatives. [Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia and New Zealand].
Intensive Interaction Down Under. THE Newsletter. Give me your email address and you’ll receive it. Your contribution will be welcome!!!
training
Intensive Interaction Australia currently provides 3 levels of training. Those interested can attend the regular weekend training events at Bayside Special Developmental School in Melbourne. Training days can be arranged anywhere in Australia
DVDs
DVD training resources about Intensive Interaction are available through me:
‘Exploring the Envelope of Intensive Interaction’ DVD produced by my close colleague Karryn Bowen and myself. It is primarily directed at practitioners who have some knowledge and understanding of Intensive Interaction, although we feel it will be useful to all practitioners. The DVD elaborates on some of the principles of using the approach and explores how communication can be supported in more established interactive partnerships. The starting point of the DVD is that although Intensive Interaction might involve imitation, there is much more to it than that. The resource links with the Intensive Interaction Reflection Tool which I developed with Janee Williamson 2007.
Dr. Dave Hewett’s DVD ‘Intensive Interaction’, introduces and discusses the fundamental principles and considerations of using the approach. The commentary by Dr Hewett identifies good practice and the importance of communicative play as a context for learning at all ages. The DVD contains video of practitioners and learners in adult as well as school settings.