Kindy Uplift Program

Supporting Early Childhood Educators to Foster Emotional Wellbeing and Inclusion

At Complex Care, we specialise in equipping educators with the knowledge and practical skills to support children with complex needs, trauma histories, and neurodevelopmental challenges. The Kindy Uplift Program provides early childhood educators with hands-on training and mentoring to create inclusive, trauma-informed learning environments that foster emotional regulation, resilience, and trust in relationships.

Key Priority Areas: Social and Emotional Learning

Why Choose Complex Care?

16+ years of experience providing in-home therapy and training to support children with complex needs
Expert clinicians with a minimum of 10 years’ experience and NDIS-registered as Specialist Behaviour Support Practitioners
Neuroscience-based framework grounded in trauma and attachment theory
Practical, hands-on strategies that can be applied immediately in early childhood settings

How We Support Educators

The Kindy Uplift Program offers a structured approach that includes in-person training, mentoring, and ongoing support. Programs can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each educational service.

Face-to-Face Training & Mentoring

Our in-service training and mentoring support educators in:

Understanding the Impact of Stress, Trauma & Attachment on Child Development
Responding to Controlling & Aggressive Behaviours
Guiding Behaviour in Children with Cognitive & Neurodevelopmental Challenges
Working with Parents to Build Collaborative Relationships
Self-Care for Educators & Preventing Burnout

Delivery Options & Costing

2-hour workshops
Full-day workshops
On-the-floor and off-the-floor mentoring

Program Structure

Tailored Support for Early Childhood Centres

For centres requiring more intensive support, Complex Care offers a structured 6–9 month program that combines workshops and mentoring. Educators receive:

Five (5) interactive workshops on key topics related to trauma-informed practice
Five (5) mentoring sessions providing real-time support and coaching for educators
One-on-one reflective mentoring for individual educator support

Workshop Topics

Impact of Stress, Trauma & Attachment on Child Development

Understanding how stress and trauma affect brain development and behaviour
Exploring how attachment patterns influence children’s social and emotional functioning
Strategies for fostering trust, emotional regulation, and empathy

Responding to Controlling & Aggressive Behaviours

Understanding the emotional and attachment-based drivers of challenging behaviours
Reinterpreting aggressive and controlling behaviours through a trauma lens
Practical strategies for de-escalation and co-regulation

Guiding Behaviour in Children with Cognitive & Neurodevelopmental Challenges

Understanding how cognitive and communication skill delays impact behaviour
Strategies for supporting problem-solving, impulse control, and emotional expression
Tools to foster positive behaviour and reduce shame in children

Working with Parents

Engaging resistant or avoidant parents in collaborative discussions
Reducing defensiveness and building trust in family partnerships
Encouraging shared strategies between educators and parents to support children’s wellbeing

Self-Care for Educators & Preventing Burnout

Recognizing signs of cumulative stress and burnout in educators
Strategies for individual and team-based resilience-building
Creating a supportive workplace culture to sustain wellbeing and prevent secondary trauma

Mentoring Support

Mentoring sessions are designed to support educators in real-time with applying trauma-informed strategies in their classrooms. Each visit includes:

On-the-floor mentoring (3 hours) – Educators receive hands-on guidance in responding to children’s behaviours and implementing strategies discussed in workshops.
Off-the-floor reflective mentoring (2 hours) – Educators engage in one-on-one discussions with a Complex Care therapist to deepen their understanding and refine their approach.

Outcomes for Educators

As a result of this program, educators will be better equipped to:

Depersonalise challenging behaviours and respond with confidence
Stay calm and regulated when children escalate
Implement trauma-informed strategies that support children to:
- Feel safe and heal from relational trauma
- Build trust and confidently express their needs
- Regulate emotions and engage in co-regulation
- Develop empathy, impulse control, and frustration tolerance