© 2025 Billy Cart Behaviour
Studio 3 & Billy Cart Behaviour Present:
Low Arousal Approach
Managing Signs of Distress
The Low Arousal Approach supports parents, carers, support workers, and professionals to respond safely, respectfully, and compassionately when someone shows signs of stress or distress. Rather than focusing on control or compliance, this approach prioritises understanding, calmness, and connection, creating environments where people feel safe, heard, and supported.
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Grounded in more than 30 years of Studio III international research, the Managing Signs of Distress training has been carefully adapted for Australian practice. It aligns with trauma-informed care, Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards framework, while incorporating Australian law and contemporary neuro-affirming and human rights-based principles. This makes the course highly relevant for anyone supporting autistic people, people with disability, or individuals who experience distress in everyday settings.
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At its core, the Low Arousal Approach teaches that managing distress is not about controlling behaviour. It is about reducing stress, creating safety, and supporting communication. Distress is understood as meaningful communication, not something to be suppressed. Throughout the course, participants learn how their own responses, emotional regulation, and environmental adjustments can either escalate or de-escalate situations, reinforcing the central message that calm, empathy, and respect are powerful tools for change.
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​Unlike traditional crisis management programs such as MAYBO, Team Teach, TCI, or CPI, the Low Arousal Approach focuses on prevention, not control. It is a trauma-informed, person-centred method of supporting individuals in distress — built on calm communication, reduced demands, and emotional co-regulation.
Course Objectives
This course equips NDIS workers and support professionals with the knowledge, mindset, and tools to confidently respond to signs of distress in individuals they support, especially those who are neurodivergent or have complex needs.
Across two or three days, participants will:
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Understand the function of distress behaviours: Learn to interpret behaviours of concern as meaningful communication, often signalling unmet needs, trauma responses, or environmental mismatch.
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Prevent escalation through proactive, rights-based strategies: Explore how to reduce the likelihood of distress by embedding wellbeing, predictability, and dignity into daily supports.
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Apply low-arousal, trauma-informed approaches: Gain practical skills in regulating one’s own response, avoiding power struggles, and creating space for de-escalation and recovery.
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Navigate legal, ethical, and NDIS-compliant practice: Clarify obligations under Duty of Care, Dignity of Risk, the NDIS Code of Conduct, and Restrictive Practice legislation.
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Keep everyone safe when crisis occurs: Examine when and how last-resort physical interventions may be used ethically and lawfully, while always aiming to reduce their use through skill-building and proactive planning.
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Reflect, recover, and learn from incidents: Use structured debriefing, safeguarding protocols, and person-centred planning to build safer, more responsive environments.
Who is the course for?
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Support workers
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Parents and caregivers
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Teachers and education staff
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Allied health professionals
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Case managers and child protection staff
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Justice and forensic services
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staff supporting high risk clients and/or complex behaviour profiles
The training is designed to be accessible regardless of background or experience. We use real-world examples, simple language, and practical demonstrations to help everyone feel confident applying what they learn.
Course Format
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2 or 3 day immersive workshop
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Practical demonstrations
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Real-world scenarios
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Reflective practice
Types of Session Options:
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Sessions designed for families or whole teams
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Discounts available for group bookings or multiple staff from the same provider
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Exclusive or multi-organisation training options available.
The Details
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Duration: 2 or 3 consecutive days (9:30am – 4:30 pm)
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Cost: $1,250 pp (additional travel charges may apply)
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Group discounts: 5+ staff $950pp or 10+ staff $850pp
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Food included: Morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea provided (if hosted at a BCB venue)
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Minimum numbers: 12 attendees for a course to run.
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Location: We can host at our office or bring the training to you.
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Certification renewal: 12-monthly refresher required to maintain certification.
What will you gain?
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Achieve certification in safe physical intervention techniques.
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Learn strategies to prevent and de-escalate incidents before restraint is needed.
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Strengthen legal, ethical, and human rights understanding.
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Improve post-incident debriefing to enhance safety, learning, and wellbeing.
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Build confidence in high-pressure situations while maintaining respect and dignity.
Why should you put the Low Arousal Training on your PD calendar:
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Supports NDIS registration and compliance (Module 2A – Implementing Providers)
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Aligns with the Behaviour Support Capability Framework
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Meets Restrictive Practice Reduction and Positive Behaviour Support requirements
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Fulfils annual professional development obligations for Allied Health and direct support staff
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Builds a safer, more confident and regulated workforce