Understanding Brain Development
The Queensland Brain Institute and University of Queensland have partnered to develop the
Thriving Kids Queensland Brain Builders Initiative to support early childhood educators
and caregivers on brain development, and bridge the gap between research and practical application.
Understanding Brain Development is a free, online course (4-6 hours duration) for anyone who interacts with children and families during their day-to-day service delivery.
The Learning Outcomes of the course are:
Understand the biological, social and environmental core story of brain development and how you can use this to support children and families.
Recognise that children exist in the context of their local ecology – their lives are shaped by the people, communities, and environments around them.
Understand the impacts of stress, adverse childhood experiences and trauma on the developing brain and how children can be supported to recover.
Apply the various metaphors/key concepts introduced in this course to your own practice context, whether you’re working with children, parents and families; managing, designing or implementing programs or services; or changing systems.
Consider the development of children’s resilience, social-emotional and executive functioning skills and how they can be supported to build the skills that will hold them in good stead for the rest of their lives.