May 11, 2026 at 09:30 - May 12, 2026
TBC
Paige Saxby
For caregivers, parents, grandparents and whānau who have completed our course 'Life with FASD 1: Understand and Connect with Aroha', we have developed a new two-day, follow-on training.
'Life with FASD 2: Connection and Safety with Aroha' will enable a deeper dive for caregivers to understand more about the brain-based symptoms of FASD and to learn further strategies to support the whole whānau.
• The training is FREE runs over two days: Monday and Tuesday 11/12 May.
• It will happen kanohi ki te kanohi / face-to-face in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland (venue TBC)
• You'll need to attend both days.
• It will run from 9.30am to 2.30pm each day.
• Morning tea and lunch is provided each day.
• We have some funding for those from outside Auckland to help with travel and accommodation.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Build on understanding from Life with FASD Level 1 integrate learnings from Level 2 by recognising how brain‑based differences show up in real‑life situations and apply this knowledge in daily interactions with their loved one.
• Build on understanding from Life with FASD Level 1by recognising how brain‑based differences show up in real‑life situations and applying this knowledge in daily interactions with their loved one.
• Increase self‑awareness and reflective practice
• Develop greater awareness of their own expectations, emotional responses, communication style, and stress levels, and understand how these can either support or challenge regulation, connection, and safety.
• Use intentional, practical supports with confidence
• Grow confidence in the intentional use of proven, practical supports(such as those in the Cognitive Supports™ Framework) to reduce overwhelm, increase felt safety, and support success in everyday contexts.
• Deepen understanding of real‑life functioning with FASD
• Strengthen understanding of how FASD impacts a loved one’s ability to function in real‑world situations, moving away from assumptions about 'won’t' and toward compassionate, brain‑based expectations of 'can, with support'.
Part 1. The Waka: Brain and Body Working Together
• Understanding how the waka is built and responds to the water.
• Refresh understanding of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and how it affects the structure and function of the brain and nervous system. Strengthen understanding of neurobiology — the brain–body connection — and introduce neuroception, the brain–body system that constantly scans for safety or danger.
Part 2. Reading the Waters: Changing Our Lens
• Seeing behaviour through context, not character.
• Deepen understanding of how societal values, expectations, and assumptions shape the way people with FASD are understood and treated. Explore the paradigm shift required to move from judgement to compassion, and from control to support.
Part 3. Understanding the Journey: Cognitive Skills and Essential Supports
• Why some journeys take more support.
• Recognise the cognitive skills needed for everyday life and the role they play in planning, remembering, regulating emotions, and responding flexibly. Identify how defensive or survival behaviours show up when the waters are rough, and explore the Essential Supports needed to help the waka stay upright and moving safely.
Part 4. Our Role as Kaihoe | Paddlers: How We Influence the Journey
• How our presence, pace, and responses matter
• Reflect on how our expectations, emotional tone, communication style, and environmental adaptations influence safety and success for individuals with FASD.
Part 5. Navigating Together: Tailoring Individual Plans and Approaches
• Choosing the right supports for this waka and these waters
• Create and tailor individualised support plans using the Cognitive Supports™ Framework, based on each person’s unique neurodevelopmental profile, strengths, sensory needs and lagging skills.
FASD-CAN Navigators Anna Gundesen (Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland) and Ruruhana Brownie (Te Tai Tokerau / Northland) bring their lived experience of family members with FASD to this course, alongside their sound knowledge-base and training in FASD and developmental trauma.
Click here to fill out an expression of interest form for LWF2 training in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
There is space in this form to request support with travel and accommodation for those outside Auckland – this is limited to 8 caregivers.
Once you've filled in the form and sent it, you'll be contacted by our training administrator Paige to go through your requirements and receive more info about the training.
Join us!
Please consider becoming a member of FASD-CAN! It's free, with no obligation on your part – if you are a caregiver / parent, you'll receive a free hardcopy of our Aotearoa-based FASD handbook and a monthly newsletter which will give you priority notifications of upcoming webinars and other training.
Click here to join FASD-CAN – we'd love to have you on board!
