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4.5 PD HOURS

Event Details

11/05/2026

9.30am - 3.00pm - Log on between 9.15am and 9.30am Victorian Time

Webinar via Zoom

All Educators of Boys

$294 + GST

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Booking Conditions

No applications for this program will be accepted after all vacancies have been filled. Unsuccessful applicants will have their monies refunded in full. Cancellation prior to two weeks before the program date (cut-off date) will incur a 15% service charge per applicant. This program will be payable in full for cancellations made on or after the cut-off date or for failure to attend the program. All cancellations must be in writing and emailed to us. In the event of insufficient applications this program will not proceed and registration monies be fully refunded. In the event of this program being cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances registration monies only will be refunded as Critical Agendas will not accept liability for the payment of any other associated costs. Critical Agendas reserves the right to vary the advertised programs prior to commencement. Please note Critical Agendas reserves the right to transfer participants from face to face to webinar format with price adjustments (if required), should minimum numbers not be met for face to face event

Unleashing Brilliant Brains: Boys, ADHD & the Power of Connection

ADHD often presents differently in boys — through movement, intensity, impulsivity, emotional reactivity, or shutdown. Too often, this is misread as defiance or disengagement rather than a reflection of developing executive function and a dysregulated stress response.

In this dynamic, neuroscience-informed session, Tony Vallance unpacks how attention, executive functioning, and self-regulation develop in the ADHD brain — and what teachers can do to respond more effectively.

Grounded in current research and delivered through a strengths-based, neuroaffirming lens, this practical workshop equips educators to:

  • Interpret behaviour through a neurodevelopmental framework
  • Understand fight/flight responses and emotional overload
  • Create classroom structures that scaffold executive function
  • Design learning experiences that channel energy into engagement
  • Reduce power struggles while increasing connection and capacity

Blending lived experience, clinical insight, and classroom-ready strategies, this session empowers teachers to build calmer, more connected learning environments where boys with ADHD can thrive.

When we regulate first, we educate better.

AITSL Standards Addressed

  • 1.1 Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students
  • 1.2 Understand how students learn
  • 1.5 Differentiate teaching to meet specific learning needs
  • 3.2 Plan, structure and sequence learning programs
  • 4.1 Support student participation
  • 4.3 Manage challenging behaviour
Critical Agendas Speaker
Presented by Critical Agendas

Tony Vallance

Manager, Play Therapist, Teacher, Counsellor, Behaviour Support Specialist
Secondary School Teacher
Co-owner of Building Better Brains

BSc (Zool), Grad Dip Ed, Dip Couns, Post Grad PT

Tony is the manager of a nationally award-winning team. His expertise and excellence has been recognised across fields receiving national and regional awards:

⭐ Australian Education Awards Teacher of the Year, 2019
⭐ Victorian Education Excellence Awards Finalist, 2018
⭐ Australian Small Business Champion Finalist – Allied Health, 2024
⭐ Maroondah Business of the Year Winner, 2023
⭐ Maroondah Business Awards – Training and Education Winner, 2023

Tony works in an extremely creative and client centered way encompassing multiple modalities such as Virtual Reality, LEGO, Sandtray, Narrative Based & Strengths Based Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy.

He helps school aged clients to level up their contemporary learning skills with STEMpathy training.

As a musician, Tony runs You Rock Therapy which involves clients learning basic drums and guitar and learning how to express and externalise via songwriting and recording.

He facilitates group work which leverages his passion and experience from fourteen years as a top educator.

Tony works with men and in particular dads through Dads Chat, coaching and helping to develop their skills and coping with anxiety, anger and control issues.
Tony is registered with the PTPA, ACA and VIT.

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Hear from teachers who have attended a Critical Agendas Event

Susan Snooks

The best P.D. I have attended in living memory!” I loved every minute of this engaging, interesting and informative PD. And I have been teaching for 40+ years!

Ivana Ryan

Loved the passion of the Presenters

Paul Dillon

Keep up the fantastic PD opportunities! Very  professional and well-researched workshops and conferences.

Tamara Rundle

Passionate &  Authentic Speakers – Meaningful Strategies

Liberty Hatzidimitriou

Loved the honesty in the sharing of information and strategies

Tania The Geelong College

Just a big Thank you for giving us the opportunity to attend the Critical Agenda Workshop yesterday.  David presented a great program, lots of handy strategies and he was very engaging and supportive. Highly recommended.  I was very happy we did not have to do any Role play’s. 

Libby Fullard.

Inspirational Speakers –  the knowledge gained will be so beneficial in my classrooms

Meaghan

“It is the first P.L. in a long long time that I haven’t been checking in with my watch.”

Tim Livy

I love the fantastic variety of workshops and conferences on offer. Always look forward to Critical Agendas PD’s.