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Tony Vallance
Tony Vallance is a neurodivergent speaker, educator, therapist and father who brings lived experience, deep empathy and sharp clinical insight to the emotional world of ADHD and autism. Diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood and raising two AuDHD children, Tony understands firsthand the lifelong impact of Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, shame and emotional overwhelm — and how these can be transformed into connection, clarity and confidence.
As a Secondary School Teacher, Counsellor, Play Therapist and Behaviour Support Specialist, Tony specialises in working with neurodivergent children, teens and adults. He doesn’t just talk the talk; he lives it. Through strengths-based coaching, attachment-focused practice and neuroscience-informed strategies, he helps students and educators swap shame for self-compassion, build emotional regulation, and develop sustainable resilience.
Tony is the Co-owner and Manager of Building Better Brains, a multi-award-winning allied health clinic and training agency. His excellence has been recognised nationally and regionally, including:
⭐ 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)
With qualifications including BSc (Zool), Grad Dip Ed, Dip Couns and Post Grad Play Therapy, Tony works in a highly creative, client-centred way across modalities such as Narrative and Strengths-Based Therapy, CBT, ACT, LEGO, Sandtray and Virtual Reality. He integrates fourteen years of high-impact teaching experience with practical behaviour support and contemporary learning strategies, including his STEMpathy approach.
As a musician and founder of You Rock Therapy, Tony also harnesses music, creativity and storytelling to unlock engagement and emotional expression — bringing energy, humour and authenticity to every professional learning experience.
For schools seeking practical, neuroscience-informed, strengths-based professional development that genuinely shifts culture — not just compliance — Tony delivers training that is engaging, emotionally intelligent and immediately applicable in real classrooms.
Workshops by Tony Vallance
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Hear from teachers who have attended a Critical Agendas Event
Liberty Hatzidimitriou
Loved the honesty in the sharing of information and strategies
Tim Livy
I love the fantastic variety of workshops and conferences on offer. Always look forward to Critical Agendas PD’s.
Paul Dillon
Keep up the fantastic PD opportunities! Very professional and well-researched workshops and conferences.
Tamara Rundle
Passionate & Authentic Speakers – Meaningful Strategies
Ivana Ryan
Loved the passion of the Presenters
Libby Fullard.
Inspirational Speakers – the knowledge gained will be so beneficial in my classrooms
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.
Meaghan
“It is the first P.L. in a long long time that I haven’t been checking in with my watch.”
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!