Learn Play Grow Facilitator Training
Bring neuroaffirming early intervention to families in your community
Learn Play Grow is an evidence-informed, play-based early intervention program for children aged 18 months to five years and their caregivers.
Our facilitator pathway gives professionals the knowledge, practical resources and implementation support needed to deliver an eight-week Learn Play Grow program within their own service or community.
Train online, apply the learning through supervised practice, and choose whether to use your own equipment or begin with a complete facilitator pack.
Early intervention should feel like connection — not correction
Young children learn through relationships, movement, exploration, repetition and play.
They do not need to sit still, communicate in one particular way or complete an activity exactly as planned to participate meaningfully.
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Learn Play Grow has been created for children and families who need early intervention to be flexible, accessible and grounded in a genuine understanding of neurodivergent development.
The program brings children and caregivers together in a predictable, welcoming environment where children can move, observe, communicate, explore and connect in ways that feel safe for them.
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Rather than measuring success through compliance or task completion, Learn Play Grow helps facilitators notice the communication, regulation, connection and learning already occurring within a child’s play.
Learn Play Grow is an eight-week early intervention group program developed for children aged 18 months to five years and their caregivers.
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Each 60-minute session combines:
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Welcome and connection
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Music and movement
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Storytime and active play
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Sensory and fine-motor exploration
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Parent coaching
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Co-regulation
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Predictable transitions
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Reflection and goodbye
The program can be delivered in therapeutic, early childhood, community and suitable home-based settings.
Groups are designed for up to eight families and are offered through two age-based streams.
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Little Explorers
For children approximately 18 months to three years.
Little Explorers uses parallel play stations, caregiver-supported exploration, music, sensory experiences and low-demand opportunities for connection.
Growing Together
For children approximately three to five years.
Growing Together expands into themed group activities, collaborative play opportunities, communication, motor challenges and peer modelling while continuing to respect different participation styles.
What is Learn Play Grow?
Eight weeks of play, connection and growth
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Each week uses a familiar theme to organise stories, music, movement, sensory play and parent coaching.
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Week 1: Welcome to Play
Week 2: Animal Adventures
Week 3: Rainbow Fun
Week 4: Under the Sea
Week 5: Transportation Fun
Week 6: Farmyard Friends
Week 7: Outdoor Adventures
Week 8: Celebration and Reflection
The themes provide structure and predictability without becoming rigid lesson plans.
Facilitators are supported to adapt activities according to each child’s communication, sensory, movement, cultural and participation needs.
Grounded in the GROW Neuroaffirming Framework
Learn Play Grow is guided by the four pillars of the GROW Neuroaffirming Framework.
G
G — Grounded in Identity
Children are understood as whole people with their own identity, strengths, interests, culture, relationships and ways of experiencing the world.
R
R — Responsive to Needs
Behaviour is approached as meaningful communication. Facilitators respond to what a child may need rather than focusing only on changing what can be seen.
O
O — Open to Communication Differences
Speech, AAC, gesture, movement, facial expression, eye gaze, vocalisation and behaviour are all recognised as valid forms of communication
W
W — Whole Person, Whole System
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Children are supported within the context of their family, relationships, environment and wider support system. Caregiver wellbeing and confidence are part of meaningful early intervention.
Who is the facilitator training for?
Learn Play Grow Facilitator Training is suitable for professionals and approved team members supporting young children and families, including:
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Developmental educators
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Occupational therapists
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Speech pathologists
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Psychologists and counsellors
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Social workers
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Early childhood teachers
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Early intervention practitioners
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Play therapists
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Behaviour support practitioners
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Allied health assistants and therapy assistants
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Family support and community practitioners
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Other professionals with relevant qualifications, experience and supervision
All facilitators are expected to work within their professional role, competence, organisational policies and supervision arrangements.
Practical training you can complete at your own pace
The Learn Play Grow online facilitator course takes approximately four hours to complete.
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The course combines foundational knowledge with realistic practice examples, reflective questions and applied scenarios.
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You will learn how to:
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Understand the purpose and philosophy of Learn Play Grow
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Apply the GROW Neuroaffirming Framework
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Recognise development through child-led play
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Support sensory processing and co-regulation
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Respond to communication in all its forms
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Integrate AAC and aided language modelling
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Prepare an accessible and predictable environment
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Facilitate each component of the 60-minute session
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Coach caregivers without creating additional pressure
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Adapt the program for different children, families and settings
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Respond to assent, dissent and changing participation
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Document observations using respectful, objective language
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Maintain program fidelity without becoming rigid
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Identify when additional support, consultation or referral may be needed
What is included in the online course?
Module 0: Welcome and Orientation
Module 1: The Purpose and Philosophy of Learn Play Grow
Module 2: The GROW Neuroaffirming Framework in Action
Module 3: Development Through Child-Led Play
Module 4: Sensory Processing, Co-Regulation and Communication
Module 5: The Session Structure and Prepared Environment
Module 6: Parent Coaching and Family Partnership
Module 7: The Eight-Week Program Journey
Module 8: Adaptation, Inclusion, Cultural Responsiveness and Safety
Module 9: Documentation, Fidelity, Supervision and Quality
Module 10: Integration and Facilitator Readiness
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The course includes scenario-based knowledge checks, reflection activities, practical planning exercises and a final integration scenario.
Choose your Learn Play Grow pathway
$495 AUD
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For professionals wanting to strengthen their understanding of neuroaffirming, play-based early intervention.
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Includes:
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Approximately four hours of self-paced learning
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Twelve months’ course access
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Digital learning resources
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Knowledge checks and reflection activities
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Certificate of course completion
This option does not include facilitator accreditation or a licence to independently deliver the Learn Play Grow program.
Title | Online Course | Basic Learning Materials | Full Facilitators Library | Accreditation Pathway | Physical Equipment | Storybooks and AAC Mats | First Year Licence | Can independently deliver after purchase? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Complete Facilitators Bundle | Yes | Yes | Digital + printed/USB | Yes | Yes | Yes | One facilitator/site | Only after approved accreditation |
Accreditation pathway | Yes | Yes | Digital | Yes | No | No | One facilitator/site | Only after approved accreditation |
Foundations | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
What is inside the Complete Facilitator Pack?
Facilitator Manual and Program Resources
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Printed Learn Play Grow Facilitator Manual
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Eight complete weekly session plans
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Little Explorers and Growing Together guidance
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Preparation and equipment checklists
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Accessibility and environmental audit
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Fidelity and reflection tools
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Progress notes and outcome templates
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Parent feedback forms
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Facilitator implementation planner
Eight-Week Storybook Collection
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Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
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We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
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The Rainbow Fish
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Commotion in the Ocean
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Little Blue Truck
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Old MacDonald Had a Farm
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The Gruffalo
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Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
Book editions may vary according to availability.
AAC and Visual Communication Resources
Each book is accompanied by a reusable AAC mat containing core and theme-specific vocabulary.
The communication resource set also includes:
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Portable core board
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Visual session schedule
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First/then board
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Choice boards
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Transition visuals
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Feelings and body-signal visuals
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Regulation and sensory choices
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More, again, different, stop, finished and help
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Facilitator aided-language-modelling prompts
These resources support accessible group communication and do not replace a child’s personalised AAC system.
Active Play Equipment
The equipment component includes a versatile collection of active-play equipment such as:
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Stepping stones
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Mesh tunnel
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Hoops
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Movement scarves
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Rhythm ribbons
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Beanbags
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Ground-marker hands and feet
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Swiss ball
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Noodle boffers
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Equipment storage bag
Developed from practice, evidence and lived experience
Learn Play Grow was developed through Grow Therapy Services and is grounded in the GROW Neuroaffirming Framework.
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The program brings together developmental education, early intervention, play-based practice, parent coaching, behaviour support, trauma-informed care and lived-experience perspectives.
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It reflects a simple but important belief:
Children do not need to become less like themselves to learn, connect or belong.
When we create environments that are responsive, accessible and emotionally safe, children and families have more space to learn, play and grow together.