Events
Online
Online Key Word Sign Catch Ups – Term 4
Wednesday 22nd October 2026 3:30pm
Our accredited Key Word Sign presenter hosts monthly online Key Word Sign catch-ups.
On the first Wednesday of every month, we welcome you to join us and other like-minded educators and support staff to learn and practice signing.
No previous signing experience required; just bring your curiosity and willingness to have a go!
Stay for a few minutes or stay for the whole session, whatever you can manage in your busy schedules. We are here to support you on your signing journey!
Date and Time: First Wednesday of the month, 3:30pm – 4:15pm (AEST)
Location: Online via Microsoft Teams (link will be emailed to you upon registration)
PTC Term 4: Explicit Teaching of Social Skills & Peer Engagement
Are you a Queensland teacher, learning support teacher, inclusion leader or education professional working with students with diverse learning and developmental needs?
Then the DSIDQ Education Team would like to invite you to join our FREE Professional Teaching Cluster.
Please see details of our final meeting for 2026 below:
Date: Thursday 22nd October 2026
Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Topic: Explicit Teaching of Social Skills & Peer Engagement: How can we move beyond simply expecting students to “use their social skills” and instead explicitly teach the skills they need to connect, communicate and participate successfully?
Participants will gain strategies to:
Identify and break down teachable social skills
Explicitly teach and practice social behaviours
Use peers to support meaningful inclusion and participation
Build independence while fading adult support
Monitor progress and promote generalisation across settings
Registration closes on Wednesday 21st October 2026!
Thursday 7th October 2026 3:30pm
Free Kindy Professional Learning Series – Term 4
The DSIDQ Kindy Inclusion Service (KIS) invites Kindy educators to join our free Term 4 online professional learning series.
Each 20-minute session shares simple, effective strategies that can be embedded into everyday Kindy routines. Designed for busy teams, the series offers practical ideas to support children’s participation, independence and engagement—without adding to your workload.
Dates and Topics
Wednesday 14 October: DSIDQ Kindy Inclusion Service—Who are we?
Wednesday 28 October: Supporting Transitions
Wednesday 11 November: Understanding and supporting children who may have an intellectual disability
Wednesday 25 November: Supporting children to participate and connect
Location: Online via Microsoft Teams (link will be emailed to you upon registration)
Wednesday 14th October 2026 12:40pm
Regional Events
Key Word Sign Workshop for Educators – Toowoomba
Do you teach or support a student with Down syndrome and/or Intellectual Disability? Then join us for FREE professional development on Key Word Sign (KWS) for educators in Toowoomba and surrounding areas.
This workshop will also be beneficial for any teachers supporting students whose preferred communication style is sign.
What does the workshop include?
Introduction to Key Word Sign
Research-based engaging presentation
Numerous opportunities to practice
Printable KWS sentence strips for your school and students
Date & Location TBC
Key Word Sign Workshop for Parents – Toowoomba
Monday 9th November (4:00pm - 6:00pm)
Toowoomba City Library, 155 Herries St, Toowoomba City
Join our accredited Key Word Sign (KWS) presenter and the DSIDQ Education Team for a 2-hour KWS workshop in Toowoomba which aims to help families who are currently using, or are thinking about using KWS.
What is Key Word Sign?
Key Word Sign (KWS) adds signs to spoken words. The key words in a message are signed. KWS is not a sign language, but it borrows the signs from the sign language of the country it is used in. In Australia, this is Auslan.
Key Word Sign Australia acknowledges the deaf community for the use of Auslan signs.
What does the workshop include?
Introduction to Key Word Sign
Research-based engaging presentation
Numerous opportunities to practice
Printable KWS resources