ABOUT THIS LIBRARY
Professional development made for school psychologists and counsellors
This library brings together practical professional development designed specifically for school psychologists and counsellors.
It was created around the reality of school-based practice: counselling and psychological work sits alongside educational systems, relationships with families and staff, role expectations, documentation, risk, collaboration and the practical pressures of working in a school.
Rather than being a course you need to complete in order, the library is designed to be used flexibly. Start with a suggested learning pathway, browse by theme, or choose an individual session that matches what is most useful in your role right now.
What the library covers
- Your role & sustainable practice — role clarity, professional boundaries, documentation, workload and wellbeing.
- Counselling & intervention skills — practical therapeutic approaches, brief intervention, groups and everyday counselling tools.
- Risk, assessment & complex needs — student risk, assessment and more complex presentations.
- Working with families — parent engagement, family collaboration and changing family circumstances.
- Systems, teams & whole-school practice — early intervention, meetings, teamwork, presentations and broader service design.
- Data, digital tools & service improvement — using data, digital systems, AI and applied research to strengthen your practice.
Designed to be used flexibly
You do not need to watch everything. The Welcome and start here lesson helps you choose how to use the library, including suggested learning pathways and thematic browsing. Once inside, every session remains available from the LearnDash course menu, so you can move directly to whatever is most relevant.
This library includes:
- 30 practical PD sessions
- 12 AMA & Q&A recordings
- On-demand access to the full library
- Slides and supporting resources where provided
- Flexible, self-directed learning — choose sessions in any order
Who is it for?
School psychologists
School counsellors
Presented by
ConnectEd presenters including Dr Matt O’Connor, Emily Locke, Michelle Pullen and Cassie Neville.
Our presenters
Dr Matt O'Connor
Clinical and School Psychologist
Dr Matt O’Connor is a Clinical and School Psychologist, academic, presenter. He is also the Director of Brisbane-based clinic, ConnectEd Counselling and Consultancy, which provides therapeutic services to young people and families, and consultancy services to the education and corporate sectors.
Dr Matt is well-regarded throughout Australia for his unique and engaging presentation style, and his ability to balance practical and grounded discussions, with ‘bigger picture’ concepts. His career as a psychologist has focussed on the delivery of school-based psychological services, with a special focus on systems and processes. His work has included hundreds of presentations to psychologists, schools, parents and students, as well as academic publications and conference presentations. His academic work has been cited over 1,200 times, and is being translated into 50 languages.
In addition to this work, Dr Matt is also a sought-after supervisor and consultant, often in the areas of school structures, and supporting psychologists and schools to identify opportunities to improve school pastoral care and wellbeing processes.
Michelle Pullen
Educational and Developmental Psychologist
Michelle Pullen is an Educational and Developmental Psychologist, supervisor, and registered teacher with over a decade of experience working to support the wellbeing and learning of students, staff, and families in schools. Michelle has provided supervision for both provisional and fully registered psychologists working in schools. She has also supported Teaching staff and staff on Wellbeing and Pastoral Care teams to tap into their strengths and resources in their roles to problem solve for their students’ holistic needs while managing their energy to avoid compassion fatigue or burnout.
Michelle has experience and a passion around advocating for and supporting students (and their Teachers) who find the traditional classroom social and academic setting challenging due to life circumstances, mental health or behavioural concerns (Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, ODD, Autism Spectrum, intellectual disability or specific cognitive strengths and weaknesses). She does this through:
- Individualised Interventions
- Behaviour assessments,
- Learning assessments,
- Tailored individualised behaviour support plans,
- NCCD documentation,
- Verification applications and reviews,
- Planning and executing whole-school wellbeing initiatives, and
- Delivering and promoting education for staff around understanding the behaviours of students with disabilities, learning, or emotional needs; trauma impacts; and research backed strategies for managing relationships with these students and promoting their learning.
Michelle has also worked with school parents and carers groups on a range of topics including behaviour management strategies, supporting children with anxiety, school reluctance, and supporting the transition to Prep.
Michelle enjoys translating research into practical strategies for teachers and parents and finding (new) ways to use (new) tools in the educational context to support students with learning, behavioural, or emotional needs.
She currently works out of ConnectEd Counselling and Consultancy, a Brisbane-based clinic which provides assessment and therapeutic services to families and consultancy services to the education and corporate sectors. To find out more about Michelle please see the consultancy page at ConnectEd or to book in for supervision, consultation, or mentoring go to her Bookings page here. Reach out to Michelle at ConnectEd to discuss Professional Development or presentation solutions and requests for families, education professionals, or allied health or medical professionals.
Emily Coote
Educational and Developmental Psychologist
Emily Coote is an Educational and Developmental Psychologist (and Board-approved Supervisor) with over a decade of experience, primarily within the education sector.
Emily’s professional experience is working across the lifespan, in particular with young people through school-based roles (School Psychologist & Guidance Counsellor), crisis management, intervention and support (Child and Youth Mental Health Services and disability support) along with roles in rural and remote communities (educational, medical and hospital settings). Her expensive work within complex trauma and crisis support has enabled a calm and relational approach when supporting emotion regulation, safety, and help-seeking.
Emily has a passion and skillset for psycho-educational assessments and provides psycho-educational assessment support, upskilling and report writing assistance. Emily has extensive experience with working with educational systems allowing her to support school teams and provide appropriate recommendations and support regarding learning, vocational, and environmental adjustments.
Emily is Brisbane-based and offers supervision to a wide array of psychologists across Australia including those pursuing endorsement (Educational & Developmental). Find out more about Emily on our consultancy page or on LinkedIn
Cassie Neville
School Psychologist
Cassie Neville: Empowering Futures, One Mind at a Time! Registered Psychologist & School Psychology Expert
Meet Cassie Neville, a dynamic force in the world of psychology! With over 17 years of hands-on experience, Cassie is a registered psychologist on a mission to transform lives through insight and empowerment.
A trailblazer in School Psychology & Mental Health, Cassie’s journey began in regional Victoria in 2004, where she embarked on a remarkable career journey. An innovator in School Psychology, she’s dedicated to nurturing the emotional well-being of children, young minds, and their families. With a wealth of experience in Child & Adolescent Mental Health, Education, and Private Practice, Cassie is your go-to source for compassionate guidance.
As a Board Approved Supervisor since 2016, Cassie is not only a beacon of wisdom but also a nurturing guide for emerging psychologists. Her expertise extends to both the 4+2 and 5+1 Pathways, where she promotes the next generation of mental health champions.
Off-duty, Cassie thrives in the beautiful embrace of Albury-Wodonga with her partner Steve and two energetic boys. An advocate for holistic health, she conquers new horizons, whether it’s hiking hills or diving into wellness pursuits.
