
CPD EMPOWER Pathological Demand Avoidance: Rethinking Demands - A Neuroaffirming Approach for OTs
Explore the complex profile of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) through a neuroaffirming occupational therapy lens. Gain insight into the lived experience of PDA in this practical and reflective workshop, and learn how to adapt your practice to reduce anxiety and develop effective partnerships with PDA children and their caregivers.
Program Overview
CPD Empower
This workshop is part of CPD Empower - OTA’s national CPD event series offering in-depth, OT-specific workshops across key areas of practice. Designed for both experienced clinicians and those ready to stretch themselves, each workshop stream delivers high quality immersive learning, expert facilitation, and practical insights you can take straight back into your work. For more information about the full CPD Empower experience, visit https://otaus.com.au/cpd-empower
Workshop Overview
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a complex and often misunderstood profile that can present significant challenges for occupational therapists and families alike. This workshop offers a comprehensive, neuroaffirming introduction to PDA, unpacking the role of anxiety, extreme demand avoidance, and the dynamic relationship between autonomy, engagement, and trust. Participants will explore how PDA can present and how it differs from other behavioural profiles.
Through a blend of evidence-informed insights, lived experience, and real-world practice examples, this training will equip OTs with the tools to better support children with a PDA profile. Practical strategies will focus on reducing perceived demands, using declarative language, prioritising true choice, and supporting sensory and emotional regulation. The training will also introduce the PASS model and a range of ready-to-use resources to guide your work with families and educators.
The session includes a strong focus on supporting parents and caregivers through mindset shifts, burnout prevention, and coaching techniques. Presenter Heidi Brandis, with an occupational therapy background and parent of an adult child with a PDA profile, brings a personal and professional lens to this training - bridging lived experience with clinical application to create a session that is both informative and impactful.
By attending this workshop, you will:
- Define and describe PDA and its key characteristics, particularly in the absence of formal diagnostic recognition.
- Differentiate PDA from other presentations of demand avoidance, including those associated with autism and ADHD.
- Explain the role of anxiety in PDA and how it contributes to extreme demand avoidance behaviours.
- Identify common challenges faced by occupational therapists when engaging children with PDA in therapy.
- Apply low-demand, flexible, and child-led strategies to support engagement and participation in therapy sessions.
- Implement practical approaches for supporting sensory and emotional regulation in children with PDA.
- Explore and apply neuroaffirming principles in occupational therapy practice when working with children with PDA.
- Utilise tools such as the PASS model and additional practitioner resources to inform support strategies.
- Coaching strategies to support parents, caregivers, and educators in managing PDA-related behaviours.
- Recognise the emotional and practical impact of PDA on families and reflect on the OT’s role in holistic support.
- Reflect on and adapt clinical practice to better meet the needs of children with PDA and their families.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
OTs at any career stage interested in increasing their understanding of PDA and best practice for OTs supporting PDAers and their families.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
DATE
Wednesday 17th September 2025
TIMES
Registration: 8:30am - 9:00am
Workshop: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Networking event: 5:00pm - 6:00pm
VENUE
Novotel Perth Langley
221 Adelaide Terrace, Perth
CPD HOURS
Total CPD claimable workshop hours: 6.5 hours
Please allow 48 hours for your CPD Certificate to be loaded in your CPD Tracker after course completion
All registrants will be provided with access to an online account via an email sent out upon registration.
REGISTRATION FEES
OTA MEMBER
Earlybird - $695 - register on or before 7th Agust 2025
Standard - $770 - register on or after 8th August 2025
NON MEMBER
Standard: $1080
No early bird available for non-members
(All pricing is inclusive of GST)
*Registrations close 3rd September 2025, 11.55pm AEST.
Members must be logged in with username and password in order to register at the member rate.
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INCLUSIONS
Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea will be provided. Please note any dietary requirements are confirmed at time of registration.
DISCLAIMER
All information is correct at the time of publication. OTA reserves the right to alter or delete items from the CPD calendar as required, and takes no responsibility for any errors, omissions and changes.
All workshop resources including copies of the presentation, along with all supporting documents and links are not for distribution and are the property of the presenter.
An OTA staff member or representative may be photographing this event for use in OTA publications and/ or on OTA social media sites. If you do not wish to be photographed, or have your image published please make this known to the OTA representative at your course or contact OTA on 1300 682 878 or at info@otaus.com.au
TERMS AND CONDITIONS (T&C)
T&C's are available here
CONTACT US
Please direct all enquiries to info@otaus.com.au or phone 1300 682 878
Presented By

Heidi Brandis
PDA Training Australia (Owner)
Heidi is a former occupational therapist with over 20 years of clinical experience, and a dedicated parent of a young adult with a PDA profile. For the past 15 years, she has worked full-time in a voluntary capacity, providing education, advocacy, and support to families, educators, and professionals navigating the complexities of autism and PDA. She is the creator of the WA Autism Parent Handbook, a widely respected, unbiased resource distributed to over 75,000 families and professionals, and the founder of several large support communities including the PDA Perth WA Parent Community & Support Group. Her work has been instrumental in raising awareness and driving national recognition of PDA, culminating in her role as Convenor of the Inaugural PDA Conference Australia in 2025. Heidi regularly delivers training to health and education professionals and was a featured speaker at the Global PDA Summit and numerous Australian conferences. Her dual perspective, combining professional expertise with lived experience, makes her an engaging presenter, passionate about building understanding and delivering practical, neuroaffirming strategies that truly support children and families.