Trish Fernando

24/10/2026

24/10/2026

“You’re getting defensive.”
“No I’m not.”
Even after decades of studying relationships, Dr. John Gottman and Dr. Julie Gottman will be the first to admit that knowing the tools and actually using them in the moment are two different things.
Defensiveness can show up before we realize it. Sometimes as an explanation... sometimes as a counterattack. Sometimes as a very passionate explanation of why you are absolutely not being defensive.
The goal isn’t to get it right every time. It’s to recognize the pattern, take responsibility for your part, and try again.
What gives you away when you’re getting defensive?

Post by The Gottman Institute

24/10/2026

Going through big or small changes and feeling unsettled? You may be feeling frustrated, distracted or drained. Here's some advice that can help.
If you need extra support, Beyond Blue is available 24/7 via phone or webchat.

24/10/2026

With everything a school day holds, those small moments between lessons, over a cuppa or on your way home can offer opportunities to give your own mind a little attention, too. ☕

You might pause to notice how your body feels, listen to a colleague without planning what to say next, or take a closer look at something you usually walk straight past. When your attention wanders to the next thing on your list, practise gently bringing it back to what you’re doing. 🌿

Simple practices can help strengthen your awareness and focus, building skills you can draw on in the classroom and beyond the bell. 🧠

Our Mental Fitness Practices for Educator Wellbeing guide is full of practical ways to build on the skills you already use and try something new in the moments your day allows.

Consider it a little support for you, while you’re doing so much supporting. 💛

This Mental Health Month, download the guide for free. 📥
https://hubs.la/Q04Bmgzv0

24/10/2026

Save this👇 for the next time you need a reminder that you're the expert in navigating your life. 💙

24/10/2026

24/10/2026

Why can autism and ADHD be missed in girls and women?

Autism and ADHD may present in girls and women in ways that differ from the presentations clinicians, teachers and families have traditionally been taught to recognise.

Lai and colleagues (2022) describe how the clinical understanding of both autism and ADHD has developed largely from research and clinical descriptions involving males. This may contribute to some girls and women being overlooked or diagnosed later.

✨️ For autism, some girls and women may show social interest, develop friendships and use eye contact during social interactions. However, these observable behaviours do not necessarily reflect how social interactions are experienced. Masking or learnt strategies may also make autistic characteristics less apparent to others.

✨️ For ADHD, inattention may be more prominent than overt physical hyperactivity. Hyperactivity and impulsivity may appear through excessive talking, interrupting, fidgeting or internal restlessness, while compensatory strategies can make ADHD characteristics less apparent to others.

The review highlights the importance of looking beyond expected presentations and considering developmental history, context, compensation, masking and the person’s own experience.

Assessment is not only about whether a characteristic is present, but also how it is expressed, experienced and managed over time.

📚️ Learn more about assessment and diagnosis of autistic and/or ADHD girls and women in our Masterclass.
📆 12 November 2026
🔗 Link in comments.

Reference: Lai, M. C., Lin, H. Y., & Ameis, S. H. (2022). Towards equitable diagnoses for autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder across sexes and genders. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 35(2), 90–100

24/10/2026

Happy World Students Day! The retention rate for Aussie students is up from 46% 40 years ago, to 81% in 2025. This means 4 in 5 students are now staying in school!