Challenging Behaviour is communication
We listen to you. We help you build more skills, more freedom and more social connections so you can live without restrictive practices.
1300 694 625
1300 694 625
We listen to you. We help you build more skills, more freedom and more social connections so you can live without restrictive practices.
We listen to you. We help you build more skills, more freedom and more social connections so you can live without restrictive practices.
Freedom and social connection for people with disability.
We provide easy access to life-changing Positive Behaviour Support.
We take the stress out of the NDIS. Great customer service and no long waiting lists.
We build powerful systems that free us to focus on people.
We invest heavily in training and clinical supervision.
We share our learning and support the growth of new behaviour support organisations.
We are a team of psychologists, behaviour analysts and allied health professionals who practice person-centred positive behaviour support.
We provide NDIS participants with psychological services, functional behaviour assessments, behaviour support plans, training, coaching, and consulting.
Key factors in our service include:
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Akino brings over 6 years of clinical experience across the disability sector as a Registered Music Therapist with a focus on social and cultural inclusion, which forms a strong backbone in her work. Akino is passionate about working collaboratively with clients, families and their support network to find strengths based solutions to enable individuals to live a fulfilling life.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Alle is passionate about helping people with their mental health, and providing psychoeducation and therapy to improve people's quality of life, and enabling people with disability, and families who are struggling, to meet their potential.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Andrea has 4 years of experience providing Applied Behaviour Analysis therapy with people with moderate to severe autism. Andrea believes in a person-centred approach and is driven to find innovative ways to help her clients.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Austin has extensive experience in coaching and educating people of all ages to help reach their potential. Austin is especially interested in helping children and adults with autism and disability to achieve their goals.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Nowra
Bec is a Psychology graduate with experience in residential support work. Bec is especially excited when she has the privilege of being a part of the change in people's lives. The creativity and empathy Bec brings to her Behaviour Support work is informed by her experience as a professional musician, implementing music therapy programs in various residential care settings, and her work as a pet therapist.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Belinda is an experienced clinician in the disability sector and is passionate about building capacity and supporting mental health in the service of greater personal growth and freedom.
Belinda has additional training in Neurological Music Therapy, Complex Trauma and Sensory Processing Disorder and brings a strengths based, flexible and personable approach to her work with clients and families.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Bo has extensive experience in supporting children and young adults with psychosocial, developmental and acquired disabilities. She is passionate about working with people to find their own groove, and champions their independence as a valued member of their community.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Brea is a Psychology and Human Movement graduate who is passionate about assisting people to live their best most fulfilling life. Brea has extensive experience in coaching, career counselling and working in residential support. Brea enjoys helping people to achieve their goals using a person-centred approach.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Brianna comes to Ability Consultants having worked as a Senior Behaviour Therapist and Crisis-Support Counsellor. Brianna is commencing her Masters in Counselling in 2020. Brianna believes that effective behaviour support is based on collaboration with family members and the entire support network around a person.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Brittany is experienced in a variety of roles supporting individuals with mental health concerns, intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder to reach their goals. Brittany has occupied roles as an Applied Behaviour Analysis Therapist, Learning Support Officer and is currently registered as a Provisional Psychologist. She is passionate about improving mental health, providing individuals with strategies to thrive in their daily activities and support engagement in their local community.
Specialist Behaviour Support Practitioner
Cat has been supporting people with complex needs since 2006. She has been working in clinical and leadership positions in Australia and Canada.
Cat values collaboration and creativity to identify the best strategies to overcome barriers and improve quality of life.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Charlotte joins Ability Consultants with over 15 year’s experience in the disability sector. Charlotte has occupied management roles with FACS and The Benevolent Society.
She not only brings a wealth of knowledge but is hugely excited and committed to utilising her skills in Positive Behaviour Support. Charlotte has a passion to empower people to expand on their strengths and to live a life of meaning and purpose.
Senior Behaviour Support Specialist
Manager Clinical Operations
Daniel has extensive experience providing specialist behaviour support with people experiencing a variety of complex needs, including intellectual disability, offending history, AOD and mental health. During Daniel's employment with FACS (2007-2017) he managed clinical teams, Restrictive Practices panels, developed policies, and trained organisations in Positive Behaviour Support.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Danielle has over 8 years of professional experience supporting people from diverse backgrounds, cultures and capabilities in the disability and mental health sector. She is a solution-driven person with strong communication and presentation skills, experienced in training and coaching. Danielle is a staunch believer in empowering people and investing in their support networks using Positive Behavioral Support to enhance quality of life.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Dave is a Criminology graduate with experience working within the criminal justice system. He also has considerable experience applying security risk management methodologies across a broad range of public and private sector organisations. Dave has been involved in the care of disabled youth at several disabled children’s holiday camps and has also been able to assess and effectively mitigate a range of identified hazards within those settings
Dave is motivated to assist others reach their full potential and lead their best lives. He believes that this can be achieved through compassionate collaboration, mutual respect and an informed pragmatic approach towards finding solutions and achieving meaningful and enduring outcomes.
CEO
David has experience as a Residential Support Worker, Forensic Casework Specialist, Senior Clinical Consultant, and Behaviour Support Specialist while working for FACS (1999-2017). His passion is creating time and labour saving systems that make it possible to provide highly responsive person-centred services.
Behaviour Support Specialist
David is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with 2 years of experience providing Applied Behaviour Analysis therapy with people with moderate to severe autism and ADHC. David has worked as a school psychologist helping young people with anxiety, emotional regulation, autism and ADHD.
Clinical Psychologist
Principal Project Officer
David helps practitioners and organisations to provide positive behaviour support using behaviour analysis, neuropsychology and motivational interviewing. He has over 10 years experience as a multidisciplinary team leader and director of psychology services in the private and public sector in Australia and the United Kingdom. From 2009 - 2013 David was disability psychology practice leader with ADHC/FACS.
Senior Behaviour Support Specialist
Elizabeth is experienced in school-based psychology and disability service provision.
Elizabeth is committed to providing specialist assessment, intervention and behaviour support services with people of all ages, with a range of needs.
Elizabeth is passionate about helping people achieve their goals and flourish in their lives.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Emily has worked, over the past five years, in a variety of roles supporting people with intellectual disability to reach their potential. Emily has occupied roles with Catholic Care, Jobsupport, Studio Artes, and Achieve Australia. Emily has extensive experience supporting people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities maintain their mental health and vocational participation, using her skill in Positive Behaviour Support. Emily believes that everyone should have equal rights and opportunities within their community.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Faye has a background in Primary Education, gaining experience in both mainstream and special educational settings. She has always implemented Positive Behaviour in Learning (PBL) throughout her teacher career and enjoys watching children reach their full potential with the correct guidance. Having recently completed further study in Psychology, Faye is passionate about using her knowledge and experience to ensure all individuals, no matter of the challenges they face, gain a happy and fulfilled life.
Senior Behaviour Support Specialist
Gina has over the past decade worked as a practice leader facilitating great outcomes for behaviour support clients. Gina has occupied management roles with Uniting Care, FACS, NSW Trustee and Guardian, NSW Civil and Adminisrative Tribunal, and NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Gina has managed clinical teams, Restrictive Practices panels, developed policies, and trained organisations in Positive Behaviour Support. She is especially passionate about working to empower vulnerable individuals and build on their abilities.
Senior Project Officer
Jane leads high peforming teams. She provides supervision and support to team members, helping them achieve their potential, and deliver excellent client outcomes.
Jane is passionate about building healthy human connections and a strong social fabric--this is where real positive changes start to happen.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Jaslyn joins Ability Consultants with a passion for social inclusion and assisting individuals access opportunities to embrace every aspect of their life. With a love for learning, Jaslyn’s current goal is to continue her studies towards becoming a provisional psychologist.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Newcastle
Karen has experience working with people of all ages, and diverse clinical needs and backgrounds, to improve their quality of life through Positive Behaviour Support. Karen's passion is assisting people to improve their functional communication so they can live a more empowered life.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Kathy has a background in professional counselling assisting families, children and adults, with relationships, grief and loss, suicide prevention and behaviour support. Kathy has a particular interest in child development. Kathy brings her extensive life experience and empathy to the support of people with disability and behaviour needs.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Kimberley has worked as a Behaviour Therapist in multidisciplinary teams, since August 2018. Kimberley brings her Speech Pathology background to assist people with Communication, and provide deeper insight into functional behaviour support. Kimberley has a strong sense of social justice and sees Behaviour and Speech Pathology as a way to support disadvantaged people and improve participation in the community.
Senior Behaviour Support Specialist
Kire comes to Ability Consultants with 17 years of experience improving the lives of people with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour. Kire has extensive experience in psychotherapy, forensic casework, and child protection. He is passionate about working with families and teams to provide empowering, person-centered supports.
Senior Behaviour Support Specialist
Kirsty started with Ability Consultants in January 2019. Kirsty has worked as a Senior ABA Therapist in Perth and Singapore, gaining extensive knowledge, experience and tools to support people of all ages with diverse needs to achieve their goals through the science of applied behaviour analysis. Kirsty is in the process of qualifying as a Board Certified Behavioural Analyst (BCBA).
Senior Behaviour Support Specialist
Lidia has been providing Positive Behaviour Support with people with Challenging Behaviour and complex needs since 2013.
Lidia is especially committed to providing specialist assessment, training and support with people affected by complex and traumatic life challenges.
Lidia is passionate about providing psychoeducation and advocacy for people whose voice and rights might be at risk.
Senior Behaviour Support Specialist
Lily has six years of experience providing function-based behaviour support with people with intellectual disability, mental health and behaviour challenges.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Luna is always motivated to assist individuals with mental health concerns, empowering and supporting them to identify suitable strategies to thrive in their daily lives, improving the quality of life to meet their full potential. She believes in equal rights and opportunities, in the person-centred approach and in collaborative work with families and teams to achieve the best outcomes to her clients. Luna has experience working with people from different ages, clinical needs and backgrounds in diverse settings. She is passionate about studying new themes regarding human behaviour, and her current goal is to have her overseas Psychology qualification recognized by AHPRA.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Maddie has worked in Aged and Dementia care in various leadership roles over the last 12 years. She has been particularly passionate about encouraging and supporting clients to live life beyond a diagnosis. Maddie values working teams, clients and the families to embrace and enjoy life in the community. Maddie is excited to be a part of the Ability Consultants team and is looking forward to working with them to have a positive impact in our community.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Marci has experience working alongside people with additional needs and challenging behaviour in both a professional and personal capacity spanning over 10 years. Her work within a primary/secondary school for students with disabilities has placed her in a unique situation where behaviour support is part of daily interactions with staff and students alike. Naturally, working within a Visual Arts context, she encourages creativity as a means to enrich experiences and communication. Marci believes that strong and supportive environments not only provide a better quality of life, but an equitable access to society and experiences that everyone has a right to be included in, regardless of ability.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Marie has worked with young people with special needs since 2017 and is passionate about providing these individuals with the support and tools they need to thrive in any and all environments. She is especially driven to help children and adolescents reach their full potential in their school and extra-curricular environments.Marie is currently completing her Bachelor of Psychology (honours) at Macquarie University.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Megan has 12 years of industry experience, in a variety of roles in Australia and in Europe, providing person-centred behaviour support services with people with challenging behaviour and intellectual disability. Megan has a track record of designing and implementing creative and innovative systems that help people experience a better life.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Bachelor Psychological Science (2018, University of New England)
Narelle has a background in Applied Behaviour Analysis providing behaviour therapy for young people with autism. Narelle is motivated by the opportunity to help people learn how to be their optimal selves
Behaviour Support Specialist
As a trained PROMPT practitioner, Naydene helps people with speech and behavioural challenges develop functional communication.
Naydene's passion is training staff and family members, enabling them to build skills and provide positive behaviour support in a broad variety of contexts.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Nikki brings more than 6 years of professional experience to Ability Consultants supporting clients in the disability and mental health sector. Nikki has helped develop and implement programs designed at social inclusion and achieving personalised goals, using motivational and person-centred approaches.Nikki believes in increasing a person’s quality of life through strengthening helpful behaviours, and that even a small change can make a huge difference. She is passionate about enabling an individual to live as independently as possible, and brings a fresh pair of eyes to every client.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Poli commenced working as a behaviour therapist with people with Intellectual Disability and Challenging behaviour in 2013. Poly co-designed and delivered a Cognitive Behaviour Therapy program for people with various types of dementia and other disability (2014-19) and has worked as a residential support worker, also. Poli believes in the natural improvement of people's behaviour when their lives become more meaningful, creative and socially connected.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Rachael has 4 years of clinical experience across the disability sector as a Registered Music Therapist as well as formal certifications in mental health, education, and disability support.
Rachael is passionate about working collaboratively and innovatively to support and empower her clients to draw on their strengths and live the lives they want.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Ramoh has 18 years experience in disability services and mental health. Ramoh enjoys empowering people to overcome challenges and live healthier and more fulfilling lives.
Specialist Behaviour Support Practitioner
Clinical Lead, ABA and Induction
Ross began his professional journey in 2007 and comes with many years of teaching, supervision and training, and behaviour analytic experiences across all age ranges and ability levels. Ross has research and presentation experience, is published in a number of refereed journal articles, and is actively affiliated with many professional, international committees and boards.
Ross has a broad range of experience working in clinical, home, and community/recreational settings in various realms including ABA for children and individuals with low incidence disabilities and multiple diagnoses including autism.
Specialist Behaviour Support Pratitioner
Illawarra, South Coast NSW
Clinical Lead: Student Placements
Roshini comes to Ability Consultants having worked as a Special Education Consultant, training teachers, parents, and other disability professionals in how to implement behaviour strategies and practice inclusion effectively. Since 2013, Roshini has worked in the field of intellectual disability and challenging behaviour. Roshini's Doctoral Thesis was entitled, "Student-Focused Planning and Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Knowledge, Perspectives and Experiences."
Behaviour Support Specialist
Sam is passionate about raising awareness of Mental Health in young people and also providing them access to education about Mental Health. Sam has been involved with Youth Mental Health Charity, One Eighty, since its inception in 2017, and is currently the Chairperson and COO. Over the past three years, Sam has led a team in implementing programs she has designed to assist peers to overcome their psychosocial challenges.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Samantha has over 28 years experience working in the disability field. She has worked as a behaviour support practitioner with FACS from 2010 -2014 and as a Senior Behaviour Support practitioner with Sunnyfield from 2014 - 2020. Samantha takes a person-centred, hands on approach to her work and regards rapport building with the individual and those that support them as an essential part of effective behaviour intervention. She has experience working with people with disabilities of all ages, profound and multiple disabilities and complex needs. Samantha has chaired Restrictive Practices panels and developed and provided training in Positive Behaviour Support to disability support staff.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Illawarra, South Coast NSW
Stacey has over 20 years of experience supporting vulnerable people in the community in a variety of roles. For the past 7 years Stacey has been working in Behaviour Change, while completing her Social Work and PBS studies. Stacey is especially excited about helping people overcome the barriers associated with accessing the community.
Behaviour Support Specialist
Shivani has led a rich career as a clinician, educator, and author of peer-reviewed journal articles and books. Shivani was Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Delhi for seven years. Shivani has extensive experience as a clinician assisting people of all ages to develop the skills, coping strategies, knowledge and positive behavioural strategies to meet their goals.
Senior Behaviour Support Specialist
Illawarra, South Coast NSW.
Stephen has a vast experience providing positive behaviour support. He has supported people with disabilities for 25 years, in a variety of roles. Stephen is driven to bring creative and life expanding opportunities into the lives of the people he supports.
Senior Behaviour Support Specialist and Speech Pathologist
Clinical Practice Lead
Steve is an experienced and highly respected practice leader in Positive Behaviour Support. Steve's career is underpinned by his passion to assist people with disabilities to overcome barriers to their best quality of life. Steve is driven to make PBS accessible to everyone, and build collaborative teams around each individual.
Manager Operations Team
Trini has a background in disability support, aged care, website management and rehab counselling.
She is passionate about the quality of life for people with disabilities and brings her varied skills to provide leadership to the Operations team. Trini has a keen interest in communication and conflict resolution. Her best holiday ever was in Iceland and she has a cute little Papillon puppy called Arya who sometimes visits the office.
Senior Behaviour Support Specialist
Clinical Learning and Assessment Lead
Vanessa has been working for over 30 years, helping improve the lives of people with disability, initially as a Residential Care Assistant and House Manager. Vanessa commenced as a Positive Behaviour Support consultant in 1999 in the role of Behaviour Programmer. Since 2006 Vanessa has also been in a clinical leadership role, helping other clinicians, and working with people affected by complex issues. Vanessa is committed to building and maintaining person-centred services standards in the NDIS.
Senior Behaviour Support Specialist
Clinical Mentoring Lead
Vanessa has been working with people with a variety of complex needs, backgrounds, culture and diagnosis in different settings since 2003; including counselling and education settings with children and youth, early childhood and primary education, specialist education settings, disability services, child protection, behaviour support and restrictive practices panels. Vanessa enjoys learning from people what is most important to them, and what will support their goals and quality of life as they move forward. Finding out a person’s viewpoint, aspirations, hopes, worries and motivations and building on that; whether they be customers, staff, or those in professional development/supervision.
We are a growing team in every sense of the word.
You will love working with us, if you are motivated to foster learning and growth, in yourself and in others.
We practice Empowering Leadership. We don't micromanage or impose KPI's relating to your hours of work. We do collaborate with you to meet the highest clinical standards for the people we support. We provide a highly rewarding work environment, and partner with you to hit your goals.
We are an empowering workplace, driven to attract and develop brilliant clinicians, so NDIS Participants have easier access to life-changing behaviour support.
Hello,
This is me abseiling off a perfectly good mountain. Starting Ability Consultants in 2016 was a similar leap into the unknown world of the NDIS.
In 1999 I began working with and caring for people with intellectual disability and challenging behaviours. People who are ignored, over-medicated, restrained, secluded, cut off from their community or who are punished because they often do not have a high enough level of positive support.
Our mission is to help NDIS participants lead a freer more socially connected life through easy access to excellent Positive Behaviour Support.
We serve 6 customer groups:
We are an NDIS-registered Specialist Behaviour Support Provider and we are working to exceed the required standards.
Person-Centred principles of empowerment and strengths-based practice underpin our approach. We apply these principles to everything we do.
Finally, we are all about innovation. We use technology to be more human. We build and shape the powerful tools we need to serve our customers in new and unique ways.
Thanks for joining us on the learning and growth journey.
CEO - Ability Consultants
David is a Member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and provides MI Training on request.
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Ability Consultants is a team of Behaviour Support Specialists who work with clients on-site throughout Greater Sydney all the way through to Newcastle, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains and Illawarra regions.