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
Clinical Lead, Psychology
Team Leader
Arshia is a registered psychologist (General registration). He has extensive experience in working with individuals with complex needs and their families. He has experience in working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and different age groups, from children through to geriatrics. Using a person-centred approach he has worked with clients who have presented with a variety of genetic, neurodevelopment, neurodegenerative, psychiatric and behavioural challenges. He has experience working as a disability support worker, team leader at residential support services, community welfare services, immigration detention centre, employment psychologist, Psychologist/ Behaviour Support Specialist while at FACS and more recently as a psychologist (custody) for Youth Justice NSW. He is passionate about helping people overcome barriers in their life so that they can be happy and enjoy their life.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Clinical Lead, QLD
Team Leader
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.
Senior Behaviour Support Practitioner
Senior Clinical Operations Manager
Team Leader
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.
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 Project Officer
Clinical Lead, Recruitment
Jane has lead high performing teams, providing 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.
Senior Behaviour Support Practitioner
Clinical Operations Manager
Clinical Lead, Restrictive Practices Systems
Team Leader
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-centred supports.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Team Leader
Mudgee, NSW
Nicole has been employed in a variety of community and disability settings for over 25 years in both Australia and the United Kingdom. She has worked in shared and supported living, community access and recreational services, home care, emergency relief agencies, case management support services and in project management. Her roles have ranged from hands-on support to managerial positions.
Nicole has a passion for supporting people to reach their full potential.
Senior Behaviour Support Practitioner
Clinical Lead, ABA and Induction
Team Leader
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.
Senior Behaviour Support Practitioner
Clinical Lead, Learning and Development
Team Leader
Batemans Bay, NSW
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."
Senior Behaviour Support Practitioner
Clinical Practice Lead
Team Leader
Speech Pathologist
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.
Senior Behaviour Support Practitioner
Team Leader
Blue Mountains, NSW
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.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Team Leader
Coffs Harbour, NSW
Virginia has over 14 years’ experience in disability and over 20 years in education including teaching students with disabilities.
Virginia has a wealth of experience in working in multidisciplinary teams with a focus on person centred approaches utilising best practice positive behaviour support strategies. Her practice has involved supporting Children and adults with Autism and Trauma as well as mild to profound disabilities.
Virginia’s passion is social justice and advocacy in supporting the rights of people with disabilities. She is innovative in her work and has a keen ability to think outside the square. Virginia’s quest is to improve the quality of life and the happiness of people with disabilities.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Aaron is experienced in a variety of roles supporting individuals with mental health concerns including addiction, trauma, anxiety, affective disorders, and learning disorders. He is currently completing his Master of Clinical Psychology at the University of Sydney. Aaron works collaboratively and empathetically with clients to identify their needs, expand upon their strengths, and promote their autonomy.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Akino has been working within the disability sector, originally as a Registered Music Therapist, since 2015 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 Practitioner
Team Leader
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 Practitioner
Alicja is passionate about supporting people with a disability, with a particular interest in the area of autism. In Poland she worked as a Special Needs Therapist and as an Occupational Therapy Instructor in the sensory classroom focusing on interoception, breathing techniques and mindfulness. For the past 4 years Alicja has worked as a Disability Support Worker.
Alicja is a strong believer in the benefits of sport, having completed a number of marathons and triathlons.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Alison brings more than 15 years experience to Ability Consultants, specialising in mental health, complex trauma, AOD and disability. Commencing her career as a Psychotherapist, Alison worked in crisis and suicide prevention, supporting clients with anxiety, depression and mental health issues. Alison utilised her training in interpersonal therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to support her clients.
Alison has spent the past 11 years with the Department of Communities and Justice working across all areas of child protection. Working in multidisciplinary teams, Alison has utilised her communication and relationship-building skills to roll out Intensive Therapeutic Care across NSW. This care system has ensured that young people with highly complex needs will have their needs met with the highest standards of care, and provide support into their adulthood.
Alison is passionate about creating an environment of equality and fairness for clients with disability. By using Positive Behaviour Supports, Alison aims to increase the quality of life and reduce challenging behaviour, and to assist people with disabilities to reach their goals.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
As an Occupational Therapist, Analise has had experience working with neurodiverse individuals across the lifespan. She believes that all behaviour holds meaning and that relationships, connection, diverse life roles, and participation which matches the demands of a person’s environment are the primary forces for creating behavioural change. She draws from her clinical expertise, observation, and assessment skills to develop and test hypotheses to create shifts in behaviour. Analise tries to develop a deep understanding of the function of behaviours so that she can provide people with more resources and replacements. She is committed to her professional development and seeks regular opportunities to learn from leaders in the field, particularly in the areas of ABI and Autism. She has experience in the assessment and prescription of Assistive Technologies which can support function and participation, as well as knowledge of sensory processing challenges and interventions.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Team Leader
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 Practitioner
Nowra, NSW
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 Practitioner
Becki is a registered Psychotherapist with a teaching and training background. She has worked across the lifespan from early childhood, Primary and High School and has also worked in Aged Care Services. Becki has extensive professional and volunteer experience working with individuals with complex needs and their families. Her lived experience as a practitioner from a multicultural background and experience from working in the Northern Territory with First Nation peoples and other diverse cultural backgrounds is invaluable.
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 Practitoner
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 Practitioner
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.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Carly is a Psychological Sciences Graduate currently undertaking further studies and her thesis in Advanced Psychology. After working for over five years within mental health, Carly has a passion for person-centred care with a primary goal of understanding the goals and needs of clients, their families and supports whilst also ensuring independence and fulfilment from life where possible. Carly is enthusiastic about obtaining the most appropriate outcomes for her clients and enjoys working collaboratively with her clients and their supports in order to increase community engagement, improve the mental health outcomes and achieve the goals of the clients promoting their autonomy and independence.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
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.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Team Leader
Chris has been working in the disability sector for the last 10 years and has an incredibly strong passion for improving service quality within the sector as a whole.
Chris was the Director of a multidisciplinary service provider for young adults with autism in the Sydney area. Over the years, he has had experience in supporting individuals with autism, leading diverse teams, and leading large projects. Chris has been a behaviour support specialist since 2014 and specialises in supporting individuals with autism (including other comorbidities). In his spare time, he is a teacher at a local RTO specialising in community service qualifications.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Christine is currently completing a Graduate Diploma of Psychology Advanced at Monash University with a plan to become a provisional psychologist by the end of 2021. She has extensive experience in supporting children with a range of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Christine is passionate about working with neurodiverse individuals and helping them reach their full potential with strength-based approaches.
Christine speaks fluent English and Korean, and conversational level of Japanese.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Cristina has worked in the community services sector for over 15 years supporting children, young people and adults with complex needs. Cristina has worked in both frontline and management roles and has extensive experience in disability and mental health services, child protection, out-of-home care, and multicultural settlement services, provided by the Department of Communities and Justice and non-government organisations.
Cristina is passionate about increasing opportunities for people living with a disability to make decisions about their lives whilst ensuring safety and wellbeing.
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.
CEO, Founder
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 Practitioner
Provisional Psychologist
Team Leader
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.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Dee has multiple years experience working in the disability sector, mainly with children. She has worked as a medical aide in mainstream schools assisting with learning and comprehension focusing on children with learning difficulties.
Currently completing her Bachelor of Social Work, Dee has a passion for helping people excel in their lives and empowering them to actively reach for their goals to enable them to live a happy and fulfilled life.
Clinical Placement, Student
Elizabeth has an immense love for creativity and has previously completed a Degree in Music, majoring in performance. After completing this qualification, she commenced studies in Occupational Therapy before deciding to work full time as a disability support facilitator at an Art Therapy day service. Here, Elizabeth facilitated Visual arts, performing arts, creative life skills and community engagement programs.
Elizabeth has experience working with individuals of varying ages and abilities. She has experience in skill development, capacity building and enhancing quality of life outcomes. Elizabeth is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Positive Behaviour Support and is completing her practicum unit with Ability Consultants.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Elly is an AASW social worker with an education/counselling and psychology background.
Elly has extensive experience supporting individuals, family and carers with disabilities to improve their capacity to live independently by accessing appropriate support and services without any challenges and discrimination.
Elly has been in various roles such as a school teacher/counsellor, a parenting educator/ facilitator, support worker/caseworker and an NDIS Local Area Coordinator in the Sydney district.
Elly is passionate about supporting individuals with a disability to achieve their goals by empowering them to make their own decision so that they can have more choice and control in their life.
Elly can speak English and Korean.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Elysha has worked with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder across research and clinical settings, including the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain in New York, and the University of Sydney Child Behaviour Research Clinic. She is currently completing a Master of Clinical Psychology, as well as a PhD investigating parent mental health and adjustment in parents of young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Elysha is passionate about collaborating with individuals with disabilities, their families, and other supports, to maximise all aspects of their quality of life.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
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.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Since completing her Masters of Counselling and Psychotherapy, Gabrielle has worked in various roles supporting people to reach their full potential. Besides behavioural support, she has in-depth knowledge of Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT). DBT is an evidence-based psychotherapy that aims to enhance the client's capabilities by teaching behavioural skills in the domain of emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness and mindfulness.
As a behaviour support practitioner, she is seen as an easy-going, calm natured, genuine individual, whose strength is building connections with the people she works with. She is bilingual in Dutch and English and enjoys working collaboratively in enabling clients to build the life they want to live.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Team Leader
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.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Hannah comes to Ability Consultants having worked as a behaviour therapist for young people with a range of neurodevelopmental disorders. Hannah is currently undertaking her masters and PhD in Clinical Psychology. She is passionate about empowering individuals to overcome challenges, reach their full potential, and fulfil their goals.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Newcastle, NSW
Hollie has been working in the disability sector for the last 14 years. Hollie has a broad range of skills from managing multiple services within a leading UK charity for people on the autism spectrum.
Hollie is passionate about empowering individuals and believes every individual deserves the chance to fulfil their ambitions and dreams regardless of disability. Being formally recognised for her dedication and commitment ensuring the community services were compliant to the Care and Quality Commission in the UK, Hollie has specialised in supporting children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and secondary diagnoses.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Holly comes to Ability Consultants having worked previously in mental health clinical research. She is currently undertaking her masters in Clinical Psychology. Holly is passionate about working collaboratively and empowering individuals to overcome challenges and accomplish their goals.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Provisional Psychologist
Ilenia is a registered Psychologist (Provisional Registration). She has over 4 years experience in the research field, with a specific focus on the use of augmented reality to treat and assess Traumatic Brain Injuries and Mild Cognitive Impairment. She also cooperated, with research and clinic purposes, with multidisciplinary teams to treat and assess Food Disorders and, to improve the accessibility of cultural resources throughout. Ilenia also matured with extensive knowledge of Psychometric testing during her employment as a University tutor in Italy.
Ilenia is passionate about building human relationships and supporting people to give and be the best of themselves. She thinks that the greater satisfaction derived from being a psychologist is related to the human contact and the incredible possibility to learn and grow together getting to know everyday something more about human complexity.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Isabella comes to Ability Consultants having worked as an early intervention behaviour therapist. Additionally Isabella has experience working in the child protection system. Currently completing her masters in Clinical Psychology, Isabella is passionate about mental wellbeing and working collaboratively to empower people to achieve their goals.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Team Leader
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 Practitioner
Jordon is passionate about helping people achieve their goals and improve their lives while ensuring they maintain their independence. He has extensive experience in supporting children, young adults and adults with developmental and acquired disabilities. He focuses on improving quality of life and supporting their family and support team throughout the process.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Provisional Psychologist
Team Leader
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 Practitioner
Lana brings over 20 years experience working one on one with people facing health challenges. She helps to develop support plans and programs for individualized care to help clients achieve their goals and improve their quality of life. She brings a person centered approach and has worked with clients of all ages facing many different physical and mental challenges.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Laura has been a social worker for sixteen years, primarily in the child protection and trauma fields. She brings extensive assessment experience from the UK and Sydney. Laura has held a range of roles in assessment teams; from social worker up to Area Manager and Practice Expert. Laura’s passion is in helping professionals and families to consider the function of behaviours through a trauma informed lens.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Team Leader
Lauren has worked in Behaviour Support since 2012, with experience working in both government and not-for-profit organisations. Lauren has worked with many individuals and families, as well as within group home settings. Lauren has a special interest in behaviour support within group homes, as well as supporting people with relationships and sexuality.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Psychologist with General Registration
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.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Team Leader
Lily has been providing function-based behaviour support with people with intellectual disability since 2013, with a specific focus on supporting mental health and behaviour challenges.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Lisa has been working with children and young people with special needs since 2013. She sees herself journeying alongside her clients, discovering with them how to participate in their different settings, and exploring various interests with them as they continuously search for what makes them happy.
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 Practitioner
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 Practitioner
Maria has worked in the disability sector for over 25 years, primarily specialising in Behaviour Support. She has also worked as a Residential Care Worker, Training Officer, Vocational Trainer, and Disability Advisor.
Maria has extensive experience In providing behaviour support services to individuals with complex needs across all ages. She has also coordinated Restrictive Practice Panels, provided mentoring and support to clinicians, and designed and delivered staff training. Maria is committed to working collaboratively with clients and their support network to meet individual goals and to live a life that is meaningful and enjoyable.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Maria has experience as a Mental Health Support Worker working with complex mental health in a residential setting, as well as using Applied Behavioural Analysis as a Behavioural Therapist. Maria has worked with children, adults and their families, and is passionate about mental health. Maria has completed her Bachelor of Arts - Psychology and is currently completing her Masters in Psychotherapy and Counselling.
Maria practices a person-centred approach and looks forward to working collaboratively to support and empower individuals in achieving their goals and living a life that is meaningful to them.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
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 Practitioner
Team Leader
Northern Rivers, NSW
Mark has over 30 yrs experience in the disability, mental health and child youth and family sectors both in Australia and the UK. supporting people with complex health care needs in public, private and NGO Settings. Mark is a Motivational Interviewing, train the trainer, who loves to work with teams supporting clients with high support needs, understanding restrictive practices, trauma informed practice ,introducing positive behaviour support principles and developing risk mitigation strategies across all environments.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
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 Practitioner
Team Leader
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 Practitioner
Nathan has been working in social support and crisis support work for the last 2 years. He is currently completing his degree in psychology with Western Sydney University. Nathan has experience working with clients of all ages and has a degree in musical theatre. Most recently he has been working with the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, aiding people with immune deficient conditions to maintain social and mental health standards.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Nathalie’s passion for person centred practices and Active Support is enriched by 25 years hands on and leadership experience in the field of disability. Nathalie enjoys co - creating person centred solutions for people to live their best lives. A well respected professional she readily shares her knowledge with early career professionals, support workers and families to enable the practice of positive behaviour support.
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 Practitioner
Provisional Psychologist
Paola specialised in forensic psychology, mental health and family court matters whilst practicing in Brazil. Since coming to Australia, she has worked as a disability support worker. Paola is enthusiastic about learning and is currently working towards completing a 5+1 provisional psychology registration.
Paola is passionate about helping people and supporting them to live their best lives.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Pearl is a registered counsellor and yoga teacher with extensive experience in the disability and clinical sector. She has worked across the lifespan from early childhood to teens and adults, supporting a diverse range of people with mental health concerns. She is passionate about helping people improve their mental health, helping them find strategies to enhance the quality of daily life.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Peter has worked and volunteered in a range of social services over eighteen years, and works from a human rights, strengths based and person centred approach. Peter’s professional goal is to work with people to be empowered to take on life’s challenges, whilst feeling safe and respected. Peter believes in the power of laughter and connection of everyone to their community.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Poli commenced working as a behaviour therapist with people with Intellectual Disability and Challenging behaviour in 2013. Poli 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. Poli believes in the natural improvement of people's behaviour when their lives become more meaningful, creative and socially connected.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Quennie is passionate about helping NDIS Participants improve their independence. Quennie has extensive experience building support strategies, coordinating multi-disciplinary teams and making things work for clients, their families and other support networks.
Quennie is currently working towards a Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice and has experience working with incarcerated NDIS Participants who are transitioning back into the community. She believes every person has value, dignity, fundamental worth and a right to develop their potential.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Rachel has extensive experience in supporting families with complex issues including but not limited to; complex trauma, disability, mental health, substance use and relationship issues. Rachel has been with the Department of Communities and Justice for the last 12 years, supporting vulnerable families. Rachel also has extensive experience in supporting families from diverse backgrounds and cultural heritages.
Rachel is passionate about supporting people who are affected by disabilities in making meaningful life-long changes.
Rachel speaks English and Korean.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
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.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
Provisional Psychologist
Rosie has recently completed her thesis project in cognitive development, specialising in the development of young children.
Rosie has had experience in Behaviour Support and Support Coordination. She is passionate about mental health and bettering the lives of those around her.
Behaviour Support Practitioner
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 Practitioner
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
Blue Mountains, NSW
Shelley began her career in New Zealand as a community crisis clinician. Moving to Australia in 2009, Shelley has worked in adolescent forensic mental health, community case management and consultation liaison in gazetted Emergency Departments. Most recently Shelley has been working with the Older Person, and their carers, who have a mental illness, experiencing cognitive decline and behavioural challenges.
Shelley is an experienced clinician who remains calm and professional in complex and stressful environments. Shelley’s philosophy includes the protection of carer stress and advocating for the choice of all consumers. Shelley is also passionate about clinician health, wellbeing and development and the prevention of clinician burnout.
Shelley values face to face assessment, collaborative input from all disciplines and supportive planning for all of those with a disability.
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 Practitioner
Team Leader
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 Practitioner
Mid North Coast, NSW
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 Practitioners who work with clients on-site throughout Greater Sydney and in all regional areas of NSW. We are growing into new areas, including Queensland and Western Australia.