Behaviour Support Practitioner and NDIS Provider in Townsville: Meet Abel Fusire

Abel Fusire with Melody Dexter

23 April 2024 | 5 min read

Behaviour Support Practitioner and NDIS Provider in Townsville: Meet Abel Fusire

Abel takes a culturally sensitive and trauma-informed approach to delivering Positive Behaviour Support in Townsville.

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Behaviour Support Practitioner and NDIS Provider in Townsville: Meet Abel Fusire

Positive Behaviour Support in Hornsby, NSW: Interview with PBS practitioner Nikki Rowland

Nikki Rowland with Melody Dexter

22 April 2024 | 5 min read

Positive Behaviour Support in Hornsby, NSW: Interview with PBS practitioner Nikki Rowland

How does Nikki's experience leading disability day programs shape her work as a behaviour support practitioner?

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Positive Behaviour Support in Hornsby, NSW: Interview with PBS practitioner Nikki Rowland

Positive Behaviour Support in Logan, QLD | Meet PBS practitioner Gracie Macpherson

Gracie Macpherson with Melody Dexter

22 April 2024 | 5 min read

Positive Behaviour Support in Logan, QLD | Meet PBS practitioner Gracie Macpherson

Learn about your local behaviour support practitioner in Logan, as well as accessible activities in the Logan region.

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Positive Behaviour Support in Logan, QLD | Meet PBS practitioner Gracie Macpherson

Positive Behaviour Support in Stirling, Western Australia: Meet PBS Practitioner Robyn Earl

Robyn Earl with Melody Dexter

19 April 2024 | 5 min read

Positive Behaviour Support in Stirling, Western Australia: Meet PBS Practitioner Robyn Earl

We talk about inclusive parks and youth centres, PBS in schools, PODD and using data in Positive Behaviour Support.

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Positive Behaviour Support in Stirling, Western Australia: Meet PBS Practitioner Robyn Earl

Positive Behaviour Support in South West Sydney, from Bankstown to Liverpool and Fairfield

Team Ability Consultants

12 April 2024 | 5 min read

Positive Behaviour Support in South West Sydney, from Bankstown to Liverpool and Fairfield

Find out how to organise a Positive Behaviour Support Plan (PBSP) in South West Sydney and the areas we provide support.

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Positive Behaviour Support in South West Sydney, from Bankstown to Liverpool and Fairfield

The art of de-escalation: 10 tips for parents to manage autistic meltdowns

Indi Taylor

19 March 2024 | 10 min read

The art of de-escalation: 10 tips for parents to manage autistic meltdowns

What to look for, 10 ways to help and how Positive Behaviour Support can help children on the autism spectrum.

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The art of de-escalation: 10 tips for parents to manage autistic meltdowns

Find Positive Behaviour Support in Western Sydney for NDIS participants

Team Ability Consultants

14 March 2024 | 5 min read

Find Positive Behaviour Support in Western Sydney for NDIS participants

We improve quality of life through easy access to Positive Behaviour Support in Blacktown, Parramatta and Penrith.

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Find Positive Behaviour Support in Western Sydney for NDIS participants

Positive Behaviour Support on Sydney’s Northern Beaches: Meet PBS practitioner Joanne Choudry

Joanne Choudry with Melody Dexter

01 March 2024 | 5 min read

Positive Behaviour Support on Sydney’s Northern Beaches: Meet PBS practitioner Joanne Choudry

Find out how Joanne's special education experience shapes her approach to Positive Behaviour Support.

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Positive Behaviour Support on Sydney’s Northern Beaches: Meet PBS practitioner Joanne Choudry

Positive Behaviour Support in Tasmania: Meet Senior PBS practitioner Jenny Lancaster

Jenny Lancaster with Melody Dexter

01 March 2024 | 5 min read

Positive Behaviour Support in Tasmania: Meet Senior PBS practitioner Jenny Lancaster

She's a harp-playing social worker learning AUSLAN and braille; she said "I love what I do and I do what I love."

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Positive Behaviour Support in Tasmania: Meet Senior PBS practitioner Jenny Lancaster

We're creating freedom and social connection through easy access to Positive Behaviour Support in Australia

Team Ability Consultants

20 February 2024 | 12 min read

We're creating freedom and social connection through easy access to Positive Behaviour Support in Australia

We've grown from humble beginnings in Sydney to supporting NDIS participants in every state of Australia!

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We're creating freedom and social connection through easy access to Positive Behaviour Support in Australia

Meet Alexandra Cox, NDIS Provider and Behaviour Support Practitioner in New England and Darling Downs

Alexandra Cox with Melody Dexter

19 February 2024 | 5 min read

Meet Alexandra Cox, NDIS Provider and Behaviour Support Practitioner in New England and Darling Downs

In our Q&A with Alex, we talk about orchards, sheep dogs, life in Stanthorpe and how PBS can help with Autism and PTSD.

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Meet Alexandra Cox, NDIS Provider and Behaviour Support Practitioner in New England and Darling Downs

Positive Behaviour Support in Adelaide: Meet PBS practitioner Shvan Mohammed

Shvan Mohammed with Melody Dexter

19 December 2023

Positive Behaviour Support in Adelaide: Meet PBS practitioner Shvan Mohammed

We asked Shvan about educational psychology, autism and the importance of empathy. Click to read more.

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Positive Behaviour Support in Adelaide: Meet PBS practitioner Shvan Mohammed

NDIS provider in Yamba, NSW: Behind the scenes with Brooke Wheeler

Brooke Wheeler with Melody Dexter

04 December 2023

NDIS provider in Yamba, NSW: Behind the scenes with Brooke Wheeler

Meet Brooke Wheeler, Behaviour Support Practitioner in Clarence Valley NSW

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NDIS provider in Yamba, NSW: Behind the scenes with Brooke Wheeler

We wish you a Merry Christmas

David Ackling-Jones

01 December 2023

We wish you a Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Dave and all of us at Ability Consultants!

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We wish you a Merry Christmas

10 things about you: Q&A with our Central West Positive Behaviour Support practitioners

Hayley Gray & Candice Golding

25 November 2023

10 things about you: Q&A with our Central West Positive Behaviour Support practitioners

Get to know our PBS practitioners in Mudgee and Dubbo, Central West NSW!

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10 things about you: Q&A with our Central West Positive Behaviour Support practitioners

Positive Behaviour Support in Dubbo: Meet PBS Practitioner Candice Golding

Candice Golding with Melody Dexter

19 November 2023

Positive Behaviour Support in Dubbo: Meet PBS Practitioner Candice Golding

What's in Dubbo? Horses of course! Learn about Candice, her work as a PBS practitioner and her love for horses.

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Positive Behaviour Support in Dubbo: Meet PBS Practitioner Candice Golding

We’re a Registered NDIS provider delivering Positive Behaviour Support in Bundaberg

Team Ability Consultants

17 November 2023

We’re a Registered NDIS provider delivering Positive Behaviour Support in Bundaberg

Find out how you can benefit from positive behaviour support in Bundaberg!

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We’re a Registered NDIS provider delivering Positive Behaviour Support in Bundaberg

Looking for an NDIS provider in Mudgee? Our team can help you. Get in touch to find out more

Hayley Gray with Melody Dexter

19 October 2023

Looking for an NDIS provider in Mudgee? Our team can help you. Get in touch to find out more

Central West NSW, we've got you covered! Find out about positive behaviour support in this interview with Hayley Gray.

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Looking for an NDIS provider in Mudgee? Our team can help you. Get in touch to find out more

Positive Behaviour Support on the NSW Mid-North Coast: Forster, Taree, Gloucester & more

Gina McClure with Melody Dexter

21 September 2023

Positive Behaviour Support on the NSW Mid-North Coast: Forster, Taree, Gloucester & more

Learn more about NDIS support on the Mid North Coast of NSW in our Q&A with Practitioner Gina McClure.

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Positive Behaviour Support on the NSW Mid-North Coast: Forster, Taree, Gloucester & more

Positive Behaviour Support in Cairns | Meet Behaviour Support Practitioner Indi Taylor

Indi Taylor with Melody Dexter

08 August 2023

Positive Behaviour Support in Cairns | Meet Behaviour Support Practitioner Indi Taylor

We talk about special ed, psychology, life in Cairns and creating change through Positive Behaviour Support.

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Positive Behaviour Support in Cairns | Meet Behaviour Support Practitioner Indi Taylor

ABC Western Plains: Jess and Hayley discuss Positive Behaviour Support in Central West NSW

Melody Dexter

17 July 2023

ABC Western Plains: Jess and Hayley discuss Positive Behaviour Support in Central West NSW

Thanks to Jess McGuire from ABC Western Plains for taking the time to speak with us about PBS in Central West NSW.

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ABC Western Plains: Jess and Hayley discuss Positive Behaviour Support in Central West NSW

How do you respectfully guess the function of a behaviour of concern? Find out in this FREE course

Chris Wood

03 July 2023

How do you respectfully guess the function of a behaviour of concern? Find out in this FREE course

We talk about EATS and give you tools to help you as a PBS practitioner.

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How do you respectfully guess the function of a behaviour of concern? Find out in this FREE course

Positive Behaviour Support in Townsville: How to get started and what to expect

Melody Dexter

13 June 2023

Positive Behaviour Support in Townsville: How to get started and what to expect

Positive Behaviour Support in Townsville just became easier to access! Click here to find out more about PBS in Townsville.

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Positive Behaviour Support in Townsville: How to get started and what to expect

Far North Queensland, we now offer Positive Behaviour Support in Cairns

Melody Dexter

31 May 2023

Far North Queensland, we now offer Positive Behaviour Support in Cairns

Part of our mission is to make PBS easier to access around Australia and we're excited to be supporting you in Cairns!

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Far North Queensland, we now offer Positive Behaviour Support in Cairns

Empowering the community: Meet Sally Campbell, our Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner in Ipswich

Sally Campbell & Melody Dexter

01 May 2023

Empowering the community: Meet Sally Campbell, our Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner in Ipswich

We talk about PBS, therapy dogs, horse-drawn carriages, festivals and supporting students with disability.

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Empowering the community: Meet Sally Campbell, our Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner in Ipswich

Positive Behaviour Support in Adelaide, South Australia

Melody Dexter

30 April 2023

Positive Behaviour Support in Adelaide, South Australia

Positive Behaviour Support in Adelaide just got easier to access! Click to find out if PBS is the right fit for you.

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Positive Behaviour Support in Adelaide, South Australia

We'll see you at the Hunter Disability Expo this May in Newcastle!

Alex Lee and Melody Dexter

24 April 2023

We'll see you at the Hunter Disability Expo this May in Newcastle!

Meet our PBS Practitioners Alex, Brett and Liss at the Hunter Disability Expo 12-13 May!

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We'll see you at the Hunter Disability Expo this May in Newcastle!

Meet us at the Melbourne Disability Connection Expo!

Melody Dexter

05 April 2023

Meet us at the Melbourne Disability Connection Expo!

We'll be at the Melbourne Disability Connection Expo to answer all your Positive Behaviour Support questions!

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Meet us at the Melbourne Disability Connection Expo!

From nursing and mental health to Positive Behaviour Support: Meet Karan Singh, PBS Practitioner in Melbourne

Karan Singh with Melody Dexter

31 March 2023

From nursing and mental health to Positive Behaviour Support: Meet Karan Singh, PBS Practitioner in Melbourne

Find out about PACER and how a career in mental health can prepare you for working in Positive Behaviour Support.

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From nursing and mental health to Positive Behaviour Support: Meet Karan Singh, PBS Practitioner in Melbourne

Meet Patrick Rundle, Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner in Perth, Western Australia

Patrick Rundle with Melody Dexter

30 March 2023

Meet Patrick Rundle, Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner in Perth, Western Australia

We talk about education and Positive Behaviour Support rt in Perth, as well as Kings Park and WA Museum Boola Bardip.

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Meet Patrick Rundle, Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner in Perth, Western Australia

Positive Behaviour Support in Perth, Western Australia

Melody Dexter

24 March 2023

Positive Behaviour Support in Perth, Western Australia

It's official, we're in Perth! Find out more about how PBS can help you and which NDIS funding you can use for PBS.

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Positive Behaviour Support in Perth, Western Australia

Emma Fumini supports the Ulladulla community through Positive Behaviour Support

Emma Fumini with Melody Dexter

03 March 2023

Emma Fumini supports the Ulladulla community through Positive Behaviour Support

We’re on a mission to make PBS easy to access and we’re beyond excited to welcome Emma Fumini to our team in Ulladulla!

Read on

Emma Fumini supports the Ulladulla community through Positive Behaviour Support

Looking for Positive Behaviour Support in Newcastle? We've got your back!

Alex Lee with Melody Dexter

02 March 2023

Looking for Positive Behaviour Support in Newcastle? We've got your back!

Meet Alex Lee, who joins our team as a Behaviour Support Practitioner in Newcastle, NSW!

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Looking for Positive Behaviour Support in Newcastle? We've got your back!

Positive Behaviour Support in Melbourne | Ability Consultants

Bec Gordon and Melody Dexter

02 March 2023

Positive Behaviour Support in Melbourne | Ability Consultants

Positive Behaviour Support in Melbourne is now easier to find, with our team expanding to Victoria!

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Positive Behaviour Support in Melbourne | Ability Consultants

Meet Brett Sams, Behaviour Support Practitioner in Lake Macquarie

Brett Sams with Melody Dexter

16 February 2023

Meet Brett Sams, Behaviour Support Practitioner in Lake Macquarie

We’re on a mission to make positive behaviour support easy to access and we’re pleased to introduce Brett in this Q&A!

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Meet Brett Sams, Behaviour Support Practitioner in Lake Macquarie

Welcome Julie, Positive Behaviour Support NDIS Provider, lower Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay North

Julie Lyons with Melody Dexter

13 January 2023

Welcome Julie, Positive Behaviour Support NDIS Provider, lower Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay North

Check out our Q&A with positive behaviour support practitioner Julie Lyons!

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Welcome Julie, Positive Behaviour Support NDIS Provider, lower Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay North

Wishing You a Merry Christmas

David Ackling-Jones

05 December 2022 | 0.5 min read

Wishing You a Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Dave and all of us at Ability Consultants!

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Wishing You a Merry Christmas

NDIS provider in Ballina: Meet Mark Downie, Behaviour Support Practitioner

Mark Downie with Melody Dexter

23 November 2022

NDIS provider in Ballina: Meet Mark Downie, Behaviour Support Practitioner

If you're looking for positive behaviour support in the Northern Rivers region, you'll want to check out this interview.

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NDIS provider in Ballina: Meet Mark Downie, Behaviour Support Practitioner

Our highlights from the 2022 AGOSCI Conference

Team Ability Consultants

28 October 2022

Our highlights from the 2022 AGOSCI Conference

AGOSCI advocates for people with complex communication needs. Read Ross's highlights from the 2022 AGOSCI conference.

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Our highlights from the 2022 AGOSCI Conference

Positive Behaviour Support can be hard to access. Here’s how we’re changing that in Australia

Melody Dexter

13 October 2022

Positive Behaviour Support can be hard to access. Here’s how we’re changing that in Australia

We’re on a mission to make positive behaviour support easy to access in Australia.

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Positive Behaviour Support can be hard to access. Here’s how we’re changing that in Australia

Next week: Meet NDIS Registered Providers in Toowoomba, Queensland

Belinda Thurlow

27 September 2022

Next week: Meet NDIS Registered Providers in Toowoomba, Queensland

Meet Belinda at the Regional Disability Expo on October 7th!

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Next week: Meet NDIS Registered Providers in Toowoomba, Queensland

Meet our team at the Shoalhaven Disability Expo

Melody Dexter

23 September 2022

Meet our team at the Shoalhaven Disability Expo

We'll be answering all your positive behaviour support questions at the Shoalhaven Disability Expo this September.

Read on

Meet our team at the Shoalhaven Disability Expo

Meet Stacey Davidson, Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner in Shoalhaven

Stacey Davidson

21 September 2022

Meet Stacey Davidson, Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner in Shoalhaven

Stacey talks about the impact of behaviour support and shares her career highlights in the disability sector.

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Meet Stacey Davidson, Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner in Shoalhaven

We've got great news about Positive Behaviour Support in Wollongong

Jane Pfaff

16 September 2022

We've got great news about Positive Behaviour Support in Wollongong

We're excited to welcome four new positive behaviour support practitioners to our team in Wollongong!

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We've got great news about Positive Behaviour Support in Wollongong

We’ll be at the AGOSCI Conference this September

Melody Dexter

01 September 2022

We’ll be at the AGOSCI Conference this September

AGOSCI? What is AGOSCI? How does it relate to positive behaviour support and disability support? Find out here.

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We’ll be at the AGOSCI Conference this September

ABAA Conference Recap: Interview with Ross Leighner, Behaviour Analyst

Ross Leighner

31 August 2022

ABAA Conference Recap: Interview with Ross Leighner, Behaviour Analyst

Join us as Ross shares exciting news for Behaviour Analysts in Australia and highlights from the ABAA Conference.

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ABAA Conference Recap: Interview with Ross Leighner, Behaviour Analyst

We look forward to the 7th Annual ABA Conference

Marie-Morgane Hieulle

10 July 2022

We look forward to the 7th Annual ABA Conference

The ABA Conference is a valuable opportunity to to hear from leading ABA professionals and academics in Australia.

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We look forward to the 7th Annual ABA Conference

We'll see you at the Gold Coast Disability Expo!

Belinda Thurlow

09 June 2022

We'll see you at the Gold Coast Disability Expo!

This June, you’ll find us at the Gold Coast Disability Expo at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

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We'll see you at the Gold Coast Disability Expo!

We're an NDIS provider in Grafton — meet Barbara Bevilacqua, Behaviour Support Practitioner

Barbara Bevilacqua with Melody Dexter

07 June 2022

We're an NDIS provider in Grafton — meet Barbara Bevilacqua, Behaviour Support Practitioner

In this interview, Barbara discusses everything from behaviour analysis through to Jacarandas and wandering donkeys!

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We're an NDIS provider in Grafton — meet Barbara Bevilacqua, Behaviour Support Practitioner

What to expect from psychology as an NDIS participant

Rosie Chapple

26 May 2022

What to expect from psychology as an NDIS participant

If you’re an NDIS participant and you’d like to see a psychologist, read this article to find out how psychology can help you and what your support will look like.

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What to expect from psychology as an NDIS participant

We’ve been awarded the Communication Access Symbol

Steve Davies

17 May 2022

We’ve been awarded the Communication Access Symbol

We’re proud to announce that Ability Consultants has been awarded the Communication Access Symbol.

At Ability Consultants, making Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) accessible is vitally important to us. Gaining accreditation to use this symbol is one way we can make PBS accessible to more people who need support. Being awarded the use of the symbol is a reflection of our passion for helping people to experience freedom and social connection.

Click to read more.

Read on

We’ve been awarded the Communication Access Symbol

Positive Behaviour Support in Brisbane

Belinda Thurlow

27 April 2022

Positive Behaviour Support in Brisbane

Our team has expanded into Queensland! Find out how we provide positive behaviour support in Brisbane and QLD.

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Positive Behaviour Support in Brisbane

Malcolm Gladwell’s ‘Talking to Strangers’: what we assume and why it matters

Stephen Holmes

17 December 2021

Malcolm Gladwell’s ‘Talking to Strangers’: what we assume and why it matters

At Ability Consultants we have spent a whole bunch of time and effort thinking about and building a structure around what Positive Behaviour Support is and can be. We focus on the who, what, when and how we can deliver better support, better plans, better strategies. That’s what excites me about work in this team – we care about what we do.

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Malcolm Gladwell’s ‘Talking to Strangers’: what we assume and why it matters

Merry Christmas

David Ackling-Jones

13 December 2021 | 0.5 min read

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a peaceful, and joyful festive season, from all of us here at Ability Consultants.

David Ackling-Jones

CEO.

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Merry Christmas

Looking for an NDIS provider in Brisbane?

Team Ability Consultants

08 December 2021

Looking for an NDIS provider in Brisbane?

We're a registered NDIS provider in Brisbane and Sydney. We can support you with positive behaviour support and psychology. We met with our Queensland Team Leader, Belinda Thurlow, to find out more about providing support to NDIS participants in Brisbane.

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Looking for an NDIS provider in Brisbane?

In Loving Memory of Dr David Manchester

David Ackling-Jones

22 October 2021 | 1 min read

In Loving Memory of Dr David Manchester

David, thank you for joining our team of behaviour clinicians 12 months ago. We were blessed to witness your strength of character, incisive mind, and humility. You left us feeling that our thoughts were intrinsically valuable and that you were always learning, even from us. We will forever be honoured to be a part of your team.

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In Loving Memory of Dr David Manchester

We’re Seeking Psychosocial Recovery Coaches

David Ackling-Jones

08 April 2021 | 1 min read

We’re Seeking Psychosocial Recovery Coaches

Recovery Coaching and Positive Behaviour Support can be powerful allies in making life better for people. As specialist therapists we are eager to refer to and support any organisation or practitioner who is providing person-centred PRC.

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We’re Seeking Psychosocial Recovery Coaches

How to Connect with Elders | Maurie Voisey-Barlin

David Ackling-Jones

14 March 2021 | 75 min read

Meet Maurie Voisey-Barlin!

Moz is a Creative Engagement Specialist. He's the inventor of Window Therapy and founder of the Outside-In Collective.

During the Covid lockdowns, he was told he couldn't visit his Elders. So he started performing interactive 1:1 sessions through people's windows. 

A must-read — click to read more.

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Taking action on a movement for housing change

Libby Ellis

06 July 2020 | 5 min read

Taking action on a movement for housing change

I work for the Summer Foundation’s Sydney Housing Matching Team. Our team is focussed on meeting NDIS participants who could be eligible for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) funding from the NDIS.

I am also a family member of someone who needs significant support in their home. Putting my family member hat on for a moment, I have reflected on the lack of opportunity prior to the NDIS and the hard slog of trying to create something out of nothing. What an incredible privilege to meet people now and have new possibilities to offer.

Are you a person who may benefit from learning more about housing and SDA?

Do you work with individuals or families who could connect with us?

People with disability, families and carers in Sydney and NSW can contact me directly at [email protected] or 0455 110 678.

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Taking action on a movement for housing change

How a movie can stir up feelings and memories

Jane Pfaff

02 July 2020 | 15 min read

How a movie can stir up feelings and memories

When I first received an invitation to view the film ‘Crip Camp’, I was a bit put off by the name. However, as it was the beginning of the disability rights movement and the independent living movement in the United States, and the relationships and shared determination of the people who first met at Camp Jened in the ’60s and early ’70s, I decided to go ahead and watch it.

The movie that was only put together this year brought back many memories of my own involvement, over the years, with people with disabilities and their struggle for rights and to have the same opportunities to live life like everyone else does.

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How a movie can stir up feelings and memories

The beauty from within - don’t judge a book by its cover!

Jane Pfaff

18 June 2020 | 5 min read

The beauty from within - don’t judge a book by its cover!

How often do we make assumptions about people from just looking at them or allow other people's opinions to cloud our judgement?

This continues to happen throughout life - in our personal lives, work situations, with our parents, family and friends, at school as students or as parents, and of course the influence of the media and politics.

You may have experienced a new boss and being told by others that they are difficult and unfair and then finding out that in fact you get on really well, share similar values and find them a pleasure to work with. Can you relate to being an anxious parent standing in the playground at the beginning of a new school year waiting to see who your child gets as their year two teacher? Hearing the name of the teacher that many have warned you about, and then, your child’s name is called out and you dread the coming year, only to find that your child really loves being in that teacher's class and thrives throughout the school year.

How many times, when asked what sort of work you do and you say that you work with people with a disability, do you get the response ....”oh you so good, you must be so patient, I could never do that”. 

Click to read more.

Read on

The beauty from within - don’t judge a book by its cover!

Tick Number One

Jane Pfaff

01 June 2020 | 3 min read

Tick Number One

As a carer you need to firstly care for yourself!

For some of us, during Covid 19, practicing social distancing and only going out for essential trips, life became a lot simpler. But, as a carer, particularly of someone who may not understand why this is happening, I can only try and imagine how difficult and demanding this must be.

All people in a caring role are heroes. With day programs and supported employment programs disrupted, all carers have been finding the current arrangements particularly challenging. Those employed by organisations providing accommodation service as carers have often found themselves in the situation of having all the clients at home 24/7.

Carers who are looking after a loved one within the family home, are not provided an opportunity to have any or much ‘me’ time. It is very important for these carers to look after themselves so that they remain healthy and able to continue in that very special caring role.

You might have found some of the other blogs on our website, about activities useful in finding some things that spark an interest in the person you care for. If you haven’t, take a look, you might even find some of these could be beneficial for you.

I know it’s hard: when you get the opportunity to have a few minutes to yourself, you are probably using it to do housework, laundry, cooking or shopping.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT to take some time out for yourself

Read on

Tick Number One

Resilience

Jane Pfaff

12 February 2020

Resilience

I continue to marvel at the resilience of the people we support.

Over the past 40 years working in the disability sector, I have watched, particularly in group homes:

  • A constant coming and going of support staff
  • Support programs that are taken away, then reinstated, only to be taken away again
  • Communication supports, such as chat books removed or symbols not replaced, because ‘the client always destroys them’
  • Boards posted on the wall of the group home, such as a ‘who’s on shift’, taken down as it is not considered appropriate in a home.
  • Attitudes from some staff that any display of challenging behaviour should have a consequence
  • Loss of contact with family and friends
  • People not recognised as sexual beings
  • Illness or death of a co-resident and a dismissal of the persons need (or ability) to grieve

WOW… I wonder how I would cope? How would you cope?

Read on

Resilience

Things have changed...

Jane Pfaff

03 October 2019

Things have changed...

As the saying goes…”it’s not rocket science”

Being able to communicate, socialise, participate in meaningful activities and enjoy physical activity are essential for a good and satisfying life.

I have worked in the disability sector for a very long time, mostly in Government. Whilst I recognise that much of what went before the NDIS was certainly not perfect and that a lot of people seemed to get a rolls royce service, I do believe that there was an ability to try and get it right for clients and that clinicians advice was respected, particularly when it came to clients with challenging behaviour. It wasn’t always easy to get support or funding, however there was a better understanding of the reasoning and the experience of the cost long term if resources were not funded adequately from the start. There was also an ability to provide uninterrupted service.

Over the past 2 years working in an NDIS environment managing a team of clinicians, therapists and case managers the pain points seem to be many.

Read on

Things have changed...

Building the aircraft while flying

David Ackling-Jones

12 May 2019

Building the aircraft while flying

Doing new things is good, but we didn’t know what the hell we were doing when we started all this.

We were overwhelmed with the complexities of the NDIS. We had to adapt our practice to the new technical environment. We are people-people, not techies.

We realised most people feel the same way. Being behaviour technicians, at least we had the advantage that we love data.

So, we built our own software. And it worked.

We now run our whole organisation on it. It talks to the NDIS, so we can focus on serving people. It’s allowed us to grow.

(We have used a great app builder called Appsheet to create our administration tools on the fly. We highly recommend it.)

But, the software is grounded for maintenance today. It's Mothers Day and we're busy debugging the software, instead of playing with family.

Our aircraft will fly better when we wash the bugs off the windshield. We’re chatting with some developers who'll help with this ongoing job. Just need to let it go.

Read on

Building the aircraft while flying

Confused about Restrictive Practices?

David Ackling-Jones

15 April 2019

Confused about Restrictive Practices?

A great new resource came out this week for people with Restrictive Practices.

When the NDIS safeguarding laws arrived in July 2018 there was a lot of reading to be done.

Finally... here are your Cliff Notes on Restrictive Practices in NSW. Thanks, FACS!

Watch this video and in 4.5 minutes, you'll know what a Restrictive Practice is, and what you need to do.

Sneak preview: you'll need a registered behaviour support clinician to write an Interim Behaviour Support Plan, and you'll need to do this within a month if there is a Restrictive Practice.

If you are in the greater Sydney area, please make an online referral today and we will see you in less than a month.

Confused about Restrictive Practices?

Have an enquiry?

Want to learn more about our services or how we can help you?
We’d love to hear from you.

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Ability Consultants is a team of Behaviour Support Practitioners who work with clients all across Australia through virtual and in-person means.

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