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

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In this interview, we’re pleased to introduce *Abel Fusire, behaviour support practitioner and AASW Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (Rural Generalist), based in Townsville, QLD.

Abel holds a Master of Rural Generalist Practice, Master of Social Work, Bachelor of Science (Behavioural Studies), Bachelor of Political Science and Conflict Studies, as well as qualifications in Disability Policy and Practice, Community Sector Management, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy.

Abel uses person-centred practice to work from a strengths-based, culturally sensitive, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed practice framework. He has experience in supporting individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities and mental health conditions.

Abel acknowledges the agency and autonomy of clients and their communities. His goal is to continue enhancing his skills and knowledge in rural and remote health care and to contribute to the well-being and empowerment of diverse and marginalised populations in North Queensland.

Meet Abel Fusire, Behaviour Support Practitioner in Townsville, Queensland

Hi Abel, tell us about you!

My name is Abel, I am a Behaviour Support Practitioner with Ability Consultants and I have been living in Townsville with my family for the past eight years. I have a professional background in behavioural science, social work, and disability policy and practice. I hold advanced qualifications in allied health rural generalist practice. My practice framework is informed by a desire to empower people to live their lives to their full potential, despite psychosocial barriers that they may encounter.

What drew you to the field of Positive Behaviour Support?

I was drawn to the field of Positive Behaviour Support because of its systematic approach to understanding human behaviour, its causes and its approach to effectively improving a person’s quality of life. I believe the field of behaviour support offers a genuine opportunity to make a measurable difference in people’s lives, by supporting them to overcome challenges and achieve their individualised goals.

What do you love most about working as a PBS practitioner?

Positive Behaviour Support looks at the person in the context of their environment and employs a holistic and evidence-based approach to understanding behavioural presentations.

I work with an understanding that behaviour is functional, which means that behaviours we see in our clients are ways our clients are trying to communicate their needs. For me, the best part of behaviour support is environmental modification and skills training. This approach focuses on modifying the environment while helping the individual to learn new skills to communicate their needs and live a more fulfilling life.

How does your experience and education in social work influence your work as a behaviour support practitioner?

Social work is a human rights and evidence-based science of helping others to help themselves. Due to my social work training, I am driven by a strong sense of social justice and a value base of anti-oppressive practice and empowerment. What this means for me is that restrictive practices should not be used at the first instance to modify behaviour. This also means as a practitioner I am not just interested in what is important for the individual but also what is important to the individual.

What can NDIS participants and their support teams expect from you as their behaviour support practitioner?

Participants can expect a very high degree of professionalism, empathy, respect, compassion and strong collaborative practice. More importantly, I understand that my role as a behaviour support practitioner involves being an advocate for social inclusion and social justice.

About Positive Behaviour Support and its impact

Can you share an example of how you’ve seen Positive Behaviour Support improve a person’s quality of life?

I have effectively worked with teams to ensure restrictive practices are faded out from the lives of individuals who are living with autism. This has involved a lot of dedicated work educating teams of carers about restrictive practices and the impact they have on an individual’s human rights. In my role, I consistently advocate for the least restrictive ways of responding to behaviours of concern.

What if a person is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), can you tell us what Positive Behaviour Support might look like for this person?

A behaviour support plan for someone who is on the autism spectrum is likely to include several key components tailored to address assessed behaviours of concern. These are the steps they can expect in Positive Behaviour Support:

Step 1: I would start with a functional assessment to understand the function (why) of their behaviour (Escape, Access, Tangible or Sensory). Using a biopsychosocial model I would look at the individual’s strengths, preferences and triggers in the context of their life history. This would be complemented by using Antecedent, Behaviour, Consequence (ABC) data collection methods, to identify behavioural patterns, which will help me make data-driven decisions.

Step 2: The next step would be to establish clear goals and objectives that are measurable, and that focus on enhancing skills, reducing behaviours of concern, addressing risks, and improving quality of life.

Step 3: I would then provide positive behaviour interventions and strategies that emphasise positive reinforcements such as rewards or praise of desired behaviours. This may include using visual supports, structured routines and preferred activities to motivate the individual.

Step 4: Environmental modifications for a person on the autism spectrum can help us create an environment that supports success by minimising distractions, reducing sensory overload, and organising materials and tasks in a clear and predictable manner.

Step 5: Communication strategies are then developed to help the individual express their needs, preferences and emotions effectively.

Step 6: Social skills training to provide opportunities for the individual to learn and practice social skills, such as taking turns, sharing and initiating interactions. This may include role-playing and social skills group interactions.

Step 7: Replacement behaviours are identified in order to give the person a more functional way of communicating. These may involve teaching coping strategies and implementing antecedent and consequence-based interventions that make the behaviour less likely to occur again.

Step 8: Individualised Crisis Management Plan: I will then develop procedures for preventing and managing crises safely and effectively and train caregivers on de-escalation techniques and establish protocols for accessing additional support when needed.

Step 9: Managing transitions: In the case of a client on the autism spectrum, their behaviour support plan (PBSP) may also include a plan to support the individual for transitions between environments, routines and life stages by providing appropriate support and preparing others involved in the care of the individual.

This is an example of what Positive Behaviour Support might look like for a person on the autism spectrum; our approach will vary depending on a person’s individualised circumstances, needs and goals.

Positive Behaviour Support in Townsville

Which suburbs do you provide Positive Behaviour Support in Townsville?

I support Townsville communities including NDIS participants who live in the City of Townsville, North Ward, Aitkenvale, Cranbrook, Alligator Creek, Annandale, Black River, Alice River, Bohle Plains-Rangewood, Burdell, Bushland Beach, Kirwan, Hyde Park, Garbutt, Gulliver, Oonoonba, Rasmussen, the rest of North and South Townsville suburbs, and the Thuringowa region.

I can also provide Positive Behaviour Support to NDIS participants in Bluewater, Shelly Beach, Balgal Beach and the Ayr region.

How to get started with a behaviour support practitioner in Townsville

How can NDIS participants in Townsville access Positive Behaviour Support?

The first step is to make a referral for Positive Behaviour Support on our website. You can do this anytime and you can make your own referral, or a member of your support team can make a referral on your behalf, such as a parent, support coordinator, doctor, speech or occupational therapist, psychologist etc.

If you have any questions about Positive Behaviour Support, please feel welcome to call our team on 1300 694 625 or send a message using our contact form.

Life in Townsville, North Queensland

Tell us about life in Townsville and North Queensland

Townsville is one of the largest tropical cities in Queensland with a population that has recently grown to over 200,000 people. Residents of Townsville usually enjoy sunshine for more than 300 days and have an unrivalled way of life, full of weekend getaways to incredible natural landscapes.

Can you tell us about accessible recreational activities or tourist attractions in Townsville?

Townsville has some of the cleanest beaches in the country and there is a huge influx of tourists coming in to visit the Magnetic Islands, and other interesting sites in Townsville such as; Castle Hill and the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium (currently closed for redevelopment).

Castle Hill is accessible by car, with accessible parking located about 30 metres from the lookout and 35 metres from the toilets. You can access the lookout via two ramps, one of which has a handrail. Find more information about accessible holidays in Townsville in this guide produced by the Queensland Government.

About Positive Behaviour Support

• What is Positive Behaviour Support?
• What is an NDIS Positive Behaviour Support plan? (PBSP)
• NDIS funding and Positive Behaviour Support

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*Abel has embarked on a new journey.

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