Connecting in Cairns: Meet Your Local Behaviour Support Practitioner, Joel Cerdor

Looking for a behaviour support practitioner near you in Cairns, Far North Queensland? We can help! We’re pleased to introduce Joel Cerdor, whose work in Positive Behaviour Support is shaped by degrees and qualifications in Psychology, Creative Arts and International Community Development.

Scroll to read on, or click our referral link to get started with Positive Behaviour Support in Cairns.

Meet Joel Cerdor, Behaviour Support Practitioner in Cairns

Hi Joel, welcome to our team of behaviour support practitioners in Cairns! Tell us about you!

Hi everyone, thanks for the warm welcome! I am very excited to join the Ability Consultants team in Cairns. I grew up in the Atherton Tablelands and also spent a number of years living and working overseas which gave me a really strong appreciation for different cultures and ways of communicating.

My background combines creative arts, psychology and community development. I originally studied creative arts with a major in music and later went on to complete a graduate diploma in psychology, which has shaped the way I understand people and behaviour.

Before moving into behaviour support, I worked in Taiwan as a kindergarten teacher and later in project and event management, particularly in music and multicultural arts. Working in this field gave me a lot of experience working with diverse groups, managing high-pressure environments, and building strong relationships across different communities.

Outside of work, I love to run, work out and meditate. I also enjoy making music and being outdoors!

What drew you to the field of Positive Behaviour Support?

What drew me to behaviour support was the opportunity to work with people and help them reach their full potential in their own way. I’ve always been motivated by work that has a real impact, especially improving quality of life for people from more marginalised or complex backgrounds.

I was particularly drawn to Positive Behaviour Support because of its focus on understanding the person as a whole and creating practical, respectful support that makes a long-term difference for individuals, families, and support networks.

How does your background in psychology, creative arts and music influence your approach to Positive Behaviour Support?

My background in creative arts and music has given me the opportunity to work with a diverse range of cultures and people, and helped me develop a strong understanding of communication and human expression. Psychology has built on that by giving me the tools and a deeper understanding of behaviour, which I now apply in a practical way through behaviour support.

How Behaviour Support Practitioners Can Help Participants in Cairns

What can you help participants with in Cairns?

As a behaviour support practitioner in Cairns, I can help NDIS participants and their teams to better understand behaviours and develop practical strategies that improve their day-to-day quality of life.

This can include completing behaviour assessments, developing interim and comprehensive behaviour support plans, and working alongside support teams to implement strategies that are realistic and effective. I also support skill building, improving communication, reducing behaviours of concern, and ensuring any restrictive practices are in line with NDIS requirements and eventually faded out or reduced.

What’s the outcome of your work as a behaviour support practitioner? What do you hope to achieve?

I hope to improve the quality of life for NDIS participants and the people supporting them.

I want to create environments where participants feel understood, safe, and supported, while also helping them build skills that increase independence and confidence over time.

For support teams and families, the goal is to provide clear, practical strategies that reduce stress and create more positive and consistent interactions. I want the supports in place to feel right for the person, helping them feel understood, respected, and able to live a life that feels meaningful to them.

What steps do you take to understand a person and any behaviours that they might find challenging?

To understand a person and any behaviours of concern, I start by getting to know them and the people around them. I take the time to listen and understand their experiences, what matters to them, and what might be going on beneath the surface.

I look at the bigger picture like their environment, relationships, communication, and past experiences. From there, I work alongside the person and their support team to find approaches that feel respectful, practical, and right for them.

As a PBS practitioner, how do you measure the outcomes of your work? How do you know you are actually making a difference?

The outcome of my work is to support NDIS participants to see real improvements in their everyday life such as stronger relationships, increased confidence, better overall wellbeing, and learning new skills that support greater independence.

I do this with planned observations and structured data tracking tools. This can include systematic behaviour data collection, frequency and curation recording, feedback from family and support teams, and standardised assessments such as the WHOQOL: Measuring Quality of Life or The World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0). Combining a person-centred and data-driven approach helps us track if we are actually making a difference. We also use internal tools at Ability Consultants such as the Essential 10 and the Periodic Service Review to ensure our Positive Behaviour Support plans align with best practice.

The goal is to make meaningful changes, reducing behaviours of concern, increase positive engagement and fading out restrictive practices where possible.

What support do you provide to a participant’s family, carers or wider support network?

I support families, carers, and support teams through training, coaching, and ongoing guidance to help them feel confident in implementing strategies. This can include running training sessions both in person or recorded video, creating resources such as communication tools, visual supports, and daily or weekly planners tailored to the individual.

For example, if a participant is living in a SIL setting and has a strong cultural background, I would create resources to help the support team better understand the NDIS participant’s cultural and language needs, and support them to connect in a way that feels respectful and meaningful to the person.

Do you support NDIS participants in any specific age groups or with certain disabilities?

I’ve worked with NDIS participants across a wide age range, including children under 12 with the support of clinical supervision and mentorship, through to older adults. I have experience supporting individuals with a range of presentations, including schizophrenia and other complex mental health needs, as well as dementia, autism, and cerebral palsy. I have also worked within forensic contexts, supporting individuals with more complex behavioural and environmental needs. At Ability Consultants I can draw on practitioners with expertise across many areas to provide additional guidance and support.

To get started with Positive Behaviour Support, please feel welcome to make a referral for Positive Behaviour Support on our website.

Behaviour Support Practitioners in Cairns : Frequently Asked Questions

Where are you based in Cairns? Do you have a clinic?

Our PBS clinicians are based throughout Cairns, and we travel to you. Without the restrictions of a physical clinic, we’re able to serve more of the Cairns community.

You don’t need to worry about fuel, parking or any other travel logistics — we come to you.

Where do you provide Positive Behaviour Support in Cairns?

Our behaviour support practitioners travel throughout Cairns, from Mossman/Daintree to Tully and across to the Atherton Tablelands. We provide Positive Behaviour Support in Central/Inner Cairns, Northern Beaches, northside, Redlynch and Freshwater Valley.

I don’t understand Positive Behaviour Support — where can I find more information?

We have a few articles that might help:

• What is Positive Behaviour Support?
• What is a PBS Plan?
• What to expect from our Positive Behaviour Support service

How do I know if my NDIS Plan includes funding for behaviour support?

If you’re not sure if your NDIS Plan includes funding for Positive Behaviour Support, please visit our articles where we clarify which NDIS funds you can use for behaviour support.

How can I get started with Positive Behaviour Support in Cairns?

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.

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.

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Contributors

Written by Joel Cerdor GradDipPsych (Monash), GradCertICD (Vic), BCAI (Vic), CertIIIFit, Behaviour Support Practitioner, Cairns

Joel’s background is in psychology, community development, and creative arts. He takes a person-centred and practical approach, focusing on understanding behaviour within the context of each person’s environment, relationships, and lived experience. Joel supports NDIS participants with a range of complex presentations, including mental health, forensic, neurodevelopmental conditions, as well as acquired brain injury and dementia.

Reviewed by Indi Taylor PGDipPsych (JCU), BA/BEd (SCU), AdvDipCSC, Cert IV TAE, Senior Behaviour Support Practitioner and Team Leader, Cairns

Indi’s practice is grounded in person-centred, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approaches. She works with adults with complex presentations including ASD, psychosocial disability, neurodegenerative conditions, and post-stroke support, with a strong focus on dignity, freedom, capacity, and risk.