Positive Behaviour Support in Ipswich: Meet Brian Canning, Behaviour Support Practitioner
We can help you with Positive Behaviour Support in Ipswich, Queensland. We create freedom and social connection for people with disability through easy access to Positive Behaviour Support.
In Queensland, we support NDIS participants throughout Brisbane, Ipswich, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Wide Bay, and Far North Queensland. Get started with Positive Behaviour Support in Ipswich by making an online referral today.
In this interview, it’s our pleasure to introduce Brian Canning, who has been providing Positive Behaviour Support in Queensland for a number of years — previously in Brisbane and Wide Bay and now in Ipswich.
Meet Brian Canning, Behaviour Support Practitioner in Ipswich, Queensland
Hi Brian, we’re so happy to have you on our team in Ipswich! Tell us about you.
I'm delighted to have the opportunity to work in the Ipswich area as a behaviour support practitioner. I live here with my wife, as well as our Golden Retriever, Knox, and our two black cats — Sylvester and Eleanore.
I'm currently studying to become a psychologist, and the lessons that I've learned in this role have been invaluable in building my framework for supporting people living with mental health diagnoses. I enjoy working with people, and this role allows me to place people at the centre of my work.
What do you love most about living in Ipswich?
Living in Ipswich has all the charm of a small town with the convenience of living in the city. It's out of the way of the Brisbane bustle, and the countryside is right around the corner. I love being able to get out to the Scenic Rim for a hike, and I love the selection of local cafes, restaurants, and small businesses that are on offer. There feels to be a greater sense of community in Ipswich compared with larger cities, and it's apparent in the laid back and welcoming attitude of the people who live here.
What are some of the key principles which guide your work as a behaviour support practitioner?
I have a couple of principles which are at the heart of every service I provide to participants, but above all, I believe in the importance of putting the individual and their wishes at the centre of a behaviour support service. When I begin working with somebody, I like to learn all about them — such as their interests, their living environment, their aspirations, the challenges they face, and their relationships. By painting a clear picture of the person and their own goals, I aim to deliver a service which caters to their specific needs, and which empowers them to live a more fully realised lifestyle.
About Positive Behaviour Support
How would you explain Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) to someone who has never heard of PBS?
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) provides a perspective on behaviour, which aims to understand an individual's behaviours as a form of communication. For everything that we don't have the words for, we usually have a behaviour.
By considering all the factors which influence a person's behaviour, Positive Behaviour Support aims to understand a person's communication and provide guidance around the best practices for how to support them, and to help them achieve their goals.
In your role as behaviour support practitioner, when funding allows, you develop a behaviour support plan for each person you support. What exactly is a behaviour support plan?
A behaviour support plan intends to distil a person's preferred support style and their support needs into a single, easy to understand document. The PBS plan aims to identify the “why” behind behaviours, to contextualise why the behaviour occurs and the function it serves for the person.
Once this is established, strategies will be introduced and trialled with a person and their key supporters, to proactively address this behaviour. This may involve adjusting their environment, routine, altering interaction styles, or teaching the person a new skill. The plan is a live document which changes over time to best suit their relevant needs.
How do you gather information for a behaviour support plan?
The information within the behaviour support plan is gained through a variety of channels:
- Behaviour assessments with the person's support team
- Consultation and direct observation with the person themselves
- Working in tandem with other members of their allied health team such as a Speech Therapist and Occupational Therapist
- Review of documentation provided by other supporters.
How are parents, carers and other support people involved in Positive Behaviour Support?
Direct supporters are an essential part of implementing a behaviour support service. From the beginning of the service, parents, carers, and others are consulted directly to shape the direction of the service, and to set expectations around goals.
The people in these roles are responsible for the implementation of the strategies developed by the behaviour support practitioner. It is the responsibility of the behaviour support practitioner then to provide training and guidance around the best way to implement these strategies, and to work with the team to make amendments and adjustments as necessary.
Can you share an example of a diagnosis or behaviour of concern and how Positive Behaviour Support can help?
One of the strengths of Positive Behaviour Support is its flexibility. As behaviour support focuses on placing the person at the centre, diagnoses and behaviours are merely a part of that larger picture.
By seeing the person for the individual they are, rather than simply a collection of behaviours, we can support them regardless of the challenges they face. This means this service can be effective for a variety of diagnoses — from developmental diagnoses such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), to cognitive disorders such as Schizophrenia and Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Positive Behaviour Support in Ipswich, QLD
As a behaviour support practitioner in Ipswich, what is important to you when you start working with new NDIS participants?
I value face to face time with people when beginning a new service. I understand that part of the challenge of living outside the Brisbane city area is that support isn’t always easily accessible, and it can feel isolating when searching for the right services. As such, I enjoy having the opportunity to meet people in person when possible, and establishing that rapport right off the bat!
Where in Ipswich or Brisbane do you provide Positive Behaviour Support?
I provide Positive Behaviour Support in Ipswich and the surrounding suburbs such as Redbank, Bundamba, Brassall, Woodend, Tivoli, Raceview, Blackstone and Leichardt, as well as more rural areas like the Scenic Rim. I'm also happy to provide my services in neighbouring Brisbane suburbs too.
Do you focus on supporting NDIS participants with specific diagnoses or age groups?
I've had the pleasure of working with all age groups from a variety of backgrounds, and with a variety of diagnoses. As a young man of 30 however, I find that I have an aptitude for building understanding connections with young men and boys with ASD and ADHD especially. I've found that the best approach with this demographic has been to avoid an authoritarian style in favour of a more relaxed and amicable one. This allows me to build rapport through mutual respect and as such, receive more cooperation and involvement from them in turn.
How to get started with Positive Behaviour Support in Ipswich
How can NDIS participants in Ipswich get started with 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.
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.
About Ability Consultants
Ability Consultants is a Registered NDIS Provider in Ipswich. We support NDIS participants and private clients throughout NSW, QLD, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.
We primarily provide Positive Behaviour Support however we also deliver psychology support in parts of Australia, including psychology assessments and therapy.
About Positive Behaviour Support
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