Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner in Cairns: Meet Elisa Capaldi

It’s our mission to make Positive Behaviour Support easier to access and we’re truly grateful for our team of behaviour support practitioners in Cairns. If you'd like support from a Positive Behaviour Support practitioner in Cairns, please feel welcome to make a referral by clicking the image below and completing a short referral form. 

Today we’re chatting with Elisa Capaldi, who is a behaviour support practitioner Cairns, supporting NDIS participants in Cairns and Far North Queensland.

Meet Elisa Capaldi, Positive Behaviour Support practitioner in Cairns

Elisa, welcome to the team in Far North Queensland. Tell us about you!

Hello from FNQ! Well as you see, my name is Elisa but I often just get El or E! As a child, I spent a lot of time in Mareeba as my nonno and nonna (grandfather and grandmother) had a farm and I would help out, along with my parents. It was always very busy! My grandparents on both sides of my family migrated from Italy into Australia, but unfortunately I do not speak any Italian although I have started to try and learn! I have an amazing daughter and two amazing nieces who are all very close and love to have fun together!

Things I enjoy are exploring, especially waterfalls with a swimming hole. I much prefer freshwater over a beach, although I am not opposed to a beach either, especially where the water is clear! I enjoy sitting in the water with a cool beverage in my hand! I also enjoy watching and playing sports — I play hockey socially and like to watch the V8s and NRL (and sometimes AFL!). I also like to fish and camp, but I spend more time feeding fish than actually catching them!

On a professional level, I have worked in health for over 15 years in a variety of clinical and non-clinical roles, and have been a nurse for nine years working mostly in community and aged care. As a nurse, I have been privileged to do both clinical work as well as management and policy nursing. One of my proud moments was setting up the first fully bulk-billing clinic in a small rural community which has provided many benefits to those in need.

In my other roles, I teach student nurses and I have my own small business providing nursing care for clients across all ages. I am passionate about health and wellbeing, both on an individual and community level. I take a holistic approach, looking at the physical, social, emotional, financial, cultural and spiritual considerations.

I am currently a member of the Primary Care Commissioning Panel where we meet to discuss healthcare needs of North QLD and am a member of various professional bodies including the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association where I am a member of their Nurse Advisory Panel.

What do you love most about living in Cairns?

I have lived in FNQ all my life with the exception of just over one year where I moved to Brisbane for work. But, I missed FNQ far too much and returned — there really is no place like FNQ! I missed not being able to go to a freshwater swimming hole or waterfall, especially because in Cairns I can travel just over an hour and reach some beautiful places but I found in Brisbane I would travel an hour to reach another concrete city! Cairns is very well positioned — we have access to amazing rainforests, reefs, eucalypt forests and waterfalls.

Behaviour Support Practitioners often have backgrounds in medicine or allied health — you have experience as a Registered Nurse working in community and aged care. How has your experience shaped your approach to Positive Behaviour Support?

Working in community and aged care, I have worked with many individuals and been exposed to many aspects of health, wellbeing and medical conditions. This includes behaviour support. Whilst working in community and aged care, I have worked with individuals who are living with disability, mental health, dementia or Alzheimer’s, conducting assessments and care planning to best support the individual and their significant others.

I ensure the individual and their significant others are at the forefront and the leader in their care. Working with diverse clients and conditions has given me a good foundation to transfer my skills specifically into the behaviour support space. I am passionate about not just looking at the physical matters for a person, but the social, emotional, mental, financial and cultural and working towards a persons wellbeing.

The role of a Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner in Cairns

You’ve supported individuals with dementia, Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Can you share how a Positive Behaviour Support practitioner could help an individual with dementia?

Absolutely! People living with dementia have symptoms which may include memory loss, difficulty problem solving or completing daily activities, changes in mood and personality and challenges with writing or verbalising. Other symptoms, particularly as dementia progresses, may include disinhibition, agitation and aggression. Having nursing assessments specific to behaviour can greatly support someone living with dementia and their significant others. Changes to support behaviour could be small such as changing the colour of an item, using signs and pictures, adjusting a routine or changing how a task is performed.

What is the role of a Positive Behaviour Support practitioner in a person’s support team?

As a Positive Behaviour Support practitioner, we work with an individual and their significant others who are at the centre of care. The Positive Behaviour Support practitioner will work with other health professionals and support staff in order to best support an individual requiring behaviour support.

A Positive Behaviour Support practitioner helps to understand behaviour and implement the right supports, ensuring an individual has choice and control. The aim of Positive Behaviour Support is to assist individuals to live the life they choose, ensuring individuals are able to continue to access the community, partake in activities of daily living and to learn new skills.

Positive Behaviour Support can be an ongoing support or short term, and practitioners will work with individuals and their significant others to develop a behaviour support plans and can be there to support through any health care and support needs.

Far North Queensland is a large place — how do you coordinate to ensure the best outcome for your client?

I am based in Cairns and aim to be flexible in how I provide Positive Behaviour Support. For example, where it is appropriate I am able to do online consults if face-to-face is not possible. For those individuals who are outside of Cairns, I aim to see multiple clients in a day in order to save on travel costs for all. I currently provide services in Cairns and surrounds, Mareeba and Tablelands, Douglas and Cassowary Coast.

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

Once onboarded, my priority is to engage with individuals and significant others in a way that is meaningful for you. I strive to be flexible and accommodating, and to deliver not only high-quality care and professional services, but to be kind, understanding and compassionate with sprinkles of fun!

How to get started with a Positive Behaviour Support practitioner in Cairns

How can NDIS participants in Cairns and surrounds, Mareeba and Tablelands, Douglas and Cassowary Coast 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.

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About Positive Behaviour Support

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

About Ability Consultants

Ability Consultants is a registered NDIS provider in Cairns. We create freedom and social connection through easy access to Positive Behaviour Support. Find us in NSW, QLD, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia. Visit our website to learn more about our behaviour support practitioners.