Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner on the Gold Coast: Meet Mariam Cetin

Learn more about your local Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner on the Gold Coast: Mariam Cetin. Mariam is an NDIS Registered Behaviour Support Practitioner supporting NDIS participants throughout the Gold Coast, from Coomera and Helensvale through to Southport and Burleigh Heads.

Hi Mariam, welcome to our team of behaviour support practitioners on the Gold Coast! Tell us about you!

Thank you so much! I’m truly excited to be part of such a passionate team here on the Gold Coast. I originally trained as a psychologist, with experience across clinical, emergency mental health, addiction services, child and family therapy, and community settings. Alongside my psychology background, I’ve worked closely with multidisciplinary teams and families, which has shaped my practical, person-centred approach.

At the heart of my work is a deep belief that every person deserves to feel understood, respected, and empowered. I’m passionate about supporting individuals not just to reduce behaviours of concern, but to build meaningful, fulfilling lives.

You have qualifications in counselling and community services as well as a Bachelor in General Psychology and Masters in Personality Psychology. What drew you to these fields?

I’ve always been curious about human behaviour, what shapes it, what sustains it, and how people grow through challenges. Studying General Psychology gave me the scientific foundation, while my Masters in Personality Psychology deepened my understanding of individual differences, how temperament, experiences, and environment influence who we become.

Counselling and community services drew me in because they bring psychology into real life. They focus on connection, advocacy, and practical change. I wanted to work directly with people, families, and communities, not just in theory, but in ways that create visible, meaningful outcomes.

How has your experience in clinical, emergency mental health and community settings influenced your approach to supporting people living with disability?

Working in emergency and clinical mental health taught me to stay calm, compassionate, and solution-focused, especially during high-stress situations. It reinforced that behaviour is communication, particularly when someone doesn’t yet have the skills, language, or regulation to express their needs safely.

Community work strengthened my belief in collaboration. No one works in isolation. Real progress happens when families, support workers, therapists, and participants work together with a shared understanding and consistent strategies.

With people living with disability, I bring a trauma-informed, strengths-based lens. I look beyond the behaviour to understand the “why,” while also building practical, achievable supports that fit into everyday life.

Through your experience in psychology what important lessons have you learnt about working with children and adults with disabilities?

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to listen first. Every individual is unique — what works for one person may not work for another.

I’ve also learned that progress is not always linear. Small steps matter. Celebrating those small wins builds confidence, motivation, and trust.

Most importantly, I’ve learned that dignity must always come first. Our role is not to control behaviour, it’s to understand it, teach new skills, and create environments where people feel safe, valued, and capable.

Positive Behaviour Support on the Gold Coast

What difference can Positive Behaviour Support make in a person’s life?

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) can be life-changing. It shifts the focus from “managing behaviour” to improving quality of life.

When we understand why behaviours are happening and proactively teach new skills, we reduce stress for the participant and their support network. This can lead to greater independence, improved relationships, increased community participation, and a stronger sense of confidence and autonomy.

PBS empowers people, it gives them tools, voice, and choice.

Some participants and families are new to Positive Behaviour Support — can you provide a few examples of strategies that might be included in a person’s behaviour support plan?

Absolutely. Strategies are always individualised, but examples may include:

• Teaching emotional regulation skills (e.g., recognising feelings and using calming strategies)
  
• Developing communication supports (e.g., visual schedules, choice boards, key-word signs, or Augmentative and Alternative Communication strategies)
  
• Adjusting the environment to reduce triggers and increase predictability
  
• Building daily living skills to increase independence
  
• Training support staff and families to respond consistently and calmly
  
• Creating proactive routines that prevent escalation before it happens

The goal is always to reduce restrictive practices and increase skill-building and positive engagement.

Do you support specific NDIS participants on the Gold Coast?

I support both children and adults across a range of disabilities, including psychosocial disability, autism, intellectual disability, and complex mental health presentations.

My background in personality psychology and clinical settings allows me to confidently work with complex and high-needs presentations, while my counselling experience strengthens my ability to build meaningful, trusting relationships with families and multidisciplinary support teams.

As a native Farsi speaker and someone who can also communicate in Turkish, I am able to connect more deeply with families from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, helping them feel understood, respected, and supported throughout the process.

Our admin team does a great job supporting NDIS participants through the referral and paperwork process. Once the paperwork has been squared away, what can NDIS participants and their families expect from you as their behaviour support practitioner?

Once everything is approved, I’ll be in touch within five working days to introduce myself and arrange our first meeting.

Our first session is simply about getting to know you , what’s working well, what feels challenging, and what goals are important to you. I’ll spend time understanding daily routines, talking with key people in your support network, and gently collecting information to see patterns and triggers.

From there, I’ll create a practical, easy-to-follow Behaviour Support Plan tailored to real life not just paperwork.

You can expect clear communication, regular check-ins, ongoing adjustments if needed, and genuine support every step of the way.

Participants and families can expect warmth, professionalism, and collaboration.

I begin with building rapport , getting to know the person, their strengths, their goals, and what truly matters to them. From there, I conduct thorough assessments and work closely with the whole support network to develop a practical, easy-to-follow Behaviour Support Plan.

I prioritise:

• Clear communication
  
• Regular follow-ups
  
• Staff training and coaching
  
• Realistic, achievable strategies
  
• Ongoing review and adjustment as needed
  

My aim is for families and participants to feel supported, heard, and confident, knowing they are not navigating challenges alone.

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Positive Behaviour Support on the Gold Coast: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make a referral for Positive Behaviour Support on the Gold Coast?

Get started by making a behaviour support referral on our website. From there, our team will be in touch with further information.

What is Positive Behaviour Support?

Positive Behaviour Support transforms your quality of life by building new support strategies, skills and behaviours to meet your needs and goals. Click here to view our articles and videos where we explain Positive Behaviour Support and PBS Plans.

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

We can help you identify if you have behaviour support funding in your NDIS plan, click here to view our articles about NDIS funds.

Where are your clinics on the Gold Coast?

Ability Consultants is a Registered NDIS Provider on the Gold Coast.

We travel to you, whether that’s at home, school, supported accommodation, or another comfortable setting in the community. Our goal is to meet you where you feel most at ease.

Do you deliver Positive Behaviour Support in all Gold Coast suburbs?

We support NDIS participants throughout the Gold Coast, including but not limited to:

Southport, Surfers Paradise, Labrador, Robina, Varsity Lakes, Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach, Miami, Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach, Nerang, Coomera, Helensvale, Pimpama, Upper Coomera, Hope Island, Runaway Bay, and surrounding suburbs.

How do you deliver culturally safe Positive Behaviour Support on the Gold Coast for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities?

Delivering culturally safe support means more than just understanding behaviour, it means understanding culture, values, family systems, and lived experiences.

I begin by listening. Every family’s cultural background shapes how they view disability, behaviour, mental health, and support services. I take time to understand those perspectives and ensure strategies align respectfully with cultural beliefs and practices.

This may include:

• Ensuring clear and comfortable communication
  
• Adapting strategies to align with family values and parenting styles
  
• Being mindful of migration experiences, trauma, or systemic barriers
  
• Ensuring families feel heard, respected, and empowered in decision-making
  

Cultural safety means families never feel judged or misunderstood. It means creating a space where identity, language, and traditions are respected, while still delivering evidence-based, high-quality Positive Behaviour Support.

The goal is partnership, working together in a way that feels safe, inclusive, and culturally responsive.

How can I get started with Positive Behaviour Support on the Gold Coast?

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.