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Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner
Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist
 

My journey into Positive Behaviour Support has been shaped by many different “tesserae” - pieces of experience, education, professional practice, and lived understanding that together form the foundation of my approach.
 

I bring together experience across disability, mental health, child development, psychotherapy, education, law, and lived experience to understand behaviour through a whole-person lens.
 

My practice is grounded in person-centred, neuro-affirming, trauma-informed, and evidence-based approaches, recognising that behaviour is communication and meaningful support begins with understanding the individual.
 

A Whole-Person Approach to Behaviour
 

Behaviour does not occur in isolation.

I consider the many factors that influence a person’s ability to communicate, regulate, participate, and feel safe, including:

✓ Neurodevelopment and brain differences
✓ Mental health and emotional wellbeing
✓ Trauma and life experiences
✓ Sensory processing
✓ Nervous system regulation
✓ Communication needs
✓ Physical health and environment
✓ Relationships and support systems
 

Understanding these pieces allows us to develop strategies that address the reason behind behaviour, not just the behaviour itself.
 

Autism, Neurodiversity & Complex Support Needs
 

Being neurodivergent and As a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist, I have a strong interest in supporting neurodivergent individuals and helping families and teams understand:

✓ Neurodivergent communication styles
✓ Sensory processing differences
✓ Executive functioning
✓ Masking and burnout
✓ Demand overload
✓ Emotional regulation
✓ The importance of autonomy and psychological safety
 

I work with children, adolescents, and adults with diverse needs, including autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, psychosocial disability, acquired brain injury, neurological conditions, and complex behaviours requiring coordinated support.
 

Mental Health, Trauma & Nervous System Understanding
 

With over 10 years of experience in mental health and wellbeing, my work is informed by therapeutic frameworks including:

✓ Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) informed approaches
✓ Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
✓ Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) informed strategies
✓ Mindfulness-based approaches
✓ Integrated  Psychotherapeutic approaches
✓ Somatic and nervous system regulation principles

This supports a deeper understanding of how stress, trauma, anxiety, physiological arousal, and protective responses influence behaviour.
 

I incorporate psychoeducation to help individuals and support networks understand concepts such as regulation, co-regulation, fight-flight-freeze responses, and the connection between the brain, body, and behaviour.
 

Family, Education & Lived Experience
 

Before becoming a PBS Practitioner, I spent over six years as Head of an Early Learning Centre, supporting more than 100 children with diverse developmental profiles.
 

This experience developed my understanding of:

✓ Early intervention
✓ Inclusive environments
✓ Child development
✓ School collaboration
✓ Supporting educators and families
 

My lived experience as a parent of three children, now teenagers and young adults, also shapes my practice.
 

It brings a realistic understanding of family systems, caregiver stress, and the importance of strategies that work in everyday life.
 

Supporting a close family member with permanent vision loss has further strengthened my understanding of disability, adjustment, accessibility, and the importance of dignity and independence.
 

Advocacy, NDIS & Report Writing
 

My background in law provides a strong foundation for:

✓ Analytical reasoning
✓ Evidence-based documentation
✓ Risk formulation
✓ Advocacy
✓ Understanding legislation and systems

Combined with extensive NDIS experience, this supports the development of comprehensive Functional Behaviour Assessments, Behaviour Support Plans, and Assessment Reports that clearly identify support needs and promote meaningful outcomes.
 

My Commitment
 

Positive Behaviour Support is not simply about reducing behaviours of concern.

It is about understanding the person, supporting their environment, building meaningful skills, protecting their rights, and improving quality of life.

I believe that when every piece is understood, the whole picture begins to change.