ABILITY CONSULTANTS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Analyst
- Senior Behaviour Support Practitioner / Board Certified Behaviour Analyst / Team Leader
Akanksha Nayar Chhettri is a Behaviour Analyst (BCBA). She has previously worked at a centre in India from 2014 until 2018 and moved to Ghana in May of 2018 where she served as the Senior Clinical Supervisor at Autism Compassion Africa until 2021. When she first moved to Ghana she was one of two BCBAs in all of West Africa (which is roughly the size of the United States). Her responsibilities included helping run the centre in Cape Coast and to also do consultation work for clients in Nigeria. She is now a board member of Autism Compassion Africa.
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner / Psychologist
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner / Team Leader
Alex has been working within the disability sector since 2007 in a variety of roles and contexts. She also has an education background, working in schools as a Teacher's Aide (SLSO) before becoming a Special education teacher. This has provided her with diverse experience, across all ages, working with children and adults with disabilities, medical and mental health needs.
Alex is passionate about creating opportunities for people to improve their quality of life and reach their potential. Using her experience across settings, collaborating with all stakeholders, to implement consistent supports and strategies across home, school and community environments.
She is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner
Amanda has worked in the disability sector since 2005 in a variety of roles which include; Disability Support worker, Case Manager, a number of management roles in Aged and Disability services and most recently as a Behaviour Support Practitioner.
Amanda brings a diverse knowledge of many disabilities into the Behaviour Support field, and has enjoyed working with both children and adults with a range of intellectual and physical disabilities.
Amanda is passionate about holistically supporting her clients to live happy and full lives, as well as supporting carers and families to work together to achieve great outcomes.
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner
- Member of the Australian Counselling Association
With a background in nursing, Andi discovered her passion for behaviour support while working in dementia care in 2009. This experience led her to a role as a support coordinator, where she further honed her skills in assisting clients with complex needs. Seeking to expand her ability to help others, she retrained as a counsellor and now has a special interest in working with people with behavioural addictions.
As a member of the Australian Counselling Association, Andi brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role. Known for her creative approach, she tailors individualised solutions to meet each client's unique circumstances, helping them to navigate challenges and fostering resilience and independence. Andi is committed to client-centred care. She is deeply empathic and dedicated to empowering clients on their journey to increase overall well-being.
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner / Team Leader
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner / Team Leader
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner / Team Leader
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner / Manager, Business Development
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner
Brian has a friendly and caring nature with a focus on individualised care. He is currently studying for his Bachelor of Psychology with aspirations of one day being a practising psychologist.
Job Titles:
- Social Worker
- Behaviour Support Practitioner
Brooke is a qualified Social Worker and Registered Behaviour Practitioner with extensive experience in the Mental Health and Disability sector. She also has a range of experience in fields such as Suicide Prevention, Drug & Alcohol intervention, NDIS support services and General Counselling.
Utilising a Person-Centered approach, Brooke aims to tailor support to focus on the person's unique strengths and interests. Brooke brings a warm, friendly and caring nature making it easy to build relationships.
Brooke is passionate about promoting social justice and self-determination. She aims to support people to increase their independence, pursue their goals and develop their capacity to be able to live their best quality of life.
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner
Candice has worked within the community service field for over 20 years, focusing on the areas around community / social justice, disabilities, child / adolescent therapies, mental health in acute and community care settings, both non-government and government sectors.
Candice has a passion to support communities and families, understand and utilise "outside the box concepts and views" when working with others around us. Trying to help find the middle path to support safe, respectful communication and relationships.
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner
Chantelle is deeply committed to making a positive impact in the mental health and disability support sectors. Chantelle's approach is grounded in key values including being person-centred, she believes in the importance of tailoring support to the individual, recognizing their unique strengths and challenges. Goal-oriented support, she is passionate about helping individuals set and achieve meaningful goals, empowering them to thrive. Chantelle's ultimate aim is to enhance quality of life and contribute to the overall well-being and satisfaction of those she supports, fostering resilience and growth. With a focus on compassion and collaboration, Chantelle strives to create a supportive environment where individuals can flourish.
Job Titles:
- Senior Behaviour Support Practitioner / Team Leader
Chris was the Director of a multidisciplinary service provider for young adults with autism in the Sydney area. Over the years, he has had experience in supporting individuals with autism, leading diverse teams, and leading large projects. Chris has been a behaviour support specialist since 2014 and specialises in supporting individuals with autism (including other comorbidities). In his spare time, he is a teacher at a local RTO specialising in community service qualifications.
David has experience as a Residential Support Worker, Forensic Casework Specialist, Senior Clinical Consultant, and Behaviour Support Specialist while working for FACS (1999-2017). His passion is creating time and labour saving systems that make it possible to provide highly responsive person-centred services.
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner / Psychologist / Team Leader
Job Titles:
- Disability Support Worker
Job Titles:
- Senior Behaviour Support Practitioner
Roshini comes to Ability Consultants having worked as a Special Education Consultant, training teachers, parents, and other disability professionals in how to implement behaviour strategies and practice inclusion effectively. Since 2013, Roshini has worked in the field of intellectual disability and challenging behaviour. Roshini's Doctoral Thesis was entitled, "Student-Focused Planning and Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Knowledge, Perspectives and Experiences."
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner
Faye has a background in Primary Education, gaining experience in both mainstream and special educational settings. She has always implemented Positive Behaviour in Learning (PBL) throughout her teacher career and enjoys watching children reach their full potential with the correct guidance. Having recently completed further study in Psychology, Faye is passionate about using her knowledge and experience to ensure all individuals, no matter of the challenges they face, gain a happy and fulfilled life.
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner
Gracie has had dedicated service in the disability sector since 2014. Specialising in mental health disorders, PTSD, ASD, ADHD and various disabilities, she brings extensive experience to her practice. With a background blending education, psychology, and hands-on experience, Gracie implements effective behaviour modification strategies to assist individuals in understanding and managing their behaviours across diverse settings.
Gracie's unique approach recognizes the impact of systemic factors on individual behaviours. By addressing and improving these systems, she aims to minimise or eliminate challenging behaviours, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for her clients. Gracie's approach emphasises positive reinforcement, proactive strategies and fostering a supportive environment conducive to learning and growth. She is committed to providing compassionate, individualised support that empowers clients to lead fulfilling lives and participate meaningfully in their communities.
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner / Team Leader
Hayley's knowledge and experience in the disability industry in The Central West of New South Wales has built a strong foundation for her to collaborate with children and adult participants of the NDIS to meet their individual goals. Hayley specialises in the development and implementation of practical positive behaviour strategies, effective communication techniques and putting systems in place to review these to ensure the opportunities for success are optimised.
She ensures her recommendations are transparent, that implementation support is provided to all parties, to increase confidence and understanding, when supporting the person at the centre of the service. Hayley also has a strong interest in learning and professional development of her own skills and knowledge ensuring rural individuals have equal access to practical services that meet their needs.
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner
Hollie has been working in the disability sector since 2007. Hollie has a broad range of skills from managing multiple services within a leading UK charity for people on the autism spectrum.
Hollie is passionate about empowering individuals and believes every individual deserves the chance to fulfil their ambitions and dreams regardless of disability. Being formally recognised for her dedication and commitment ensuring the community services were compliant to the Care and Quality Commission in the UK, Hollie has specialised in supporting children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and secondary diagnoses.
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner / Psychologist
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner
Indi is passionate about supporting people with a disability to achieve their goals and live life to the fullest. Since 2013 she has worked as a student support officer, EAL/D teacher, special needs teacher and head of behaviour support in both NSW and QLD schools and has a particular interest in autism, multiple diagnoses and holistic support.
Indi enjoys the creativity, lifelong learning and innovation involved in behaviour support and is often found deep in study mode, devouring the latest research in psychology, sociology and assistive technology. Indi enjoys working within the rich support tapestry of families, schools and allied health workers to provide empowering plans which maximise client wellbeing.
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Support Practitioner
Job Titles:
- AHPRA Registered Occupational Therapist
- Registered Nurse - Mental Retardation ( 1976 ) and Psychiatric ( 1978 ) Program Officer Training ( 1987 )
As an Occupational Therapist, Analise has had experience working with neurodiverse individuals across the lifespan. She believes that all behaviour holds meaning and that relationships, connection, diverse life roles, and participation which matches the demands of a person's environment are the primary forces for creating behavioural change. She draws from her clinical expertise, observation, and assessment skills to develop and test hypotheses to create shifts in behaviour. Analise tries to develop a deep understanding of the function of behaviours so that she can provide people with more resources and replacements. She is committed to her professional development and seeks regular opportunities to learn from leaders in the field, particularly in the areas of ABI and Autism. She has experience in the assessment and prescription of Assistive Technologies which can support function and participation, as well as knowledge of sensory processing challenges and interventions.