Aoife has over 15 years’ experience in the support of people with disabilities and their families. She is passionate about the human rights aspect of supporting those without a voice to have it heard. Aoife moved to Australia in 2010 having worked as a teacher and then an educational psychologist. She worked with Scope Australia and the University of Melbourne to deliver training in PBS to over 300 behaviour support practitioners. She was also part of a team who worked with Swinburne University to develop virtual reality training in PBS for support workers. Born in Ireland, she is passionate in her support of the Irish rugby union team. She is a mother to three young children and enjoys exploring Victoria and beyond in her family’s camper trailer. She is an avid reader and lover of music.

Nick is a psychologist with more than 25 years’ experience supporting people with disabilities, their families, and their communities in which they live. Respecting the person and their lived experience is what he sees as important. Nick is a practitioner and researcher with a special interest in intellectual disability mental health. He is a writer of several research papers, chapters, and books, contributes to professional networks, and presents at national and international conferences. He is passionate about supporting the practice of other practitioners through mentoring and supervision and the organisational and workforce development of PBS. Nick loves cooking, all things music, and a stroll through his hometown city of Melbourne.

Mark works closely with individuals to bring the PBS ingredients of evidence, values, and teamwork to support someone with behaviours of concern. He believes the voice of every individual needs to be heard and listened to and that voice should guide all supports. Mark has over twenty years’ experience working with people with intellectual disabilities. Mark is a registered psychologist who has co-authored peer reviewed journal papers, practice guidelines and resources, and presented at conferences nationally and internationally in the areas of mental health and disability. On some weekends Mark is also known to play guitar in some of Melbourne’s local bands.

Andrea has over 20 years’ experience working with people with disabilities and their teams. She moved to Australia in 2003 having previously practiced in the UK providing support to people with multiple disabilities and complex needs. Andrea is committed to bringing people together to effect real change and improvement in the quality of life for people with disabilities. Her background in Occupational Therapy brings to the team specialist skills in sensory processing, engagement in meaningful activities and environmental change. Recently, Andrea worked with Scope Australia and the University of Melbourne to deliver positive behaviour support training to over 300 practitioners. Home life is busy with two young adults to keep up with. She enjoys exploring nature, walking her dog and gardening.

Susan is an Occupational Therapist and Behaviour Support Practitioner. She has an interest in sensory processing and how people can be involved in their own sensory assessments. Susan works with the individual and their wider teams to help them understand the importance of connection and the sense of safety. She applies the principles of Polyvagal Theory and interpersonal neurobiology within the Positive Behaviour Support framework. Susan trained in Oxford. She is a consultant with BILD UK and accredited to run the BILD Coaches program to develop practice leaders for organisational PBS. Susan lives in the Grampians and enjoys reading, being in nature and yoga. These sustain her and give her the energy to continue exploring new ideas and perspectives to help everyone live the life they choose.

Alex has over 20 years’ experience supporting organisations, disability professionals and people with disability to grow and thrive. With a background in Speech Pathology, she is passionate about all people being heard, understood, and respected. Her approach embodies her deep commitment to empathy, acknowledging people’s inherent dignity and strengths and collaboratively finding creative ways to improve people’s lives. Alex has experience in research, teaching, quality and risk management and governance. She is a consultant for the British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD) PBS Coaches Program and was instrumental in designing and delivering one of the first courses for Behaviour Support Practitioners with the University of Melbourne. Her life is enriched by being in nature, teaching mindfulness and meditation, spending time with dogs and making people birthday cakes.

Fatima is a multilingual Psychologist and Behaviour Support Practitioner with over eight years of experience in therapeutic support. She is eager to make a difference in the lives of others and has a special interest in working with culturally and linguistically diverse people. Fatima provides positive behaviour supports focussed on improving the quality life of participants. She also provides focussed psychological supports for which she uses various therapeutic interventions (e.g., Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Solution-Focused therapy) to address issues surrounding trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, and other complex presentations. She extends caring, genuine support to the people she supports through strong therapeutic alliances. She brings positive energy to the workplace, enjoys being social, and loves tending to her indoor plants, which she carefully prunes and nurtures to bring joy to her and others.

Natasha is a Psychologist and Behaviour Support Practitioner, who has supported people with disabilities and their families for over 14 years. She has worked in both NSW and Victoria in providing specialised services to children and adults with psychosocial disabilities and behaviours that challenge. She is a passionate about supporting others to identify ways in which the quality of a person’s life can be strengthened and working together to achieve this. She is also passionate about looking at creative ways to support people to engage in the learning process - such as through working on a project with Scope Australia in partnership with Swinbourne University, which involved the development of virtual reality training in PBS for support workers. When she is not working, Natasha enjoys discovering new cuisines and recipes, and travelling to various destinations to explore all the world has to offer. Natasha is also an avid dog enthusiast and Melbourne advocate.

Giovanni is a Behaviour Support Practitioner. He has thirty years’ experience working with people with disability in Australia, Italy, Central and South America. Giovanni speaks English, Italian and Spanish, he is also a Key Word Sign presenter, and he is genuinely interested in all forms of communication. Giovanni is passionate and experienced in giving a voice to and listening to everyone. He believes that everyone has something valuable to offer, and that everyone deserves to live the life they want. He has a strong ethical, cooperative approach to his work, and he likes to establish trustworthy, meaningful relationships with individuals, families, and their wider support networks. Giovanni lives in the Macedon Ranges, he likes growing food, cooking, baking sourdough bread and pizza, reading, listening to music (Blues!) and being an active and positive contributor to his community.

For more than a decade, Kirsten has supported people with disabilities to achieve their goals. She uses person-centred and strengths-based approaches, with the aim of enhancing quality of life. Kirsten’s background in occupational therapy brings the importance of meaningful activities, capable environments, and capacity building to her behaviour support practice. She values the relationships built with the person and their support networks to enable collaborative approaches to change. Kirsten loves entertaining friends and family at home, taking nature walks with her son, experimenting with décor and caring for her budgies.

Kirsty is a Psychologist and Behaviour Support Practitioner. She loves to work systemically as part of a multi-disciplinary team to support people to live their best lives. She has worked in the UK in the National Health Service as a Clinical Psychologist and Child Psychologist. She has extensive experience conducting comprehensive assessments, formulations and delivering interventions to children, young people and their families in child and adolescent mental health services. Kirsty loves exploring new places, cake, coffee, reading and being outdoors, as well as yoga and swimming.

Caoimhe is a Behaviour Support Practitioner with a commitment to disability advocacy and a holistic outlook to behaviour support. With a background in health psychology, she considers various factors affecting well-being, ensuring interventions not only address behaviours but also enhance overall health. Caoimhe's passion for health promotion complements her advocacy for people with disabilities, empowering people to thrive and reduce the need for intense behaviour support. She values collaboration, developing personalised approaches with individuals, families, and support networks. Outside work, she enjoys nature through hiking and water sports, reflecting her holistic approach to behaviour support, which integrates various factors to foster positive change and well-being.

Jacinta is a Psychologist and Behaviour Support Practitioner, who has supported neurodivergent people and people with disabilities for over 10 years. Jacinta has worked with individuals across the lifespan in a variety of roles, including early intervention and disability support work. Having worked directly with behaviours that challenge in a disability support capacity, Jacinta brings this experience in the development of behaviour support strategies that are practical, implementable, and enhance the person’s quality of life. Jacinta has a particular interest in working with neurodivergence and approaches her support through a neuroaffirming lens, working with a person’s strengths and differences to achieve positive outcomes. When she is not working, Jacinta enjoys spending time with her son and family, going on outings and visiting the local café’s for Sunday brunch.

Phoebe has a background in Rehabilitation Counselling and has specialised experience supporting people with deafblindness and unique sensory needs. Her strengths are in combining counselling and case management skills with person-centred, values-driven frameworks to assist people in fulfilling their potential, obtaining meaning and purpose, achieving independence and increasing their quality of life. She is passionate about people doing more of whatever they find most meaningful and engaging. For Phoebe, this looks like dancing, weekend getaways to the beach, and enjoying good food with family and friends.

Cate is a speech pathologist and behaviour support practitioner with more than 25 years’ experience supporting people with disabilities and their teams. She has a special interest in supporting people with complex communication needs to communicate for a range of reasons with whomever they wish to, from day-to-day choices to the bigger decisions, to chatting or being together. She also trains communication partners to be attuned and support the person’s understanding and interactions, to form supportive relationships. She values the positive teamwork and connections she forms with people she supports and their support networks, to enable the best quality of life for the person. She is passionate about people with disability having a meaningful, connected and happy life of their choosing, where they feel a sense of belonging, and to be supported in ways that encourage this. She has a strong person- centred and human rights focus. In her spare time, Cate enjoys singing in her local community choir, playing the piano, and sharing the musical experiences Melbourne has to offer with friends. She also loves time at the beach with her family and dog.

Nayanthi is a highly skilled Business Support Manager with more than ten years of experience in improving operations across diverse business environments. With over nine years in the disability sector, she has gained valuable insight into the unique needs of therapy practices. She excels at combining efficient administrative processes with outstanding customer service, ensuring that both clients and practitioners receive the support they need. Nayanthi’s customer- and practitioner-focussed approach helps create a supportive environment and significantly enhances the overall experience for everyone involved. Nayanthi holds a Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences and a Graduate Certificate in Business Psychology. Outside of work she loves spending time with her husband, daughter, and fur baby, going for walks, dancing , step aerobics, live theatre, eating chocolate and being a part of a long-standing book club.

Hugo is a provisional psychologist with over ten years of experience supporting children and adolescents across clinical, school, and community settings in Peru and Australia. He brings a strong foundation in trauma-informed practice, functional behaviour assessment, and inclusive education. At Trellis, Hugo supports the delivery of Positive Behaviour Support by integrating his background in clinical psychology with his experience in school-based behaviour intervention. He is passionate about fostering environments that promote self- regulation, resilience, and social connection for neurodivergent individuals.

Dilhan is a provisional psychologist with a keen passion for supporting individuals with behaviours of concern. He has over three years' experience as an NDIS support worker. Dilhan has a particular interest in anxiety- related difficulties, including supporting individuals with OCD and phobias. He emphasises a respectful and collaborative approach to ensure a shared decision-making environment. This focus intends to empower individuals to acquire the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to overcome their challenges and to develop a fuller and values-consistent life. In his personal time, Dilhan loves spending time with his two dogs; Zuko and Mavi, perfecting cooking recipes, and enjoying sports.

Vignesh is dedicated to empowering participants by fostering positive opportunities that help them reach their full potential and navigate challenging behaviours effectively, ensuring they achieve meaningful, personal goals. With over four years of experience in coordinating SDA initiatives, Vignesh has collaborated with various stakeholders to advocate for participants needs and secure essential support. Fluent in multiple languages, Vignesh holds a master’s degree in biotechnology and bioinformatics plus other diplomas, with a strong interest in neurological sciences and the connection between neural function, daily habits, and behaviour. A passionate lifelong learner, Vignesh actively engages in training programs to refine the skills needed to become an expert frontline practice leader and a proficient positive Behaviour Support Practitioner. Beyond work, Vignesh enjoys spending quality time with family, gardening, exploring world stock market economics, and pursuing a passion for numismatics.

Anna is a compassionate and dedicated Behaviour Support Practitioner with a deep commitment to advocating for the needs and desires of the individuals she meets. With a background in health psychology her strengths lie within combining evidence-based practices with a holistic approach to care, considering the physiological, psychological and social aspects of peoples’ lives, ensuring improvement in their quality of life across all spheres. She is passionate about making a difference in people’s lives, fostering meaningful connections and working collaboratively in a team environment to create personalised solutions. Outside of her professional life, Anna enjoys staying active and spending time with friends. She thrives in the competitive nature of Irish Gaelic football, enjoying the camaraderie and team spirit. Through both her work and hobbies, she embodies a strong sense of empathy and teamwork and a drive to make the world a more inclusive and supportive place.

Ribeka is a multilingual Counsellor and Behaviour Support Practitioner, fluent in English and Tigrinya. Known for her deeply empathetic and caring nature, she is a strong advocate for her clients’ rights and well-being. Ribeka brings over ten years of experience working with young children, adolescents, and young adults. She takes a holistic approach to her practice, with expertise in behaviour support, family violence recovery, stress and anxiety management, depression, trauma recovery, and low self-esteem. Ribeka values collaboration and works closely with multidisciplinary teams, families, and support networks to deliver comprehensive, person-centred care. In the disability sector, she integrates her counselling knowledge to develop personalised behaviour support plans that aim to reduce behaviours of concern while building skills and supporting overall well-being. Outside of her professional role, Ribeka enjoys catching up over coffee, going on long nature walks, and attending church on Sundays.

Khushboo is a Behaviour Support Practitioner with over five years of experience in the disability sector, supported by a background in social work, counselling, and case management. She has worked with individuals across the lifespan, supporting those with complex behavioural and mental health needs through practical, person-centred strategies. Khushboo values collaboration and takes a calm, compassionate approach to building trust with individuals, families, and teams. She is passionate about creating meaningful change by empowering people to live with greater independence and dignity. Outside of work, Khushboo enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, practising yoga, and connecting with nature.

Finleigh is a highly motivated Behaviour Support Practitioner with a background in early childhood education and a person-centred, holistic approach to behaviour support. She has experience working with diverse client groups and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement tailored interventions that promote positive, sustainable outcomes. Currently studying a Master of Psychology, Finleigh is committed to continuously enhancing her therapeutic practice through ongoing education, training, and practical experience. She is passionate about disability advocacy and promoting quality of life, striving to empower individuals to thrive while reducing the need for intensive behaviour support. Finleigh values collaboration and works closely with individuals, families, and support networks to co-design practical, meaningful strategies. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, doing all things art and crafts and going on adventures in nature with friends.

Cameron is a dedicated Behaviour Support Practitioner with a strong foundation in psychology, youth work, and mental health. He brings a wealth of experience from diverse settings, including behaviour support, mental health services, and employee wellbeing programs. Across all roles, Cameron maintains a compassionate, person-centred approach that prioritises dignity, respect, and individual empowerment.

He is deeply committed to helping individuals make meaningful, lasting changes in their lives. Cameron thrives on collaboration and creative problem-solving, developing practical strategies tailored to each person's strengths and goals. He values a team-based approach and focuses on outcomes that support long-term wellbeing, independence, and resilience.

Outside of work, Cameron enjoys staying active, experimenting in the kitchen, winding down with movies and TV shows, and spending quality time with friends and family.