MEET THE TEAM

Director

Behaviour Support Practitioner

Psychologist

Stephen is a Behaviour Support Practitioner/Psychologist. He has a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) (Hons), Bachelor of Science (Biomedical) and Masters of Professional Psychology.

Stephen has experience supervising and training Behaviour Support Practitioners. He has over 8 years' experience providing Positive Behaviour Support and Psychology services across child safety, forensic, mental health, independent living, family, and community environments with neurodivergent populations. He enjoys working with young people and adults and their support teams to achieve a better quality of life. Stephen also has an extensive background in support work and team leadership. He has worked across government, non-government and private practice roles and settings across his career. Having a family member with a disability and a rural background, Stephen understands the importance of accessibility and equity, and is passionate about the role of quality services and supports in improving quality of life.

Stephen enjoys working collaboratively and proactively, with a strong focus on values to develop relationships and help support improvements in quality of life and reductions in restrictive practices. He likes to incorporate aspects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy into his work.  

In his spare time, Stephen enjoys spending time with his wife, dogs, and family, playing the piano, travelling, and going to the gym. 

Senior Behaviour Support Practitioner

Kris is an advanced level Behaviour Support Practitioner with over 10 years’ experience in collaborating with people with a disability and their supports to assess, develop and implement Positive Behaviour Support Plans. Kris is passionate about active support and embedding supported decision making into practice, and he has a highly person-centred and strengths’-based approach to supporting people towards their goals. Kris’ work as Behaviour Support Practitioner is grounded by his experience in providing direct support, management, and coordination across roles with people with a disability over his 20-year career. 

Kris has extensive experience in navigating complex systems and brings excellent interpersonal skills, expert knowledge, and a genuine passion for improving the life of participants to his clients and their supports. His populations of interest include people with neurodevelopmental disabilities, including those with co-occurring conditions. Kris enjoys working with people of all ages. 

Kris has provided mentorship, training, and supervision to Behaviour Support Practitioners across skill levels and enjoys fostering practice and development in positive behaviour support.

In his spare time Kris enjoys cooking, training at the gym, lawn care, and spending time with his family and friends.

Behaviour Support Practitioner

Counsellor

Yasmin is a registered Counsellor and Behaviour Support Practitioner. Yasmin has a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and Master of Counselling. 

Yasmin is soon to commence counselling with Positive Shift. Her interests are children and young people with ASD/ADHD, improving social skills and anxiety/depression. Yasmin is passionate about mental health and aims to bring her clients to a safe space to express their needs and aspirations.

Yasmin is also a Behaviour Support Practitioner with a background in support work. She has experience working with adults, young people and children with complex physical and mental health needs. She is passionate about working with her clients to achieve their goals and improve their quality of life. 

Yasmin is highly adept at building relationships and fostering growth in participants and their supports. 

In her spare time, Yasmin likes spending time with her family, friends and any dog she can find. She enjoys spicy food, Pilates, streaming Below Deck, travelling and seeing live music. 

Behaviour Support Practitioner

Anjeli is a dedicated Behaviour Support Practitioner holding a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours), who has been actively involved in the field of disability since 2019. With a multifaceted background that spans both therapy and support work modalities, Anjeli brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities.

Anjeli's journey in this field began with her work with Autistic children and their families in a behavioural therapy role. Here, she honed her skills in understanding and addressing the unique needs of each child. Transitioning to support work, Anjeli expanded her expertise, working with children and adults who had various physical and mental health needs. Her interest in challenging behaviours and her drive to comprehend complex presentations naturally led her to become a Behaviour Support Practitioner after completing her studies.

Anjeli is particularly passionate about working with children and young people, aiming to enhance their psychological safety, relationships, and overall quality of life through a trauma-informed approach. She believes that understanding the neurobiology of trauma is essential in addressing behaviours of concern, especially in those who have experienced potentially traumatic events. By focusing on evidence-based practices through a trauma-informed lens, Anjeli strives to collaboratively drive strong and positive outcomes for her clients.

Beyond her professional life, Anjeli is known for her bubbly and approachable personality. She finds joy in martial arts, exploring the outdoors, travelling, and spending time with her dogs.

Behaviour Support Practitioner

Annick is a Behaviour Support Practitioner/Provisional Psychologist with extensive experience working with clients of all ages and backgrounds. She holds a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Honours Psychology) and a Master of Professional Psychology and is currently furthering her expertise by pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Neuroscience.

Annick has worked as a Provisional Psychologist, Behaviour Support Practitioner and Support Worker with neurodiverse clients for over 10 years. Her diverse professional background reflects her strong commitment to client wellbeing, particularly in supporting individuals with complex needs. Being fluent in both English and French, Annick enhances accessibility for her diverse clientele.

Annick takes a compassionate, collaborative, and client-centred approach in her work, tailoring interventions to the unique strengths and challenges of each individual. She works closely with clients, families, and multidisciplinary teams to implement positive behaviour management strategies, always prioritising dignity, inclusion, and quality of life. She is passionate about empowering individuals to achieve their personal goals and independence while also assisting families in recognising and fostering their loved one's potential.

Beyond her professional commitments, Annick enjoys running, taking her dog on walks, and travelling. She has a keen interest in neuroscience and true crime documentaries and finds relaxation in painting on canvas when time permits.

Behaviour Support Practitioner

Iris is a Behaviour Support Practitioner with Honours in Psychological Science from the University of Queensland.

Iris has worked as a Psychological Assessment Coordinator in a

mental health clinic, as well as a Behavioural Therapist and Psychological Recovery Coach at different community services. 

For almost four years, Iris has worked with adults, teens, and children by integrating a range of theories and

practical skills from diverse psychotherapy traditions, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), and psychological and psychoeducational evaluations.

In her spare time, Iris plays the flute, enjoys playing tennis and likes to take her two dogs on walks. 

Behaviour Support Practitioner

Jessica is a Behaviour Support Practitioner and Provisional Psychologist. She is currently studying a Master of Clinical Psychology.

Jessica is particularly passionate about mental health for children and adolescents. Her populations of interest include culturally and linguistically diverse young people, and those that identify as LGBTQI+. She aims to create and maintain safe and affirming environments for her clients so that all people can access the services that they desire and receive support that respects and celebrates their individual identity. 

Jessica values person-centred and trauma-informed care and works hard at building positive working relationships with clients and their supports.

In her spare time, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family and friends, dancing, listening to music, and reading.

Psychologist

Adela is an AHPRA Registered Psychologist, Board-Approved Supervisor, and Advanced Behaviour Support Practitioner. She has worked in various settings including private practice, educational spaces, government, and not-for-profit organisations. She has an interest in working across the lifespan with the philosophy that people continue to evolve and grow across each developmental stage. Adela is trained in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), solution focused therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), and utilises a tailored, evidence-based approach with each individual client.

At Positive Shift, Adela will be available to offer NDIS assessments including Behaviour Necessity Assessments, Psychology Assessments (DSM-5 assessments, cognitive assessments, diagnostic assessments), as well as Functional Capacity Assessments.

In her free time, she enjoys practicing pilates and yoga, as well as cooking and eating great food.

Behaviour Support Practitioner

Lisa is dedicated to applying collaborative evidence-based practices to improve outcomes for neurodivergent individuals of all ages. Lisa’s experiences as a parent of neurodivergent children became her driving force behind her passion to facilitate successful outcomes for all clients. 

Lisa works closely with families and stakeholders to navigate the complexities of the NDIS and collaboratively advocates for capable environments and supports with appropriate funding, multidisciplinary practice, and access to vital supports. Lisa is particularly passionate about improving outcomes for her clients by advocating for and collaborating with therapeutic and health supports within the Positive Behaviour Support journey. 

With 10 years of disability experience, professional development, lived experience, and currently studying a Graduate Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis, Lisa brings a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience to her clients, seeking to ensure that they have highest quality evidence-informed Positive Behaviour Support. 

Lisa has a love/hate relationship with camping and enjoys long walks in nature with her 35 kilo Labradoodle while listening to true crime podcasts.