Sarah is a qualified Social Worker who started with Open Minds in 2012 as a Support Worker.  She has held various roles within Open Minds, however quickly began to specialise in complex care support. Sarah has previous experience working in a legal profession and volunteer roles supporting parents with children who have disabilities.

Sarah is our Lead Behaviour Support Specialist and continues to work with clients who have complex care needs while also providing support to our other Behaviour Support Specialists in focusing on achieving positive outcomes for all our clients. By collaborating with clients, carers, and all other stakeholders involved in the client’s life, Sarah works to develop a positive behaviour support plan. The plans Sarah writes include the agreed way to best support a client to improve their quality of life, independence, and reduce any restrictive practices that may be in place.

Sarah said: “The best part of my job is when the strategies I’ve laid out in the plan work, and I can see the client now has more choice and independence in their life.  My goal is to always focus on improving the quality of life of the people I work with, while reducing or eliminating any restrictive practices placed on the individual.”

Alicia is a qualified Social Worker with 9 years’ experience in the community setting. She has previously held roles supporting refugees and asylum seekers. 

Alicia started with Open Minds in 2014 as a Case Manager working both internally and across external organisations supporting individuals experiencing complex situations. Alicia provides internal support across Open Minds teams assisting with complex client situations. Alicia also works with clients under the NDIS receiving Improving relationship funding. This includes completing functional behavioural assessments to develop positive behaviour support plans both with and without restrictive practices.

Where possible, Alicia will always seek to gain the involvement and views of the client. Including involving the individual’s support persons throughout the plan development. Alicia provides ongoing support and involvement throughout the duration of the plan.

Alicia said: "What I love about working at Open Minds is collaborating with clients and their existing supports to reduce or eliminate restrictive practices, which ultimately means they can live a happier and more independent life."

Rebecca began working as a Support Worker in 2009 and has undertaken a variety of roles within the industry since then. This includes working as a Team Leader, NDIS Consultant, and a Care Coordinator before eventually moving into the positive behaviour support space.  

Rebecca focuses on building strong rapport and trust with customers, their guardians and support teams, and all other stakeholders to ensure a holistic and connected service. Rebecca will complete direct and indirect assessments to construct a Positive Behaviour Support Plan, and will implement strategies and monitor these throughout the duration of the plan.  

Rebecca said: “I was attracted to positive behaviour support as it allows me to provide specialised support to our customers to improve their quality of life. I can now dedicate my time to understanding our customers better and what they need from their support, and it’s always rewarding to see the plan beginning to change people’s lives for the better.”  

Tony started with Open Minds in 2017 as a Case Worker with our PHaMs program after graduating from a Bachelor of Social Work (Minor in Mental Health). Tony then went into a Specialist Support Coordinator role in early 2018, where he worked alongside clients with complex care needs. Tony recently obtained a role within the Specialist Services Team as a Complex Supports Advisor where he works closely with Managers, Team Leaders and support teams within Open Minds to provide advice and strategies to best support our most complex clients to minimise risks and improve their quality of life.

Tony is also one of our Behaviour Support Practitioners, working with clients under the NDIS in developing a Positive Behaviour Support Plan (PBSP). Tony works closely with the client and their support network to complete functional behavioural assessments to develop these plans with and without restrictive practices. Tony will also complete training with the client’s support team with implementing the strategies outlined in their PBSP’s.

Tony said: “I love to take on challenges in my job and this role can certainly give me that. The best part of my job is when I can see my client’s improving their lives and can start seeing them achieve their goals.”

Linda is the newest member of the Open Minds’ Behaviour Support Team. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge and skills built from over twenty years’ experience working within the community services sectors in New Zealand and Australia. Linda has extensive experience and skills working alongside people with an intellectual disability or dual diagnosis and providing positive behaviour support and staff training within this area.
 
Linda is passionate about person-centred individualised support that is responsive to the person’s needs and addresses the underlying causes of behaviours of concern while upholding and safeguarding the dignity and quality of life of the person. She gains great personal satisfaction and enjoys working collaboratively to achieve goals and outcomes for the person.
 
Linda’s favourite quote is:
“when we look for the reason behind behaviour (or, what the behaviour is communicating), we place ourselves in a much better position to support the person rather than simply manage behaviour. When  we support the person, we enable positive communication and greater well-being for all.” Elissa Plumridge, 2020.

Jacenta started in Positive Behaviour Support in 2017 when she began implementing behaviour support plans as a support worker for individuals with complex presentations who needed assistance transitioning out of home and/or re-engaging with the community after living in highly restrictive environments. Inspired by the potential for transformation, Jacenta pursued a role working directly in the positive behaviour support in 2019 and has since finished her Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) in 2020 to support her clinical skills in the space.

Jacenta said “I want to see positive change for both my clients and the industry. I am passionate about improving the lives of those who experience a complex disability and/or mental health condition through advocacy, education, collaboration and integration of supports to achieve a common goal: optimum quality of life.”