Governed by the Health Records, Assist Disability Services is committed to comply with the Privacy Act 1988, the Information Privacy Act NSW 2002, the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014, and the Public Records Act 1973.
We have obligations under professional and ethical codes of practice to protect the confidentiality of health information.
The Privacy Act contains 13 Australian Privacy Principles (APP) which regulate the way we collect, store, provide access to, use and disclose personal information. which specify how organisations may gather and use personal information.
A description of the way in which we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information is set out in our full Privacy Policy, which complies with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). Our full Privacy Policy is available here.
We collect personal information to allow us to provide key services and keep community members and their support teams informed. The types of information collected can include contact details, date of birth, medical details, bank details, driver’s licence details, and employment information.
We collect information about clients, guardians, families, and friends of Assist, as well as other relevant parties. In most circumstances we collect this information directly from the person to whom it relates. Sometimes we collect information from public or third-party sources.
The information Assist collects is only used, held and disclosed for limited purposes and in compliance with the law, the APPs, and the terms of our Privacy Policy.
For further details, to access the personal information we hold about you, or to make a breach of privacy complaint, please contact our team via our contact form here
Shelley
Key Behavioural Support skills:
Spoken languages: English
Meet Shelley, Assist Disability Services’ expert Behavioural Support Practitioner based in the Central Coast and Sydney. With her Bachelor of Psychological Science and Master of Counselling, she brings a wealth of expertise to her role.
Shelley's background includes extensive experience as a behavioural support practitioner, as well as roles in counselling, leading youth groups with a focus on female youth, and experience as a crisis intervention operator with a National Suicide Prevention Organisation. This diverse experience has equipped her to work effectively with individuals of different backgrounds and circumstances.
Driven by personal connections to individuals with disabilities within her own family, Shelley is passionate about empowering people to reach their full potential and ensuring their unique ways of communicating their wants and needs are understood. Shelley was excited to join the team at Assist as there is great alignment between Assist’s values and her own.
With dedication and compassion, Shelley collaborates with participants to provide transformative care, helping them overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
Lesa
Key Behavioural Support skills:
Spoken languages: English
Meet Lesa, Assist Disability Services’ talented Behavioural Support Practitioner based in Newcastle. Backed by years of experience and a Bachelor of Psychology with Honours, you can be assured that Lesa is well equipped to provide exceptional support.
Lesa’s diverse career has seen her working in Child & Family Services in residential and case management and as a Behavioural Support Practitioner, managing a caseload encompassing a diverse range of client presentations and disabilities.
Lesa was initially drawn to working as a behavioural support practitioner as she was exposed to the role through her experience as a residential support worker. She loved the idea of being able to support and train carers, parents and a variety of stakeholders to better support their loved ones and clients through proven intervention methods.
Lesa finds fulfillment in her work within the behavioural support field as it allows her to contribute positively to the lives of people with disabilities and their support systems. Her passion for mental health, disability advocacy, and facilitating individual growth through capacity building and skill development drives her dedication to her role. Lesa was drawn to working for Assist because of the mission, values and commitment to serving all clients alongside the shared passion for showcasing meaningful change.
Choosing Assist means having Lesa; a caring and experienced Behavioural Support Practitioner, guiding and encouraging each participant she has the privilege of working with, every step of the way.
Keryn
Key Behavioural Support skills:
Spoken languages: English
Meet Keryn, Assist Disability Services’ talented Behavioural Support Practitioner based in Newcastle. With her Bachelor of Business, Certificate 3 in Children’s Service and Masters in Teaching (0-5 years), she brings a wealth of knowledge to her role.
Keryn has extensive experience working with children with disability. Before joining Assist, Keryn operated a Family Day Care service where she provided care to children aged 1-6 years old, living with various disabilities including Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Global Delays, Language Delays and ADHD.
Keryn believes that all children require individualised programs that integrate the support for their caregivers and professional input from additional allied health professionals they’re engaging with via their NDIS plan.
Keryn has been interested in understanding the background and reasoning related to children's behaviours, finding purpose and how this can be altered through skills and strategies. Her interests combined with her passion to advocate for independence for people with disability drew her into a career in behavioural support within the disability sector.
Keryn is dedicated to supporting people with disability in skill building to ensure their autonomy is promoted and they have the opportunity to live their life with less barriers and greater ease.
As a highly skilled behavioural support therapist with a passion for helping people, Keryn is an asset to the Assist team. She is dedicated to helping individuals achieve their communication goals and live their best lives.
Matthew
Key Behavioural Support Skills:
Spoken languages: English
Meet Matthew, Assist Disability Services highly skilled Behavioural Support Practitioner based in Sydney. Matthew has a Bachelor of Psychology and through his career has had the opportunity to engage with numerous NDIS participants. Matthew has found a real purpose working with people living with behavioural and intellectual based disabilities.
Matthew was drawn to the behavioral support sector and through his studies and career experience has developed the right skillset to work effectively with participants facing challenging behaviours.
Mathew understands the importance of taking an active role in each individual's behavioural support system, and understands barriers towards achieving milestones are overcome by maintaining a high standard of communication.
Matthew is passionate about working in the disability sector. He loves being a part of the Assist team as everyone supports one another through teamwork and collaboration to positively impact every participant's life.
With dedication and compassion, Matthew collaborates with participants to provide transformative care, helping them overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
Sarah
Key Behavioural Support Skills:
Spoken languages: English
Meet Sarah, Assist Disability Services talented Behavioural Support Practitioner based in the Gold Coast. Graduating with her Bachelor of Psychological Science and currently undergoing her Graduate Diploma in Counselling, Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge to her role.
Sarah's background encompasses diverse roles, from intensive family support to out-of-home care, where she delivered personalised, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive therapeutic aid. Her journey has taken her across remote and rural communities in Western Australia and Far North Queensland, engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. With a focus on case management and adept delivery of psychoeducation, Sarah has empowered vulnerable families and children grappling with complex needs.
An unwavering ally of First Nations Peoples, Sarah has observed firsthand the profound impact tailored interventions can wield in enhancing independence and life quality. Her passion for understanding the intricacies that come with human behaviour coupled with her love for holistic care has drawn her to working in the behavioural support field.
Her expertise extends to navigating the complexities of individuals with complex trauma and mental health concerns, including FAS-D, ODD, and RAD, while prioritizing culturally sensitive plans. Additionally, Sarah harbors a keen interest in guiding adolescents and youth in the juvenile justice system, fueling her dedication to creating an inclusive society.
Choosing Assist means having Sarah; a caring and experienced Behavioural Support Practitioner, guiding and encouraging each participant she has the privilege of working with, every step of the way. With her genuine care and dedication, Sarah is determined to help every participant achieve their goals and enhance their overall well-being and quality of life.
Lauren
Key Behavioural Support Skills:
Spoken languages: English and a little bit of sign language
Meet Lauren, Assist Disability Services’ Clinical Lead and Behavioural Support Practitioner. With her extensive experience and degree in Social Work, you can be assured that Lauren provides exceptional services and support to all of her clients.
Lauren has extensive experience in the disability and NDIS sector having worked as an NDIS Local Area Coordinator, an Allied Health and Business Development Manager and a Clinical Lead and Advanced Behavioural Support Practitioner.
Lauren loves working in behavioural support and the diversity that comes with her role. She enjoys being able to work with a variety of people aged from two to 65 years old, who are living with a range of different disabilities.
Lauren is passionate about working in the disability sector. She is extremely familiar with disability, as her husband is deaf and her son lives with autism spectrum disorder. Lauren knows life isn’t always fair, which makes her more willing than most to assist people living with a disability to live a fulfilling life. Lauren says working in behaviour support often means working with people who have either been let down by the system or misunderstood and she believes that everybody is deserving of a service when in need.
Lauren’s dedication, expertise, and genuine care makes her the right Behavioural Support Practitioner to support NDIS participants in achieving their goals.
