Sector Training Activities

Is there a better way? Exploring positive behaviour support in response to challenging behaviour

Have you ever wondered why people behave in challenging ways?

Would you like to explore some different thinking about how to respond to people who can behave in challenging ways?

You may have heard about the new ‘Voluntary Code of Practice for the Elimination of Restrictive Practices’ for the disability sector.

Are you wondering what the Code is all about?

Are you concerned about what it means for a person’s safety, their family or the services which support them?

Then “Is there a better way?” is for you!  This is a two day workshop to explore the new Code of Practice as well as Positive Behaviour Support.  “Is there a better way?” will bring together service providers and families to learn, and to start talking about how to work towards the best outcomes for people who can sometimes be tricky to support.  A link to the code is available at www.ddc.org.au/new-events/

You’ll come away with answers to the question ‘what is restrictive practice?’ as well as ideas for different strategies to get better outcomes for people.  You could also come away with a bucketful of inspiration and hope for the future when it comes to supporting people whose behaviour can sometimes challenge us.

This initiative is funded by the Disability Services Commission as support for the Voluntary Code of Practice for the Elimination of Restrictive Practices.

Who should attend: 

Staff from disability support organisations who are responsible for setting policy, staff training and/or orientation and managing support workers.

Family members of people with disabilities and where possible a key   person (eg. Coordinator/support worker) from the organisation who supports them.

About the presenters:  Two of the following people will present at each session

Jaquie Mills — Jaquie is a former high school teacher with a Master of Education in the area of Emotional Intelligence.  As a senior coach with Vela Microboards Australia, Jacquie has worked primarily with people with challenging behavior where other strategies have failed.

Susan Stanford — Susan’s professional background is as a physiotherapist and a teacher in metropolitan, rural and remote WA settings.  From 1997—2008, Susan worked within Local Area Coordination, including in a District Manager role.  For the past five years, Susan has worked with families to develop the Microboard model and Vela Microboards Australia within WA.

Leanda Syme — Leanda is the Managing Director of E-QUAL (Enhancing Quality) and has education and psychology qualifications.  Leanda has extensive experience in developing training and consulting with people with disability and other stakeholders to improve outcomes.

Jackie Softly — As a parent of a young man with intellectual disability, and grandparent of a little girl with Autism, both of whom are uniquely verbal, Jackie has close to three decades of lived experience in communication and behaviour support. She also has extensive professional experience in disability, including as a trainer developing and delivering training to government employees, teaching staff, support workers, child care workers, people with intellectual disability, families of children with disability and primary school students.

Bronwyn Pike — Bronwyn has worked within a variety of human services with her focus on supporting individuals and families to plan, develop and self-direct their supports. Her current role has seen her working closely with families to co-design a family partnership model of support specifically targeted towards families who are living with challenging behavior.

In addition to the presenters several families who have been actively involved in the development of these workshops will be participating and assisting with the presentations.