Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Practitioners are part of a Specialist Positive Behaviour Support team who have a variety of professional backgrounds including psychology, occupational therapy, speech pathology and social work.
Our PBS Practitioners specialise in Autism, understand complex needs and use a trauma informed approach to develop an understanding of behaviour based on assessment of the needs of the person to ensure each Autistic individual is able to live their best life.
We caught up with Michael to learn about his transition from Support Worker to PBS Practitioner within the Association and find out why he loves what he does.
What’s the first thing you do when you start your day to get into “work mode”?
Check my calendar and to-do list to see what the day ahead looks like.
Describe your role in 3 words:
- Challenging
- Rewarding
- Unique
What is the best thing about your role?
The role of a PBS Practitioner is very flexible and varied, meaning you can really make the role your own. My days do not look like anyone else’s at the Association and no two days are the same. I also love being part of a supportive and multidisciplined team within the Therapy and Clinical Services team.
Can you tell us what a day or week looks like in your role?
My time is spent between the office and the homes of the people I support. Although I am based at the Shenton Park head office, I do get out and about into the community during the week which I enjoy.
I offer support to a number of homes which I visit on a fortnightly basis. My role involves working with therapists and other staff to support Autistic people by building both their skills and the skills of the support team around them. Our team is passionate about improving the quality of life of individuals with Autism and working with families and carers to ensure long lasting change.
Every other month, there is a team meeting which involves everyone who is supporting the individual coming together in person. We also have regular supervision and PBS Academy meetings, where we come together as a team to share knowledge and best practice.
How did the PBS Academy support you to become a confident PBS Practitioner?
It was extremely helpful being supported and mentored by a knowledgeable PBS Practitioner and being able to learn from other Core Practitioners within the Academy. My confidence and ability certainly grew and developed thanks to this supportive network around me. The Association offers a lot of opportunities for learning and professional development to support both new members of the team and people who are willing to learn and improve on what they already know.
Are there any unexpected or spontaneous parts of your day that you enjoy?
It’s great when I get positive feedback about an individual I am supporting who has done something new that we have been working towards. I love hearing this news whether it’s expected or not.
Why did you choose a career in Autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is so vast in presentation, which I think makes it such an interesting branch within the disability support sector to work in, as it allows for so many opportunities to build different skills. Having studied Psychology, I have always been curious about neurodivergence and how that impacts upon different people.
What motivates you at work?
Doing the best I can for the people I support.
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in pursuing a similar role?
My best piece of advice is to be kind to yourself and others. It is going to take time for you to understand everything, and you and your colleagues will be busy. Know yourself and be organised but just remember to be kind; after all you are learning.
How do you like to spend time away from work?
Outside of work, I like to spend time with my friends and my cat. I am also quite creative and enjoy crafting.
Tell us something no one knows about you.
I am currently learning Afrikaans.
Learn more about the different roles at the Association, and how every person contributes towards supporting people with Autism and their families to live their best lives, on our Careers page.
Meet more of our TCS team members by clicking the link below: