Behaviour Support Practitioners Australia (BSPA) is a national not for profit member organisation representing behaviour support practitioners across Australia.
Our mission is to advance evidence-based behaviour support in Australia through representation, support, and accountability for practice that is person-centred, safe, effective, and culturally responsive. Our overarching goals are to promote excellent practice and enhance understanding of behaviour support principles nationwide. To achieve this, we focus on influencing policy and practice, fostering collaboration and reflective practice, and raising the profile of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS).
BSPA is striving to become the leading voice for behaviour support practitioners and consequently our endeavours in 2025 are focused on the process and options to establish BSPA as the peak body and accrediting body in Australia.
Our board of directors and membership encompasses a broad range of professionals with expertise in positive behaviour support practice, research, and policy, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of our field and the shared commitment to improving outcomes for the people we support.
Our diverse membership comprises professionals working across various settings, all dedicated to these core principles and the delivery of high-quality behaviour support. We offer a range of membership categories to support individuals and organisations in the field.
BSPA is focussed on practice excellence and is invested in the development of high-quality PBS practices by its members, regardless of whether they are state, federal, or privately funded.
In Australia, the biggest single funder of PBS is the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). PBS is, however, recognised by a range of funders including the education system, aged-care, state-based motor vehicle accident insurance, and private funding.
BSPA has been established independently to the NDIS to represent the voice of behaviour support practitioners. However, it is seeking formal linkages with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission to promote a shared agenda of high-quality behaviour support leading to good lives for people with disability, upholding human rights and reducing and eliminating restrictive practices.
BSPA’s mission is to advance evidence-based practice in behaviour support across Australia; through representation, support, and accountability for person-centred, safe, and effective practice that upholds and protects the human rights of those receiving support.
To support this mission, the board have developed a BSPA code of conduct to serve as a guiding framework for all behaviour support practitioners.
The purpose of the code is to:
This aligns with BSPA’s values:
The Code reinforces BSPA’s core values and commitment to a culture of practice that champions dignity, inclusion, and positive outcomes for people with disability.
Dr Erin Leif is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Educational Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Education, at Monash University. In this role, she coordinates the Master of Applied Behaviour Analysis course, and teaches graduate level coursework in behaviour assessment, behaviour support, and evidence-based practice. Erin’s work places a strong emphasis on the critical importance of upholding and safeguarding the inherent dignity, equality, and freedoms of every individual. At the core of her research lies a deep commitment to promoting social justice and inclusivity, ensuring that the rights of all people, but particularly people with disabilities, are recognised and protected. Erin’s current research focuses on ways to help parents, teachers, and behaviour support practitioners use positive, preventative, evidence-based practices when supporting people with diverse learning needs in home, school, and community settings. Her research interests include positive behaviour support, multi-tiered systems of support, trauma-informed behaviour support, and universal design for learning.
Dr Alinka Fisher (BDisRehab, PhD) is a Senior Lecturer in Disability and Community Inclusion within the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University. She began her career as a Developmental Educator specialising in PBS for people with disability, with 18 years of practice-based experience in the field. She coordinates and lectures in PBS within the Bachelor of Disability and Developmental Education and Graduate Certificate in PBS, Flinders University. Alinka completed her PhD in PBS for adults with brain injury, with a focus on family involvement. She is an active researcher in this field, and a regular presenter at national and international conferences.
Matt Spicer is a Psychologist and Board Approved Supervisor in Psychology, with over 25 years of experience using PBS for people with disability and complex needs. He is a registered Behaviour Support Practitioner with the NDIS and has contributed as an expert panel member for the establishment of the capability framework for Practitioners. He has presented at national and international conferences on PBS and Trauma Informed Practice for people with disability and has also published in peer reviewed journals and textbooks on these topics.
Dr Geoff Potter (Ph.D., BCBA) is the joint founder and Chief Clinical Officer of The Centre for Positive Behaviour Support, a nationwide behaviour support service. He is a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst and has worked in Positive Behaviour Support for over 32 years. Geoff’s area of expertise is Non-Linear Multi-Element Behaviour Support. He has a research interest in non-aversive situational support and contingency analysis and has been involved in the development of Restricted Practice Systems for governments and providers for over 20 years. Geoff has also published and presented at several international conferences.
Troy Fa’oa is a behaviour support practitioner, accountant, and senior executive with over 15 years working across disability services, operational leadership, and organisational development.
Troy brings a disciplined financial governance lens to the BSPA Board, leveraging his background as a public practice accountant and registered tax agent. He is focused on strengthening the Association’s financial sustainability, improving internal controls, and ensuring clear, accurate reporting to members.
Troy brings a strong financial governance lens to his role on the BSPA Board, drawing on his background as a public practice accountant and registered tax agent. He is committed to strengthening BSPA’s financial sustainability and internal controls and ensuring transparent reporting to members and stakeholders. His combined expertise in disability practice, business operations, and finance enables strong strategic oversight and supports BSPA’s long-term credibility and growth.
Jo McRae (BBS (Psych), Dip Couns.) is a Lecturer in Disability and Community Inclusion within the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Flinders University. She contributes to content development and lectures in positive behaviour support within the Bachelor of Disability and Developmental Education and the Graduate Certificate in Positive Behaviour Support. Jo started her career as a crisis counsellor and began specialising in PBS for people with disability thirteen years ago. A former member of the BSPA practitioner representative panel (PRP), Jo has also contributed to numerous reference development groups, PBS resource project evaluations, communities of practice, and focus groups. Jo has a particular interest in promoting quality clinical supervision for behaviour practitioners. She is the director of Your Life Matters, delivering behaviour support, clinical supervision, training, and PBS consultancy across Australia.
Jenn Colechin is a Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst, Developmental Educator, and NDIS-registered Advanced/Specialist Behaviour Support Practitioner with over 25 years of experience in positive behaviour support.
Jenn's clinical practice is grounded in evidence-based and trauma-informed principles. She has extensive experience in disability and educational service development, design, and delivery. She has practiced within schools, community, out-of-home care, and family-based settings across government, public, and private sectors both domestically and internationally. She is the Director of Specialist Behaviour and the creator and host of the Behaviour Bits podcast.
Gerhard (Gary) is a psychologist, Psychology Board-approved Supervisor and registered behaviour support practitioner with over 40 years experience in providing tailored evidence-informed positive behaviour support and service development design and delivery for children and adults with the disability and complex needs, as well as in the child and family services and adolescent mental health sectors.
Gary is the co-director and principal clinician at SAL Consulting. He has developed and delivered a range of professional development training and resources and has presented at national and international conferences on PBS and Trauma Informed Practice and has particular interests in neurodevelopmental and attachment-informed practice, service development and practitioner supervision.
A skilled and qualified Chief Executive and psychologist with specialisation in the not-for-profit sector, Jon established his own business and private practice in April 2016. As the founder and director of Koa Community, Jon provides therapeutic supports and behaviour support services to people with a disability. It engages 25 allied health practitioners to deliver supports to over 250 people with disabilities. Jon provides clinical supervision to all practitioners operating under the registration of his organisation.
Jon is an experienced psychologist having registered in 1995 and has been involved in both research and the delivery of diagnostic and clinical services. He has specialised the area of autism and positive behaviour support. Jon is a registered Behaviour Support Practitioner under NDIS and is also a registered Medicare provider. He has operated as senior practitioner for organisations providing specialised advice and support and supervision of behaviour support practitioners. He delivers training on contemporary approaches to positive behaviour support and the use of restrictive practices.
Matt Moonier brings over a decade of experience across the mental health and disability sectors, blending expertise in behaviour science with a strong background in business development and organisational growth. He has focused his career on applying behavioural principles and project management approaches to help new and growing organisations establish sustainable, efficient, and values-driven operations. Matt is passionate about translating science into practice and has contributed to strengthening service quality, workforce capability, and the integration of cross-cultural awareness within organisational systems. Clinically, he specialises in supporting school-aged children and adolescents through person-centred, culturally-sensitive, evidence-based approaches. Matt is a Certified Behaviour Analyst in both North America and Australia. With his unique combination of behavioural expertise and strategic acumen, Matt is ideally positioned to guide BSPA into its next chapter of growth and impact.
BSPA also has State Chapter Leaders. This is a group of volunteers passionate about PBS who will be facilitating and connecting with existing PBS Communities of Practice across Australia.
If you want to keep connected with local networking opportunities and state-based events, please join us.
Now available: BSPA's Supervision Hub
Have you explored the Supervisor Directory?
BSPA is excited to introduce the BSPA Supervision Hub, a new member resource designed to strengthen supervision and practice across the behaviour support sector.
The BSPA Supervisor Directory provides eligible members with a national search platform to locate and connect with clinical supervisors; based on information such as experience, areas of practice, location, online availability and supervision approach.
BSPA Webinar series
"Strengthening Supervision. Strengthening practice."
As part of BSPA’s ongoing Webinar Series 2026, BSPA is offering a 1.5‑hour online webinar presented by BSPA Chair, Dr Erin Leif moderating a credentialled panel including specialist supervisors Sharon Paley, Jon Martin and Jo McRae.
Registrations are closing Tuesday 28th July, for the upcoming webinar; exploring the role of clinical supervision in building practitioner capability and supporting quality behaviour support practice.
📅 29th July 2026 3:00-4:30PM (Adelaide time)
🎟 Free for members RSVP here
BSPA Webinar series
"Strengthening Supervision. Strengthening practice."
As part of BSPA’s ongoing Webinar Series 2026, BSPA is offering a 1.5‑hour online webinar presented by a credentialled panel including specialist supervisors Sharon Paley, Jon Martin and Jo McRae.
Registrations are now open for the upcoming webinar; exploring the role of clinical supervision in building practitioner capability and supporting quality behaviour support practice.
📅 29th July 2026 3:00-4:30PM (Adelaide time)
🎟 Free for members RSVP here
Preparing images for upload
This short tutorial aims to help you optimise your image so that is has appropriate dimensions and as small a file size as possible.
Know where your image is saved
Your image must be saved onto your computer and sitting somewhere in your computers file system. It doesn't matter where, as long as you know where it is.
If your image is currently attached to an email, you will need to save it into your computers file system.
We recommend having it saved on the Desktop for easy access.
Correct image dimensions
To check your images dimensions and file size, you can right-click on it and choose 'Properties'.
The recommended dimensions and file size for images uploaded to a BSPA calendar event are:
Width: between 600px & 900px
Height: between 350px & 600px
File size: less than 300kb
If your image dimensions are bigger than this, you can modify them in the next steps, but if they are smaller then you'll need to find another image.
Import image into online editor
If you are familiar with editing images in Photoshop or some other program, then simply use that program to modify the image so it is within the specifications listed in Step 2.
If not, then we recommend to use 'Photopea' which is a free full featured online image editor.
Click here to open: photopea.com
After it opens in a new browser tab, drag your image from your Desktop (or wherever you have it saved) onto the Photopea page. You can also click the "Open From Computer" link and browse through your computers file system to find and upload the image.
Modify image dimensions if needed
In the Photopea top menu, click Image > Canvas Size. It should open this box:
My sample is image mich taller than it is wide, so I'll reduce the height to make the image square.
In the height box, I'll enter "4128" so that it matches the width, then click OK. This has now cropped the image from the top and the bottom equally.
If the action of your image is all in the top part or bottom part of the image and you don't want to crop into that, then use the "Anchor" tool to tell the editor where to "anchor" the crop from. If you only want to crop the top part of the image, then click the bottom middle square on the Anchor before clicking OK and it will only crop the top of the image. This also works the same if you want to crop the left or right side of an image.
Reducing size and exporting
In the Photopea top menu, click File > Export as > WEBP. It should open this box:
Here you need to enter new dimensions, as per the recommendation in Step 2. Note that the Width and Height boxes are linked, so that when you change one, it will automatically update the other correspondingly. This is to ensure that the image does not get distorted from it's overall dimension ratio.
In the Width box, I'll enter "600", then I'll change the Quality from 92% down to 80%.
This has now updated the resulting file size which is shown at the bottom of the image. As you can see, it is well under the maximum file size of 300kb.
So now, click the Save button, give your image a meaningful name, preferably something similar to the name of the event, and save it onto your Desktop (or other preferred location on your computer).
You now have an optimised image ready for upload to your BSPA event.