Meet Lara, the dedicated Acting Team Leader for Positive Behaviour Support and Social Worker based in Queensland. With a commitment to helping others, Lara brings enthusiasm and expertise to her role every day, guiding both her team and participants through their individual journeys toward growth and independence. 

Lara’s day begins with a blend of excitement and unpredictability. “An average day for me is not average by any means—I am always kept on my toes,” she shares. As Acting Team Leader, Lara’s mornings might involve writing Interim or Comprehensive Positive Behaviour Support Plans, providing training sessions to in-home support teams, or collaborating with schools to implement strategies for neurodiverse students. 

 Having previously worked as a Social Worker in the school system, Lara now leverages that experience within the NDIS framework, supporting participants in the education sector. “I love collaborating with schools on how to implement strategies both in and out of the classroom to support neurodiverse students,” she says. Her ability to blend her social work background with positive behaviour support makes her role both unique and impactful. 

Lara’s recent move into the Acting Team Leader role has added another layer of fulfillment to her work. “I love supporting my team to build their clinical excellence and skills to deliver quality supports to our participants,” Lara explains. Each member of her team brings diverse experience and expertise, and Lara finds great satisfaction in helping them grow professionally. Whether it’s through one-on-one mentoring or leading group training sessions, Lara’s leadership is centred around empowering her team to excel in their roles. 

As the day continues, Lara shifts focus to direct participant support. Her work is deeply person-centred, tailored to the specific needs of everyone. One of the aspects she loves most about her role is that no two interactions are the same. Despite the legislative requirements, each session is unique, reflecting the diverse needs and goals of her participants. 

Lara recalls a particularly challenging yet rewarding experience with a participant who attended a Special Assistance School. Through careful observations, Lara determined that the environment was not supportive of the student’s needs as aligned with their diagnoses. “It took a lot of trust from their family, but we were able to successfully transition to distance education,” Lara shares. The transition was a success, and now they are working on building the participant’s capacity to handle challenging situations, ensuring they can enjoy outings and activities with their family without becoming overwhelmed. 

Lara’s journey into the disability sector was unexpected but rewarding. “I didn’t choose to work in the Disability sector, it chose me!” she says. After working as a Social Worker in schools, the role of a Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner caught her eye, and she hasn’t looked back since. The role’s emphasis on person-centred support, creativity in problem-solving, and the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives resonate deeply with Lara’s values and skills. 

If you are interested in a career with LiveBig, view our careers page.