At LiveBig, our practitioners are passionate about making changes in the lives of the people they support. Lakshan Athukorala, a Behaviour Support Practitioner based in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, is no exception. With a background that includes working in rural Aboriginal communities across South Australia and Western Australia, Lakshan brings unique experience and commitment to his work every day.
Driven by Purpose
Lakshan’s decision to enter the disability support sector came from a simple but powerful motivation; to advocate for society’s most vulnerable. Throughout his career, he has consistently championed the rights and wellbeing of those who need it most, helping to create safer, more empowering environments for participants and their support networks.
A Typical Morning as a Behaviour Support Practicioner
No two days are quite the same for Lakshan. His mornings often start with client appointments, where he meets with participants and their families to review behaviour support plans and ensure strategies are working effectively. He also leads caregiver training sessions, equipping support workers with the tools and knowledge to best assist their clients.
Care team meetings and regular communication with stakeholders are also a key part of Lakshan’s day, ensuring that everyone involved in a participant’s care is aligned and working together toward shared goals. “Being in touch with clients and stakeholders is so important to making sure we’re truly advocating for each person’s needs,” Lakshan explains.
Making a Difference
One particularly memorable success story for Lakshan involved a participant whose movement in his wheelchair was being unnecessarily restricted by his support workers. After a careful review and advocacy efforts, Lakshan successfully had the restrictive practice removed, increasing the participant’s independence.
Moments like these highlight the real-world impact of person-centred behaviour support, and they are the reason practitioners like Lakshan are at the heart of LiveBig’s commitment to empowering lives.
If you are interested in a career at LiveBig or would like to find out more on positions available, click here.
