Disability Life Management & Support Coordination Specialist

Supporting Veterans, NDIS Participants, and Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

Specialist Support Coordination for Veterans and NDIS Participants
Led by a Former Royal Australian Navy Veteran

As a former Royal Australian Navy veteran, I bring a wealth of experience and understanding to my role as a Specialist Support Coordinator. I specialize in providing higher-level support coordination for veterans and NDIS participants, particularly for individuals with more complex situations requiring tailored and expert guidance.

As your Specialist Support Coordinator, I will work closely with you to navigate challenges in your support environment, ensuring the consistent delivery of services that meet your unique needs. My approach includes:

Conducting comprehensive risk assessments of your current environment.
Providing one-to-one support for outdoor activities, with a focus on identifying safe vs. unsafe environments.
Educating on social norms, social cues, and how to confidently navigate public transport.
Supporting shopping education to develop independence and budgeting skills.
Teaching road safety, stranger awareness, and kitchen safety.
Offering risk assessments for your home to ensure a safe and supportive living space.

I am committed to empowering you with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to navigate your world safely and independently, while fostering personal growth and well-being.

HELPING OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN DEVELOP THEIR LOGICAL THINKING

Logical thinking is a fundamental skill that helps children understand the world around them, solve problems, and make decisions. For children with special needs, developing logical thinking can enhance their ability to process information, improve communication, and increase independence in daily life. Our tailored support services are designed to build these skills in a fun, engaging, and supportive way that meets the unique needs of each child.

Problem-Solving Activities

Puzzle-solving (jigsaw puzzles, logic puzzles, etc.).
Matching games to identify patterns and relationships.
Encouraging real-life problem-solving, like organizing toys by size, color, or type.
How This Helps: These activities help children learn to analyze situations, consider options, and choose solutions in a step-by-step manner.

Social Interaction and Play-Based Learning

Playing collaborative games that require turn-taking and strategy (e.g., board games, building blocks).
Role-playing activities to teach cause-and-effect reasoning in social situations (e.g., "What happens if I share my toy vs. if I don’t?").
Group activities that involve teamwork and problem-solving.
How This Helps: Play-based learning fosters logical thinking in a social context, helping children understand how their actions and decisions affect others.

Real-Life Logical Thinking and Decision-Making

Learning road safety rules and understanding cause-and-effect reasoning (e.g., "Why do we wait for a green light?").
Teaching budgeting and decision-making during shopping trips (e.g., "How many apples can we buy with $5?").
Problem-solving in the home environment, such as deciding how to organize toys or set the table.
How This Helps: By practicing logical thinking in real-life scenarios, children develop practical skills that promote independence and confidence.

Outdoor Exploration and Nature-Based Learning

Exploring nature to identify patterns in leaves, flowers, or rocks.
Using cause-and-effect reasoning to understand natural phenomena (e.g., "What happens when we water plants?").
Organizing outdoor scavenger hunts to encourage critical thinking and decision-making.
How This Helps: Nature-based activities encourage curiosity, observation, and logical reasoning in a real-world setting, fostering both cognitive and emotional development.

Developing Critical Thinking Through Storytelling

Reading stories together and asking questions like, "What do you think will happen next?" or "Why did the character do that?"
Encouraging children to create their own stories, focusing on logical flow and problem-solving in the narrative.
Using picture books to help children identify patterns or sequence events.
How This Helps: Storytelling promotes logical reasoning, comprehension, and creativity, helping children connect ideas and think critically.

Using Technology to Build Logical Thinking

Educational apps and games that focus on problem-solving, sequencing, or critical thinking.
Coding games and activities to teach children how to think systematically.
Interactive storytelling apps that allow children to make choices and see the outcomes.
How This Helps:
Technology-based activities can capture a child’s attention while teaching them essential logical thinking skills in a fun and dynamic way.

Teaching Sequencing and Organization Skills

Teaching children to follow steps in a recipe or craft project.
Encouraging them to create a daily routine or schedule.
Storytelling activities where children identify the beginning, middle, and end of a story.
How This Helps: Sequencing activities help children understand the importance of order and the logical flow of events, which is critical for decision-making and planning.

$Math Exercises$

Building Math and Spatial Reasoning Skills

Simple counting games, sorting objects, or identifying shapes.
Building structures with blocks or Lego to teach concepts like balance and symmetry.
Playing number-based games such as matching or simple addition/subtraction activities.
How This Helps: Math and spatial reasoning activities encourage children to recognize patterns, understand relationships, and solve problems systematically.

Encouraging Positive Reinforcement and Confidence

Celebrating small achievements to boost confidence and motivation.
Breaking tasks into manageable steps to ensure success.
Providing clear feedback and guidance to help children learn from mistakes.
How This Helps:
Positive reinforcement creates a supportive space where children feel safe to explore, think critically, and grow their skills.

Empowering Children Through Logical Thinking

Our tailored support services are designed to help special needs children develop logical thinking skills in a way that is engaging, practical, and suited to their unique needs. By focusing on problem-solving, critical thinking, and independence, we aim to equip children with the tools they need to navigate their world confidently and successfully.

Let us help your child unlock their full potential through fun, interactive, and meaningful learning experiences!

Disability Risk Management

Prader-Willi syndrome

"Living with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) presents a plethora of unique challenges, not least of which is the management of hyperphagia — an insatiable appetite that can lead to life-threatening obesity. A pivotal aspect of care for individuals with PWS is the implementation of astute risk management strategies within the home environment, with a particular focus on the kitchen and food storage areas such as the refrigerator.

To mitigate risks associated with hyperphagia, it is imperative to employ a multipronged approach that balances safety, accessibility, and autonomy. Our comprehensive risk management plan includes custom solutions such as installing locks on refrigerators and cabinets, utilizing portion-controlled food storage, and ensuring the availability of low-calorie, nutritious food options. We also advocate for consistent mealtime routines and the use of visual aids to support understanding and adherence to dietary regimens.

Beyond environmental modifications, we facilitate the integration of behavioral support strategies. These are designed to cultivate a relationship with food that prioritizes health and well-being, empowering individuals with PWS to participate in their own care and decision-making to the greatest extent possible.

By tailoring our risk management techniques to each household's unique dynamics and the specific needs of the individual with PWS, we endeavor to create a supportive home environment conducive to both physical health and psychological comfort. It is through this attentiveness to detail and dedication to individual empowerment that we can assist individuals with PWS and their families to navigate the complexities of hyperphagia with dignity and resilience."

CERTIFICATIONS

Providing support services to children 7 years and over for Assistance with Daily Life (core), assistance with, or supervision of, personal tasks of daily life to develop skills of the participant to live as autonomously as possible. We incorporate building models as the core element of 'development skills' . Mobile or in house, we have a lovely park across the road which incorporates exercise park, climbing facilities and nice walking paths.

Being former Royal Australian Navy, we learnt that by developing skills further enhances personal development but also help with keeping your brain active. Building model engines requires accuracy, reading, understanding, and finally 'working model', will what you have been taught, work in real life aspects. We also do theme park days with clients.

Sports Coaching Therapy Supports 7 years and older. Having played football for over 25 years and doing Soccer coaching for individual participants aimed at adjustment, adaption, and building capacity for community participation.

Sports Coaching Therapy also helps with a particular regime to maintain functioning of a body part or condition/disability.

Soccer is the perfect sport as it uses ball skills, kicking, passing, trapping, agility, balancing and more. One-on-One sessions for 1 or 2 hours, we make it fun, with a ball, but work on balancing skills, passing the ball accurately, power passing. We keep it simple and aimed at the participants owns skills and develop those further with Therapy support.

I'll also be coaching MiniROOS which is a few weeks away, and I will be building skills for the participants to the level so they can merge into the MiniROOS as part of the inclusive teams. This will form part of their community participation, engage in community, social, recreational or economic activities.

Your fun and outgoing sports dude is Sebastiaan, who has played football since he was 7 years old and has played semiprofessionally. Provided disability support for nine years and have a current blue and yellow card.

Former Royal Australian Navy Veteran - Communications I.T and intelligence branch. I have also completed the Special Olympics Young Athletes Coaching certification, and current Accessibility Champion which is supported by the Australian Sports Commission. I have always enjoyed sports, and wanting to pass on the skills and expertise i have developed throughout the years to the younger generation.

Our Services

These supports are designed to help participants live as independently as possible in their community and home. Our service is mobile. Here's a detailed breakdown of each service:

0106 - Assistance in Coordinating or Managing Life Stages, Transitions, and Supports (Support Coordination):

This involves helping participants navigate significant changes in their lives, such as moving out of home, starting a new job, or transitioning into a different level of care.

Outdoor/community-based support may include:
- Helping participants visit or explore potential housing options.
- Supporting them in attending new school or workplace environments.
- Facilitating participation in outdoor activities or programs that build independence.
- Linking participants to community services and outdoor events that match their goals.

0116 - Innovative Community Participation:

Supporting participants to engage in non-traditional, creative, or alternative activities in their community.
Outdoor options include:
- Joining outdoor workshops or classes like gardening, art in the park, or community clean-up projects.
- Assisting with participation in outdoor sports, adventure activities, or festivals.
- Facilitating connections with local clubs, volunteer groups, or hobby groups that meet outdoors.

0125 - Participation in Community, Social, and Civic Activities:

This service helps participants engage actively in community life.
Outdoor/community-based options may involve:
Joining outdoor social groups or meetups focused on shared interests like hiking, photography, or bird watching.
Attending local outdoor events like markets, fairs, or cultural celebrations.
Supporting participants in volunteering for outdoor civic initiatives, such as tree planting or local charity events.

0102 - Assistance to Access and Maintain Employment or Higher Education:

Support to help participants find and keep a job or attend school/university.
Outdoor-related support could include:
Assisting with travel to job interviews, work placements, or campus tours.
Providing outdoor training sessions, such as workplace communication or networking skills at a park or outdoor café.
Supporting participants to develop job-related skills like time management while engaging in outdoor activities.

0107 - Daily Personal Activities:

Support for personal tasks to help participants live independently.
Outdoor-focused support might include:
- Assisting with morning or evening routines like walking to local parks or shops as part of a daily schedule.
- Encouraging participation in outdoor exercise or self-care activities.
- Guiding participants with tasks like grocery shopping or attending medical appointments.

0117 - Development of Daily Living and Life Skills:

Helping participants build skills to live independently in the long term.
Outdoor support might involve:
- Teaching skills like budgeting while shopping at local markets or stores.
- Helping participants practice navigation skills by exploring their local neighborhood or participating in geocaching activities.
- Supporting outdoor cooking lessons or basic survival skills to encourage independence.

0115 - Assistance with Daily Life Tasks in a Group or Shared Living Arrangement:

Support for participants living in shared or supported accommodation.
Outdoor options include:
Accompanying residents on group outings to parks, gardens, or community events.
Facilitating outdoor team-building activities like sports, picnics, or barbecues.
Supporting residents to participate in local outdoor clubs or social groups as part of their daily routines.

0108 - Assistance with Travel/Transport Arrangements:

Helping participants get to where they need to go in a safe and reliable manner.
Outdoor/community-based support could involve:
- Driving or accompanying participants to outdoor recreation, social groups, or therapy appointments.
- Teaching participants to use public transport independently, like trains, buses, or cycling routes.
- Supporting travel to explore local walking trails, community centers, or events.

0120 - Household Tasks:

Assistance with household chores and maintenance to help participants live in a clean and safe environment.
Outdoor-related household support could include:
- Helping with gardening, lawn mowing, or outdoor cleaning.
- Supporting participants to shop for household supplies or learn basic DIY skills.
- Organizing outings to recycling centers or community garden initiatives.

0136 - Group and Centre-Based Activities:

Activities designed to be done in a group setting that promote social inclusion and skill development.
Outdoor examples include:
Organizing group trips to the beach, national parks, or heritage sites.
Facilitating group sports, outdoor games, or team-building exercises in open spaces.
Running outdoor skill-building workshops, such as photography, painting, or gardening.

Implementing Behaviour Supports (Module 2a):

Developing and implementing behavior support plans to assist participants in managing challenging behaviors.
Outdoor/community-based support for behavior management might include:
Incorporating calming outdoor activities, such as nature walks, sensory gardens, or mindfulness exercises in open spaces.
Supporting participants to explore outdoor hobbies or sports that promote positive behavior and well-being.
Using outdoor environments to practice social interactions and improve communication skills.

Our Story

Once upon a time, in the quiet corners of my life, I found myself embarking on a journey that I never imagined I would take. My compass was my heart, and my destination became a world of understanding, compassion, and meaningful support for my beloved child, who was born with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) and a Chromosome 16 microdeletion.

For over a decade, I have navigated the turbulent, often misunderstood waters of my child’s unique condition. I witnessed, up close, the immense challenges that came with it—the behavioral struggles, the constant hunger caused by hyperphagia, and the complexities of a syndrome that seemed to demand so much from such a small body. Every day was a lesson in resilience. Every moment reminded me of the delicate balance between our vulnerabilities and our strengths.

But as the years passed, something within me began to shift. What started as a father’s determination to help his child grew into a deeper calling. The nighttime hours became my sanctuary, a time when I could pour over medical journals, scour research, and connect with others walking a similar path. My hunger for answers was insatiable—every piece of knowledge became a lifeline, not just for my child, but for others like them.

Through this journey, I realized something profound: no two individuals are the same. Every person, every condition, and every experience is entirely unique, woven together by the threads of their challenges, strengths, and potential. It became clear to me that the support provided to individuals with disabilities and syndromes could not be one-size-fits-all. Each person deserves an approach that honors their individuality and empowers them to live a fulfilling life on their own terms.

This realization became the foundation of my mission—and, ultimately, my business. I wanted to create something far bigger than myself, something that extended beyond PWS or my own personal experiences. I wanted to build a company that would focus on the unique needs of each participant, regardless of their disability or syndrome, and help them manage their lives with dignity, compassion, and practical solutions.

For me, this isn’t just a business—it’s a deeply personal journey. It’s about creating a space where every individual is seen, heard, and supported in a way that acknowledges their uniqueness. It’s about helping people navigate the complexities of their lives while finding strength and joy in the process. And it’s about sharing the lessons I’ve learned along the way, so that no family, no participant, and no individual ever feels like they are facing this alone.

This is my story. It started with my child, but it has grown into a mission to support people with all disabilities and syndromes. Because every person deserves the chance to thrive, and I am here to help make that happen.

It wasn’t easy. There were moments of crushing despair, fleeting victories, and poignant memories that became the threads of my family’s story. Each day brought its own set of challenges, yet over time, these experiences wove together into something extraordinary—a transformative tapestry rich with knowledge, intricate with the wisdom of lived experience, and driven by an unrelenting desire to make life better not only for my child but for others like them.

In a labor of love and as a testament to this journey, I poured my heart into writing a book: "Rare Threads: A Life With Prader-Willi Syndrome - A Unique Combination of Two Separate Genetic Conditions & The Six Levels of Disquietude." This book is more than a collection of facts and observations—it is my tribute to my child and our shared journey. It’s a narrative filled with the raw, unfiltered realities of caregiving, the lessons learned through unwavering devotion, and the hope that comes from navigating the unknown. It is my way of extending a hand to those who find themselves on similar paths, offering solace, understanding, and a light to guide the way forward.

But my journey has not stopped with the written word. Over the years, I’ve channelled my experiences, insights, and determination into creating innovative solutions for others facing similar challenges. I am proud to have developed three patents for assistive technology designed specifically to empower individuals with disabilities and enhance their independence. These technologies represent my commitment to finding practical, impactful tools that can improve lives, bridge gaps, and provide meaningful support to individuals and their families.

And now, as I look toward the future, I am expanding my mission even further. I am embarking on a Master’s in Philosophy at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), where I will explore the intersection of technology and emotional intelligence. My research—"Virtual Reality AI Companions vs Physical Robots: Advancing Emotional Intelligence for Intellectual Disability Support"—aims to break new ground in how we support individuals with intellectual disabilities. By examining the potential of virtual reality and artificial intelligence to foster emotional connections and provide tailored companionship, I hope to unlock new ways to address the unique needs of this community while offering innovative and effective solutions.

Through all of this, my belief remains steadfast: every individual, regardless of their disability or syndrome, deserves to thrive in a world that values their uniqueness and supports their potential. Whether it’s through my book, my patents, or my academic work, my mission is clear—to create a future filled with compassion, understanding, and opportunity for individuals with disabilities.

This journey, while deeply personal, has grown into something far greater. It is a shared mission rooted in the experiences of countless families like mine. Together, with knowledge, innovation, and the will to face each day anew, I believe we can build a world where our extraordinary children not only overcome challenges but are celebrated for the incredible individuals they are.

One-to-One

CHILD DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT:

Tailored coaching plans that integrate age-appropriate sports and activities, emphasizing the development of motor skills, teamwork, and self-esteem. Personalized physical activity sessions designed to encourage children with PWS to participate in sports at their own pace. Sensory integration therapy that includes activities to stimulate touch, proprioception, and vestibular senses. Cognitive and social skills development programs, coordinating with therapists as needed. We provide support service Weekday & Skills Development Training

RISK MANAGEMENT FOR HOUSEHOLDS:

Home environment assessments to identify potential risk areas related to hyperphagia and other behaviors. Implementation of food security measures, such as locking systems for refrigerators and cabinets. Advice on setting up a safe and controlled space for food preparation and consumption. Strategies for managing food-related behaviors effectively.

LIFESTYLE CHANGE SUPPORT FOR PARENTS:

Time management and organizational strategies to help families create a structured home environment.
Parental coaching sessions to practice effective communication and positive reinforcement techniques.

SPORTS COACHING AND TEAM BUILDING:

Organizing team sports events and activities suitable for children with PWS, considering their physical and psychological needs.
One-on-one sports coaching focusing on the child’s interests and abilities.

GET TO KNOW US

Creating a Safe Environment for Children with PWS or Intellectual Disabilities

Caring for a child with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) or other intellectual disabilities means taking proactive steps to ensure their safety at home. Everyday spaces like the kitchen, laundry, or yard can present unique challenges, requiring careful planning and risk management. By identifying potential hazards and implementing simple safety measures, caregivers can create a secure and supportive environment where children can explore and thrive. Explore our detailed risk management strategies to learn how to make every area of your home safer for your child.

Let's Talk 🙃

Using SafetyCulture for Individualized Risk Assessments

At our organization, we use SafetyCulture, a powerful and customizable digital tool, to streamline and enhance our risk assessment process for participants. This platform allows us to create dynamic, personalized checklists tailored to the unique needs of each individual, including those with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) or other intellectual disabilities.

With SafetyCulture, we can:

Digitize risk assessments for greater efficiency and accessibility.
Create fully customizable checklists to address specific safety needs and environmental risks.
Use simple Yes/No questions to evaluate potential hazards and identify key areas for support.
Ensure real-time updates and documentation, making it easy to track and adapt to the changing needs of each participant.
Promote consistency and accountability among caregivers and staff.

By leveraging this innovative program, we ensure that every participant’s safety and wellbeing are prioritized through a thorough, user-friendly, and data-driven approach.

Each participant will receive a complet report on the assessment, and we build a management program to prevent further risks.

Because Every Veteran Deserves to Be Heard and Supported

As a fellow veteran, I know firsthand the unique challenges that come with serving and transitioning back into civilian life. The camaraderie, the sacrifices, the experiences—each one leaves its mark. But sometimes, it can feel like no one truly understands what you're going through. That’s why I’m here—because no veteran should ever feel like they’re walking this journey alone.