Reducing Restrictive Practices: Ethical and Evidence-Informed Decision Making

Hello and welcome! I’m Jenn Colechin, a behaviour support specialist and Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) with over 26 years of experience.

My journey into the field of complex positive behaviour support is a deeply personal one, beginning with my own experiences as a trauma-affected child right through to becoming a kinship carer and permanent carer myself.

After pursuing extensive education in understanding human behaviour and disability care, I began working as a behaviour support analyst and therapist. I’ve supported individuals and their carers within schools, out-of-home care, and family-based settings.

My practice is grounded in evidence-based behavioural science and trauma-informed principles, offering comprehensive clinical support, including functional behaviour assessments (FBAs), individual supervision, and tailored interventions.

My experiences within the sector and the challenges faced by support professionals and the individuals they care for are what led me here.

I started Specialist Behaviour to build a community of learning and growth that drives much-needed change in the support sector.

Sharon Paley is the founder and CEO of the ACRRE Trust. Having worked as a disability professional for over 40 years. Sharon has a breadth and depth of experience, which is reflected by her strong practice background, interest in practice research and achievements in the field. Widely published she is a sought-after keynote speaker on topics including reducing restrictive practices, behaviour risk assessment, governance and ethical decision making. Her practice experience has been gained in Australia and in the UK where she lived until 2012. She is a Florence Nightingale Scholar and recipient of three international awards for her work in disability and behaviour support. She is one of the longest serving member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Positive Behavioural Support. In 2023 she was elected as the Vice President of the Professional Association of Developmental Disability Nurses Australia (PANDDA).

When not at work Sharon enjoys endurance hiking, a sport she only took up in recent years, achieving the 18km Kokoda Challenge in Brisbane in 2023, partnering with her adult son. She lives in a rainforest village, close to Brisbane with her husband and their three Burmese cats.  She has four adult children and one granddaughter, who will be joined in 2025 by a grandson. Her favourite food is Indian curry, and her favourite music is mostly hair metal but especially Alice Cooper, but secretly she also loves Barry Manilow.

Hello and welcome! I’m Jenn Colechin, a behaviour support specialist and Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) with over 26 years of experience.

My journey into the field of complex positive behaviour support is a deeply personal one, beginning with my own experiences as a trauma-affected child right through to becoming a kinship carer and permanent carer myself.

After pursuing extensive education in understanding human behaviour and disability care, I began working as a behaviour support analyst and therapist. I’ve supported individuals and their carers within schools, out-of-home care, and family-based settings.

My practice is grounded in evidence-based behavioural science and trauma-informed principles, offering comprehensive clinical support, including functional behaviour assessments (FBAs), individual supervision, and tailored interventions.

My experiences within the sector and the challenges faced by support professionals and the individuals they care for are what led me here.

I started Specialist Behaviour to build a community of learning and growth that drives much-needed change in the support sector.

Sharon Paley is the founder and CEO of the ACRRE Trust. Having worked as a disability professional for over 40 years. Sharon has a breadth and depth of experience, which is reflected by her strong practice background, interest in practice research and achievements in the field. Widely published she is a sought-after keynote speaker on topics including reducing restrictive practices, behaviour risk assessment, governance and ethical decision making. Her practice experience has been gained in Australia and in the UK where she lived until 2012. She is a Florence Nightingale Scholar and recipient of three international awards for her work in disability and behaviour support. She is one of the longest serving member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Positive Behavioural Support. In 2023 she was elected as the Vice President of the Professional Association of Developmental Disability Nurses Australia (PANDDA).

When not at work Sharon enjoys endurance hiking, a sport she only took up in recent years, achieving the 18km Kokoda Challenge in Brisbane in 2023, partnering with her adult son. She lives in a rainforest village, close to Brisbane with her husband and their three Burmese cats.  She has four adult children and one granddaughter, who will be joined in 2025 by a grandson. Her favourite food is Indian curry, and her favourite music is mostly hair metal but especially Alice Cooper, but secretly she also loves Barry Manilow.