Behaviour Support Practitioner

Maddi is a Behaviour Support Practitioner at Step 2 Allied Health, bringing over five years experience across therapeutic care, family violence, and child and family services in the not-for-profit sector. She holds a Bachelor of Psychological Science and a Bachelor of Criminology from Deakin University, a Graduate Certificate of Counselling from Deakin, and completed the Victorian Government's Regional Family Violence and Sexual Assault Graduate Program. She is a certified Facilitator of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (Cornell University) and holds a Professional Diploma in Therapeutic Life Story Work through Therapeutic Life Story Work International.

Maddi comes to us having most recently worked as a Therapeutic Specialist with MacKillop Family Services, providing therapeutic leadership and trauma-informed interventions for vulnerable children, young people, and their networks. Her work there included the development of Individual Therapeutic Care Plans and Behaviour Support Plans, group reflective practice, and staff training. Previously, she worked as a Child and Family Practitioner at Meli (formerly Barwon Child Youth and Family), and as a Step Up Practitioner supporting young people aged 12–17 using violence in the home. 

Through these roles she has developed strong skills in trauma-informed practice, complex risk and needs assessment, safety planning, MARAM-aligned family violence response, group facilitation, and meaningful engagement with complex clients and those who support them. She has substantial training in developmental trauma, chronic traumatisation, and parenting after violence.

Maddi's approach is trauma-informed, person-centred, and grounded in genuine curiosity about the meaning behind behaviour. She builds authentic relationships with clients, families, and multidisciplinary teams, and brings a strong commitment to dignity, inclusion, and least-restrictive practice.

Maddi works four days per week and can support individuals across the lifespan up to late adulthood, with a particular speciality in children and adolescents, complex trauma, family violence, and therapeutic care contexts. She covers Geelong, the Bellarine, and surrounding areas.