Dr. Michelle Kelly:

The Senator also mentioned systemic change and the recognition of the fact that across the board there are so many examples within healthcare and education of instances where individuals are being excluded or restraint is being used in an inappropriate manner. We tend to find that the behaviour support specialist or the behavioural practitioner is called when there is a disaster and the level of fire-fighting has been reached. We practise what is called "contextual behaviour science", which is analysing an environment. It is a matter of how we make an environment conducive to positive outcomes. There is a point to be made about involving behavioural practitioners at an earlier point and analysing the environment. The Senator mentioned universal design. I work in a college and we implement universal design for learning within my modules. However, it is a matter of looking at that from a more universal perspective and analysing how to set up the environment to promote positive outcomes from the outset, and not waiting until disaster strikes and then calling the behavioural practitioner to put out the fire.