Our CEO, Leona, is an accomplished educator and behavioural specialist with a background in primary education and psychology. Her career began with five years dedicated to the growth and development of young learners as a teacher. This foundational experience paved the way for a transformative role within correctional facilities, where she developed culturally respectful violence prevention and family intervention programmes across minimum and maximum-security settings.

Leona realised that the most impactful work needed to be done on the ground, within local communities, to ensure parents were equipped with the skills necessary to support their children in overcoming systemic barriers. She transitioned to a role as a Case Manager in the residential care space, advocating at the highest levels, including the Supreme Court, for the needs of children with significant disabilities. Her relentless advocacy ensured that these children received the necessary support and services to thrive.

Despite her success, Leona felt that advocacy for parents was still lacking. This led her to become the Therapeutic Specialist and Lead Clinical Advisor for Northern NSW Family Based Care. In this capacity, she applied neuroscience principles to formulate functional assessments and create bespoke behaviour support plans with the goal of family restoration. Her work particularly focused on adolescent children with significant disabilities.

Her expertise in behavioural management and her passion for comprehensive support guided her to become a registered NDIS behaviour support practitioner. She collaborated with children and adults, care teams, and Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers across the Northern Rivers to deliver holistic behaviour support services.  

 

Leona established Yamba Behaviour Support and Assessments Pty Ltd (YBSA) to cut through the red tape, provide her clinical expertise to OOHC agency staff across the region, assist families in obtaining diagnoses, and offer strength-based therapeutic support while acknowledging the barriers people face in accessing support.

As an autistic individual, Leona is passionately committed to eradicating barriers in the community and supporting neurodiverse populations. Her personal experiences and deep empathy drive her mission to create inclusive and supportive environments for all.