We are a Neurodivergent led agency who are registered to provide therapy, behaviour supports and community supports using neurodivergent-affirming therapy and social programs for children, teens and young adults with disability.
Living in a regional community, AB Consultancy’s team work closely with our families, local schools and our businesses so we can provide full supports to those that we work with.
AB Consultancy provides individual programs for children, teenagers and young adults who are experiencing distress in their lives.
All our team members are experienced in delivering neurodivergent-affirming supports and therapies and regularly engage in training to further our knowledge.
AB Consultancy delivers high quality psychological supports and evidence-based current theory work to allow individuals to overcome barriers in their lives.
After our initial consultation, AB Consultancy formulates an individual, person-centred
AB Consultancy uses methodologies that support a neurodivergent-affirming process using the Positive Psychology and Low Arousal Approaches from Studio 3. Low Arousal is a non-aversive methodology that focuses on stress reduction and de-escalation techniques that we train the child, or adults supports in looking at how their behaviour impacts on the person.
We also use the work of Dr Mona Delahooke, Dr Ross Greene with Collaborative and Proactive Solutions, Dr Daniel J. Siegal Neuroscience and Kelly Mahler’s work on Interoception. We also understand the role of siblings within the family and support the work of Siblings Australia.
AB Consultancy works with children, teens and young adults who are neurodivergent.
Social Work is a university qualified profession that sits within Allied Health Services.
Social Workers focus on the whole wellbeing of the person they are supporting and focus on the strengths of people. Social Workers have a wide scope and you can find them in roles such as: federal & state government, hospitals, schools, aged care, child protection, housing and community service organisations.
Social Workers can have a range of roles such as: case managers, mental health clinician delivering Mental Health Care Plans under Medicare, housing managers, policy developers, youth work and child protections.
One of the main tenants of Social Work is to advocate for fairness, social justice and human rights so this meshes with our role in the NDIS and within disability. Within the NDIS you will see Social Workers working as: Support Coordinators, Psychosocial Recovery Coaches, Therapy Providers for both children and adults, Positive Behaviour Support Practitioners, Equine Therapists and even Disability Support Workers.
Social Workers must complete ongoing training in their areas of speciality to ensure they are using best practice and evidence-based models to deliver their supports.
Our team works with children, teens and young adults that have complex disability profiles and work their parents, caregivers and stakeholders to identify what environmental barriers are facing them.
We design and deliver programs to suit each individual and their developmental and educational needs.
We work with everyone in the child or adult’s environment to upskill them to recognise why behaviours may occur from our actions in their world.
We actively support the reduction of restrictive practices and approaches that are built on compliance.
Therapy services and supports can be delivered with a flexibly designed program based on individual and family requirements.
AB Consultancy offers parents a range of quality information and programs so that they can support their children to reach their full potential. We also work towards providing parents with greater awareness of their child’s abilities, learning and behaviour.
We offer training to schools and other organisations on neurodiversity-affirming training and supports.
The services and support provided at AB Consultancy are based on our core values of Commitment, Collaboration and Community.
We are a practice that is focused on the unique needs of the whole family,providing practical and hands-on strategies that are simple and effective.
Built from a desire to create a safe place for individuals, their parents, caregivers and siblings, and out of personal experience of living with a sibling with a disability, AB Consultancy is focused on delivering unique community based programs, support and training for the whole family.
Our Neurodivergent Principal Disability Consultant and Founder, Kathryn Roberts, has an extensive background in education and social work, specialising in disability services, children’s education and the application of evidence-based practice.
Kathryn completed her Bachelor in Early Childhood Education in 1997 and started her career in Special Education at Kilparin Teaching and Assessment Unit for vision and learning. She won a scholarship for a Bachelor in Special Education and taught in various special schools throughout South Australia, with a focus on autism and behaviours of concern.
Her work during this time included being a specialised support teacher for the Department of Education based in the Felixstow District Office.
In 2004, Kathryn returned to Victor Harbor to assist with the care of her family, and brother Mark who had Down Syndrome and developed Early Onset Dementia. Kathryn spent several years teaching at Victor Harbor Primary School and Goolwa Primary School until opening AB Consultancy in 2013.
Since opening AB Consultancy in 2013, Kathy has completed her Masters in Social Work, Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Psychology and Educational Practice, and a Graduate Certificate in Grief, Trauma, Loss and Counselling.
Kathy is also currently completing her Masters in Autism and is a professional member of the Australian Association of Social Work.
Kathy was born in Victor Harbor and loves the community she works in. Kathryn sits on the Victor Harbor Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee and is committed to Siblings Australia.
In her spare time, she spends time with her two German Shepherd fur babies, loves to cook, read and spend time in the garden.
Jackie Volkman is our main Administration Officer and Lead Disability Support Worker with over 4 years’ experience and prior to this worked in as a Lifestyles Coordinator in Aged Care.
She provides personal and home care and has created our school holiday program. Jackie likes to think outside the box and is involved in a range of community programs, enjoying getting people out and about.
Tracey Davis is one of our Disability Support Worker moving over from over 21 years of Nursing. Tracey loves gardening, Alpacas, dancing and singing.
Tracey loves to work out in the community and provide highly skilled home supports.
Fletcher Blevins is our other Disability Support Worker who has been a teacher for over 5 years and a Youth Worker for 4 years. Fletcher wanted to further his skills and has recently completed his Masters of Social Work.
Fletcher loves aerosol art, photography, cycling and gardening. Fletcher specialises in Youth Supports.
