Brett has a way to him. He’s mannerisms are quiet and reserved, his voice is soft, and you get this sense of a tremendous depth of patience. It’s hard to imagine a more suitable person for a Behaviour Support Practitioner. Calm, deliberate, thoughtful.
Brett Fitzsimmons is CSBS’s dedicated Psychologist and Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner, who brings over two decades of experience in supporting individuals with disability and mental health concerns. Passionate, knowledgeable, and driven, Brett has made it his mission to empower individuals and improve their quality of life.
A Wealth of Expertise in Positive Behaviour
Brett’s career spans over 20 years, during which he has dedicated himself to supporting children and adults with complex and challenging needs. His experience includes working with individuals with dual diagnoses, managing behaviours of concern, and providing care for those subject to regulated restrictive practices or forensic orders.
His experience includes pivotal roles with the Department of Communities, Child Safety, and Disability, where he served as a specialist response officer and a resource officer in the Intensive Behaviour Support Team.
As a skilled professional, Brett provides counselling, psychological assessments, and functional analyses of challenging behaviours. Beyond one-on-one support, he has developed and delivered training resources to educate workers who support individuals with complex needs.
For Brett, this work isn’t just a career – it’s a calling.
“I’m attracted to working with people who have trouble getting their needs met,” Brett shares. “What they do is express that trouble through their behaviour. These individuals have existed long before the NDIS, and they are still here. The NDIS has been life-changing for many, but there’s still a group of people who rely on guardians and support networks to meet their needs. I want to advocate for and work with them.”
Behaviour as Communication
Brett approaches his work with the understanding that behaviour is a form of communication.
“Behaviour speaks,” Brett explains. “A person’s behaviour is often based on a need or function—it tells us what the person requires in any given situation. It’s not always about verbal communication or alternative systems; their behaviour itself is the indicator.”
In relation to support teams, behaviour is a powerful communication tool and can help gauge the effectiveness of supports.
“If someone has challenging behaviour, like physical aggression, it’s a sign that their support network isn’t meeting their needs. When we adjust their support network to meet their needs better, those behaviours decrease. It’s remarkable to see how much their quality of life improves when their environment is adapted. They gain new skills and work toward their goals. That’s the holy grail of behaviour support.”
The Power of Support Workers
Brett has always emphasised the transformative role support workers play in the lives of the people they support.
“Support workers are the most powerful environmental factor in someone’s life. What they believe, plan, and do has a profound impact on the people they support. I encourage support workers to be self-aware and recognise their potential to create positive change. With the right attitude, they can be agents of profound transformation.”
Brett is particularly passionate about helping people in residential settings gain independence and thrive within their communities. He believes that fostering the right support systems is the key to empowering individuals to achieve their goals and lead fulfilling lives.
“I’ve seen it happen, over and over again that people, when their support networks change and better meet their needs… Then the person’s behaviour reduces and they start improving their quality of life and start improving the amount of skills that they have to meet their goal.”
Advice for Support Workers when working with Behaviours
With tonnes of experience, Brett offers valuable insights for support workers aiming to make a meaningful impact. He stresses the importance of self-awareness and understanding the significant influence they hold in the lives of those they support.
“Support workers have to be, firstly, people who are really self-aware because they are almost the most powerful environmental factor in the life of somebody. What they believe, what they do, and what they plan—these things have profound effects on the persons they support.”
Brett encourages support workers to recognise their potential to drive positive change, highlighting the importance of maintaining the right mindset.
“I would encourage them [Support Workers] to be really self-aware and to understand how powerful they are. They can be agents of really positive change if they have the right attitude.”
For Brett, success is measured in the outcomes of the people he supports, the progress they make, and the lives he helps transform. At CSBS, we’re honoured to have Brett as part of our team, championing individuals with complex needs and working tirelessly to create meaningful, positive change.
If you’d like to learn more about Brett’s work or Positive Behaviour Support, you can reach out to CSBS today.