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Saturday, 26 July 2025

2:45 - 4:00 PM

Hindley 2

Breaking Barriers in Behaviour Support: A Constructionist Organisational Behaviour Management Approach

Bridget Knights

Lojic

Abstract: Improving quality of life and reducing restrictive practices is a cornerstone of effective behaviour support services (Carberry et al., 2024; Leif et al., 2024). Achieving these outcomes, however, is often met with resistance from diverse stakeholders (Fisher et al., 2024; Leif et al., 2023). In such instances, innovative organisational behaviour management (OBM) approaches are necessary (Konstantinidou et al., 2023).

This case study presents a constructionist OBM approach to eliminating seclusion for a 14-year-old in out-of-home care, where restrictive practices were endorsed by Child Safety. Initial data-driven recommendations failed due to stakeholder resistance, implementers’ concerns about managing behaviour without restraints, and systemic barriers. As such, these challenges prompted a shift to a constructionist approach, focusing on identifying systemic obstacles and collaboratively building implementers’ skills (Goldiamond et al., 2002; McGill et al., 2018).

Through targeted training, collaborative problem-solving, and a gradual shaping process, seclusion was eliminated, PRN chemical restraints were reduced, and the child’s engagement in daily activities and community participation improved. This approach also facilitated a plan for school and peer re-engagement after four years of disengagement, thereby demonstrating the value of a collaborative constructionist OBM approach in achieving meaningful change in complex behavioural support contexts.

Target Audience: Practitioners working in or will be providing systemic support/approach

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation:

Participants will learn how to transition from traditional, data-driven behaviour management methods to a constructionist organisational behaviour management (OBM) approach, with a focus on reducing restrictive practices in care settings.
Participants will understand the importance of targeted training, stakeholder collaboration, and a gradual shaping process in fostering long-term behaviour change, increasing stakeholder buy-in and overcoming resistance to new approaches.
Participants will gain an understanding of the ethical principles underpinning the constructionist OBM approach and how this framework supports increased quality of life and reduction of restrictive practices.

BACB CE Instructor: Oliver B. Roschke

Advancing Positive Behaviour Support in Australia: A Constructional Approach

John R. Wooderson & Oliver Roschke

Lojic

Abstract: Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) has gained prominence in Australia as an alternative to aversive or overly restrictive practices. Yet, conventional applications often default to an eliminative stance, emphasising the reduction of “behaviours of concern” rather than the achievement of meaningful outcomes aligned with participant goals. This presentation explores how Goldiamond’s Constructional Approach can address these limitations by shifting the focus toward genuine choice, a core value of both PBS and broader human rights frameworks.

Drawing on examples from our organisation’s service delivery across disability, mental health, and aged care settings, we demonstrate how focusing on desired outcomes can transform standard PBS processes. We show that by systematically applying constructional questions such as “Where do you want to go?”, “Where are you now?”, “How will you get there?” and “What will keep you going?” we empower individuals to identify genuine options to achieve what matters most to them, often without directly targeting behaviours of concern.

Central to this shift is fostering practitioner competence. We highlight how integrating Constructional principles into staff development, supervision, and organisational management yields more robust clinical outcomes, including significant reductions in restrictive practices. Additionally, we examine how these methods align with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) emphasis on participant choice and control, reinforcing broader relevance for policy and practice.

Merging PBS with Goldiamond’s framework offers a person-centred alternative that addresses current policy gaps and workforce challenges. This presentation invites practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to embrace constructional tools and reshape PBS into a model of empowerment —one that upholds individuals’ autonomy and meaningfully improves their quality of life.

Target Audience: Behavior analysts and practitioners and organisations working in Positive Behaviour Support in Australia

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

identify limitations of assessment and intervention approaches that pathologize behaviour.
understand how shifting focus to desired outcomes promotes autonomy, choice, and control.

BACB CE Instructor: John Wooderson