Emma O’Neill

Director/ Registered Behaviour Support Practitioner

Emma is a Registered Nurse with a specialisation in Intellectual Disability, Epilepsy, and Behaviour Support, boasting 18 years of rich experience across the Disability sector on both a national and international scale. Currently finalising her Masters in Applied Behaviour Analysis at Queen’s University Belfast, Emma also enriches her expertise with studies in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) through The Association for Psychological Therapies (APT). Her active memberships in prestigious organisations, such as the Global Institute of Forensic Research, underscore her dedication to her field.

Originating from Ireland and making Australia her home since 2011, Emma has embraced Darwin as her haven, where her affection for dogs and the local landscapes underscores her warm, compassionate nature. Emma believes in the power of building positive, supportive relationships and is passionate about empowering individuals to make informed choices towards achieving their life goals.

With a professional approach that seamlessly integrates with her personal values, Emma stands out as a dedicated advocate and practitioner in the disability support arena, committed to enhancing the lives of those she works with.

Michael Ruddy

Practice Manager

Michael joined TTH in June 2022, bringing his expertise from central West NSW, where he previously served as the Operations Manager for a NDIS Service Provider. With extensive experience in frontline DSW, Support Coordination, NDIS program management, and internal support worker training, Michael adds valuable skills to our team. He has also collaborated closely with ACCHO’s and Aboriginal Medical Services.

Michael’s passion lies in recovery and rehabilitation for individuals with diverse needs and abilities, with a focus on empowering families and strengthening community ties. He holds qualifications in Community Services, Alcohol & other Drugs, and Case Management. Michael has completed education in Behaviour Support through Monash University and also holds a Diploma of Community Sector Management and a Diploma of Child, Youth and Family Intervention. He remains dedicated to continued development, recently completing courses on Learning and Behaviour Disorders in Children and Adolescents, as well as Trauma-informed Care & Complex Trauma Attachment Management through Australian Open Colleges.

Michael has recently taken on the role of Practice Manager while continuing his work as a proficient Behaviour Support Practitioner. As the Practice Manager at Towards the Horizon, Michael oversees the operational aspects of our organisation, ensuring smooth and efficient service delivery. He plays a key role in coordinating the team of practitioners, managing resources, and implementing policies and procedures to uphold high standards of Behaviour Support Service Delivery. Michael brings a wealth of knowledge to this role. He is committed to fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment where practitioners can thrive and participants receive the best possible services to meet their goals.

Laura Pedason

Clincial and Innovations Lead

Laura is a dedicated Behaviour Support Practitioner with a bachelor’s degree in Behaviour Management from Bond University and postgraduate qualifications in provision of Intensive Family Supports. With previous experience working with children with complex trauma backgrounds in the out-of-home care system, Laura has been a registered NDIS Behaviour Practitioner since 2021.

Laura is dedicated to ensuring that our organisation delivers the highest standard of behaviour support services to our participants as Towards the Horizon’s Quality Assurance Officer. Laura brings a wealth of expertise to her role and is committed to upholding the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly in the context of the reduction of Restrictive Practices. Laura’s passion for quality assurance ensures that Towards the Horizon remains at the forefront of providing exceptional care and support to our participants.

Komal

Administrative Officer

Komal has recently moved to Darwin from India after completing year 12. She has always been interested in community services sector why she has enrolled self in the Diploma of Nursing at Fox Education. Komal loves to learn new things and she feels empowered to be part of Towards the Horizon’s family. Komal loves watching Netflix, doing painting and cooking. Komal is proud of self to be the face of Towards The Horizon’s family.

Chelsea Martin

Team Leader
Registered Behaviour Support Practitioner

Chelsea has worked in the disability sector for several years in different support work, Support Coordination/Psychosocial Recovery Coaching, and Team Leading/Managerial related roles. She has been a Behaviour Support Practitioner with Towards the Horizon since October 2022. Chelsea holds a Bachelor of Psychological Science from Charles Darwin University and has extensive specialised training within the NDIS space. She is committed to ongoing professional and personal development. Chelsea has a keen interest in and has extensive experience working with youth, individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or ADHD, has extensive experience working with individuals with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Psychosocial Disability, and Dementia, as well as individuals who have co-occurring diagnoses of any kind. Chelsea is passionate about and dedicated to utilising a person-centred, trauma-informed approach with everyone that she supports. She believes strongly in collaborating meaningfully with an individual’s support team to ensure open communication channels, continuity of care, prevent risk of carer burnout, and working to achieve positive outcomes and improving overall quality of life. Chelsea has firsthand experience with being the primary carer for one of her closest loved ones who has chronic conditions and as a result, dynamic disability. Chelsea grew up in Darwin, and she and her husband have a young daughter. Chelsea and her family also have two cats, two dogs, a Princess Parrot, a blue tongue lizard, six snakes, a few ant farms, and a tank full of fish. Chelsea likes to watch all different kinds of sports – but especially American football, read fantasy/romance books, play word related games, and eat Mexican food in her down time.

Gunveer Singh Mann

Registered Behaviour Support Practitioner

Gunveer Singh Mann is an esteemed Registered Behaviour Support Practitioner at Towards the Horizon, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team. With a Bachelor’s degree in Humanitarian and Community Studies from Charles Darwin University, complemented by a Certificate IV in Leadership & Management, Gunveer epitomises the blend of academic excellence and practical leadership skills. Further enhancing his professional credentials, Gunveer has successfully completed a Train the Trainer certificate in MAYBO, specializing in managing challenging and complex behaviors.

Prior to joining Towards the Horizon, Gunveer dedicated over six years to the community services sector, notably serving as a Supported Independent Living Coordinator. This role enabled him to develop a deep understanding of the unique needs of individuals with challenging and complex behaviours, equipping him with the skills necessary to support NDIS participants in achieving their NDIS goals. Gunveer’s extensive experience and adaptable skill set make him a valuable asset to our team and the individuals we support, as he employs a holistic and person-centered approach to behaviour support.

Ross Davidson

Registered Behaviour Support Practitioner

Ross has worked in a range of sectors throughout Darwin and remote communities and grew up in the Katherine region before relocating to Darwin 15 years ago.Ross holds a Bachelor of psychology as well post graduate studies and qualifications in numerous other roles, including youth work, youth justice, restorative Justice, child protection, trauma, sexual health and relationships, mental health, disability, and childhood adverse experiences.

Before coming to TTH Ross previously worked in the social work space for around 5 years. Ross prides himself on his past successes in a range of industries outside of social work and academia and still being able to draw from an empathetic real word perspective. Ross is particularly adept at identifying strengths and finding practical ways to support those he works with.Ross brings a drive to working with clients and stakeholders and is always seeking to utilise a team and foster a diversity of perspectives. Having been raised in the territory and spending a lot of his childhood interacting and befriending those in the foster care system he is imbued with an enthusiasm for supporting those children.

Ross has extensive experience working in remote community such as Maningrida and Wadeye as a child protection practitioner, and experience with disengaged youth in the Darwin region. This has given him extensive insight into how disabilities and society interact, and how collaborative intervention can best be utilised. Ross has an established mutual respect and collaboration with careers, and a particular passion for working with young people and adults with Autism spectrum disorder.

Phoebe Donald

Registered Behaviour Support Practitioner

Phoebe has recently returned to Darwin after 15 years living and working in South Australia, where she attained her Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) majoring in Health Studies from Flinders university, as well as her Graduate Diploma in Public Health from the University of Adelaide. Phoebe has an advanced, holistic understanding of behaviour influences, challenges, and management. She has several years’ experience as a Youth Mentor, providing positive behaviour support for young people and children with varying disability and psycho-social support needs including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, anxiety disorders and depression.

Phoebe has also worked in Lifestyle Support within Aged Care, where she developed expertise in assisting residents in care to maintain a high level of wellbeing, and a sense of purpose and belonging. She supported older people experiencing a range of emotional, and psychological needs, including advanced dementia and brain injuries. These experiences have reinforced Phoebe’s strong belief in providing comprehensive, consistent service of care, through ongoing collaboration with the person participating and their support team. Phoebe’s person-centred community service experience has equipped her with the ability to provide an empathetic understanding of people’s unique sense of identity, interests and how best to support them in positive behaviour development. Furthermore, she believes in applying individualized trauma informed practice and approaches which focus on the individuals’ strengths to improve their quality of life. Compassion, and celebrating people’s unique little, and big wins are some of the key values underpinning Phoebe’s behaviour support work. Phoebe loves all things creative, travel and getting outside!

Brendan Coutts

Analytics Specialist

Brendan is fascinated by people. He loves to get to know who they are and discover all they can be. This has taken him on a deeply enriching journey inwards through extensive training in meditation and mindfulness, and lead to many years advising on organisational behaviour and organisational effectiveness.
With a PhD in the physical sciences, he brings an unusual balance of head and heart to all he does and is delighted to have discovered Behaviour Support as a career – especially with the great crew at Towards the Horizon.

Having worked around the world, he’s new to Darwin and is excited about all the Top End has to offer. He’s currently studying a Diploma of Counselling and also teaches mindfulness.

Daniela Autencio

Behaviour Support Assistant

Recently relocated to Darwin from the southern Philippines, Daniela graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She is passionate about understanding the human mind, behaviour, and mental health.

Daniela has gained valuable experience as an intern, providing group and individual counselling to children and adolescents with academic and behavioural challenges. She collaborated with special education teachers to develop tailored learning materials and socialization programs for children with disabilities. Additionally, she created engaging and interactive arts and crafts projects to support their development.

Her work with a non-profit organization involved delivering Psychological First Aid to distressed adolescents and conducting mental health programs in various settings, including aged care homes, schools, and rehabilitation centres. At a psychological clinic, she co-conducted psychological tests and collaborated with psychologists in counselling sessions, deepening her interest in the transformative power of effective interventions.

Outside of her professional pursuits, Daniela enjoys adventures like hiking, swimming, and traveling. She loves exploring coffee shops, capturing aesthetic moments for Instagram, and indulging in her passion for makeup, dresses, and all things girly and sparkly. Friendly and sociable, Daniela thrives on making new connections.