Brisbane, Queensland
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.
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.
Justine Figueroa
Registered Behaviour Support Practitioner
With a degree in Psychological Science from the University of Adelaide and early studies in Applied Psychology in the Philippines, Justine brings both academic grounding and a deeply human touch to her work. Moving to Australia over a decade ago, she’s developed a unique, culturally sensitive approach to care—grounded in respect, empathy, and lived experience.
Justine’s passion lies in mental health, holistic wellbeing, and person-centred care. Whether it’s through meaningful conversation, a well-timed piece of advice, or simply listening with intention, she values authentic connection and the small moments that build trust.
Justine’s career has centred around empowering others through genuine care. She’s worked with young people in Residential Care settings with dual diagnoses, supporting them in building life skills, healthy relationships, and emotional regulation. She has worked as a Disability Support Worker and later as Coordinator for Specialist Services within an OSHC environment. She has also led Client Engagement for children and teens with autism and other disabilities. As a Support Coordinator, Justine has helped young adults and their families navigate the NDIS—advocating during reviews, setting up services, and ensuring supports align with individual goals. In her most recent role in Workplace Wellbeing, she supported organisations to create mentally healthy environments through education and proactive wellbeing strategies.
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.
Darwin, Northern Territory
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.
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.
Laurel McCarthy
Behaviour Support Assistant
Originally from QLD, but just recently moved to Darwin from Kununurra (Western Australia). I have a background in supporting individuals with diverse behavioural needs through my varied job roles in both Aged Care, Disability & Education Assistant with Special Needs (SNEA). I have a strong passion advocating for my participants and the students I have worked with in a variety of settings. I am highly experienced and knowledgeable about disability support, the NDIS processes, external therapeutic supports, and use of processes and procedures to ensure quality and effective care and support of those under my care.
I have a Certificate 4 in Aged Care & Disability with Person First Dementia second training as well as a Certificate 4 In Education Special Needs, TEAMTEACH and ASLAN. I love all things glitter and sparkly, cooking for family and friends, music and dancing. My husband and I have 2 children together and in 2023 we changed our whole life by hitting the road with everything we own in a caravan looking for a change of pace.
Brendan Coutts
Registered Behaviour Support Practitioner/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.
Cristina Li
Registered Behaviour Support Practitioner
With a Master of Social Work from Charles Darwin University and a Bachelor’s degree in Labour and Social Security from China, Cristina brings a unique blend of strategic thinking and heartfelt compassion to her work in the social services field. Before making the shift to social work, she built a successful career in investment banking in Hong Kong for over a decade, an experience that sharpened her problem-solving skills and deepened her passion for meaningful change.
Cristina’s commitment to supporting vulnerable groups began through years of volunteering in Hong Kong, where she worked with environmental initiatives, older adults, and people experiencing homelessness. This growing sense of purpose led her to pursue a career where care, advocacy, and community impact could be her everyday focus.
During her social work studies, Cristina volunteered with an NDIS-registered organisation and completed her first placement at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre, where she also worked as a Mental Health Support Worker. These experiences allowed her to form deep connections within local communities and provide person-centred, trauma-informed support to individuals on their recovery journeys.
Cristina also completed a placement with the Northern Territory Department of Education, where she offered counselling to students and contributed to wellbeing projects across schools. Most recently, she worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant, providing motivational counselling to job seekers—listening to their stories, offering emotional support, and helping them work toward a better quality of life. Driven by empathy, cultural sensitivity, and a strong belief in empowerment, Cristina is dedicated to walking alongside those she supports with respect, insight, and care.
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.
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!
Thin Zar Win (Thinnie)
Registered Behaviour Support Practitioner
Thinnie recently relocated to Darwin, bringing a wealth of experience and a passion for empowering individuals to achieve their goals and improve their quality of life. With a background in medicine and a Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy, she brings a unique blend of clinical knowledge and therapeutic skills to her role.
Thinnie has experience supporting clients with diverse needs, including mental health conditions and disabilities. She is committed to providing trauma-informed, attachment-based care and tailoring strategies to each individual’s needs and goals. Having worked across different healthcare systems, Thinnie combines a global perspective with her understanding of the Australian system, gained through her volunteering and professional experience. Her approachable nature and compassionate outlook help her foster meaningful connections with clients and their families.
As someone new to the Northern Territory, Thinnie is excited to immerse herself in the local community and contribute to enhancing the well-being of her clients. In her free time, Thinnie enjoys exploring new cultures, traveling, and continuing her education in innovative therapeutic practices.
Trinity Martinac
Registered Behaviour Support Practitioner
Trinity brings a rich and varied background in the child protection sector, with experience in clinical environments, residential care as a therapeutic youth worker, and casework support as a Family Contact Supervisor. She has a strong focus on trauma-informed care and working towards positive behavioural outcomes for children and young people.
Trinity has also gained valuable insight through a placement with an Innocence Initiative, contributing to efforts in investigating claims of wrongful conviction and advocating for reform on systemic issues that contribute to injustices. This experience aligns with her passion for justice and her dedication to supporting vulnerable individuals.
Academically, Trinity holds a Bachelor of Psychological Science and a Bachelor of Criminology, and is currently advancing her knowledge through a Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced) at the University of Adelaide. Outside of her professional pursuits, Trinity enjoys exploring the outdoors, travelling, and spending time with her dogs. She’s also an avid reader and enjoys keeping up with her favourite TV series.
