Resume

Chas Banks is an innovative behaviour intervention consultant with 20 years experience working with people with cognitive disability, severe challenging or offending behavior. Working in Australia and Britain in a diversity managerial, clinical and teaching roles, across a variety of services and situations has provided her with a deep, rich knowledge of planning, treatment and service options in this specialised field. She also has expert casework, project management and teaching experience.

Roles have included; Manager of Clinical and Casework for the Community Justice Program (CJP), and Team Leader Clinical (CJP), a state wide program which established a range of accommodation places and a mix of support services for over 200 offenders with a cognitive disability exiting custody. This cohort, of whom 36% were Aboriginal, had a level of complexity beyond what Ageing Disability and Home Care were able to offer.

Extensive experience as a behavior consultant in regional NSW and Sydney has provided expertise in the development of behaviour support strategies for range of people with a cognitive disability. These include; offenders exiting custody, people with complex needs, trauma, significant levels of alcohol and drug use, mental health issues, histories of self-harm and attempted suicide. A teaching background has supported a wealth of experience delivering training to behaviour support practitioners, psychologists, managers, case workers etc. from both government and non-government organisations in positive behaviour support.

People with cognitive disability, particularly Aboriginal people or people exiting custody are often those with the least amount of hope for the future. Chas is passionate about empowering people with a cognitive disability to live fulfilling lives. With the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) building their capacities and those of their families, staff and services has become a central focus of her work.

Chas’s tertiary qualifications include; a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Australian Prehistoric Archaeology and English and a Diploma of Education both awarded by the University of New England. Accredited Secondary School teaching subjects are; English and Aboriginal Studies. Whilst teaching in London (2000-2002) Chas was awarded Qualified Teacher Status by Canterbury Christ Church University, making her eligible to teach Primary School in England.