At Prag Consulting, we understand what it means to operate in the complex world of NDIS and human services. Our experienced consultants have worked across human services in both government and non-government sectors, with extensive experience in disability, mental health, education and other community service contexts, in clinical, management, policy & governance (including on Borads of governance) teaching and private consulting.
Our fresh perspectives, specialised expertise and understanding of the bigger picture can support your organisation to overcome current challenges and be well placed for future opportunities.
Clinical Supervision & Learning and Development
We are regularly sought after for clinical supervision for behaviour support practitioners or group supervision and reflective practice for staff groups. Our Clinical Supervisors include psychologists and social work clinicians with extensive experience across the human service sector in disability, mental health, forensic/justice and housing and homelessness.
At Prag, we understand that everyone’s needs are different and aim to work with you to tailor supervision to meet the needs of individual practitioners or teams. With qualified psychologists and social workers providing clinical supervision, we can provide clinical supervision for behaviour support practitioners and psychologists (including Board Approved Supervision for provisional psychologists), and we are also a provider of choice for psychology and PBS student placements for several universities.
Learning & Development
Our experienced trainers and clinicians can support your learning and development needs in Positive Behaviour Support, Trauma Informed Practice, Module 2 requirements for Behaviour Support and Restrictive Practices compliance under the NDIS, Module 2A requirements for implementing Behaviour Support Plans, or other customised learning programs.
Group Supervision, Secondary Consultation & Reflective Practice
At Prag, we understand the importance of group dynamics and getting everyone on the same page. Whether the focus is an individual participant, learning and development, or broader organisational issues, our skilled clinicians can facilitate group supervision and reflective practice focussed on complex needs of individual participants or any theme or issue.
With our vast experience across a range of disciplines and sectors, Prag’s secondary consultation and support can provide support and guidance to behaviour support practitioners and disability staff on risk management, planning and interventions to improve participant outcomes.
Clinical Supervision & Behaviour Support Clinical Supervision
For organisations or individual practitioners seeking clinical supervision across Australia, Prag’s team of clinical supervisors can provide fresh perspectives and important insights. We have supported many disability and other social service agencies and clinicians/practitioners across the country over many years, with safe, ethical, and effective professional practice through reflection, feedback, and guidance. We provide individual or group supervision, based on your needs, and receive overwhelmingly positive feedback from agencies and practitioners alike with positive outcomes for clients and practitioners.
For many Behaviour Support Practitioners, the role can be both rewarding and complex. Our Clinical Supervisors are all specialist or advanced registered Behaviour Support Practitioners and bring a wealth of experience and clinical training and knowledge to supervision. By providing a safe and supportive environment for reflection and challenge, our aim is to support you to be the best Practitioner you can be!
Meet our clinical supervisors in Melbourne
Shanker Pragnaratne, MAPS
Registered Psychologist, Board Approved Supervisor; Clinical Director
Alicia Bakker
Senior Clinician, Specialist Behaviour Support and Practice Development
Katherine Howells, PhD
Psychologist (Ed & Dev Registrar) & Senior Associate Clinical and Behaviour Support
Stephanie Angelis, B Psych. (Hons); M Clin Psych.
Registered Psychologist & Senior Associate, Clinical and Behaviour Support
Organisational Consulting and Advisory
With the complexities of the NDIS landscape, being across the requirements and changes can sometimes feel overwhelming. Whether you are an experienced or new NDIS provider, or just considering entering the market, our experienced NDIS consultants can support you through our consulting, training and advisory services.
If you are working in the NDIS, or thinking about it, we can assist you: to understand the NDIS Registration process, prepare for Audit, and develop Policies and Procedures. If you’ve got that in hand, our Service Improvement and Evaluation support, Strategic Planning and Internal Governance reviews can help you take things to the next level.
Policy & Procedure Development
We make policy and procedure development easier by simplifying the complex steps, and developing concise and clear guidance to turn policy into action.
Service Improvement
By bringing an objective perspective, we can analyse what’s working, and where improvements can be made. At Prag, we know this only goes half way so by facilitating change management and evaluating outcomes, we can support ongoing improvement.
Internal Governance
With expertise in risk management and regulatory compliance, Prag can support organisations to improve accountability, redefine decision-making processes, and develop robust frameworks for ethical leadership, performance monitoring, and organisational integrity.
Strategic Planning
In the busy world of NDIS and complex service delivery, it can often be difficult to take a step back and think about the big picture. Our consultants are immersed in the world of NDIS, constantly scanning the environment and connecting with key players. We know when things change and how this might impact organisations. With this knowledge, we can support strategic planning and help align your business operations.
Training
Our learning and development programs are tailored to the specific needs of your program and the people you support.
Topics include:
Positive Behaviour Support
Trauma Informed Practice
Behaviour Support and Restrictive Practices compliance requirements under the NDIS; and
Other programs designed around specific learning needs.
We provide clinical supervision to Behaviour Support Practitioners, and we can also offer board‑endorsed supervision for psychologists.
Do you provide Clinical Supervision online?
Yes, most of our Clinical Supervision is online. We understand this helps people manage their time and also expands our reach across Australia.
Can you build training specific to our needs?
We believe understanding your unique needs is critical to effective training. We’ll work with you to understand exactly what you need, and identify skill gaps or performance challenges to make sure our training meets your requirements. We can deliver training on line, or in person throughout Australia – whatever suits you best.
Shanker Pragnaratne, MAPS
Qualifications: M Crim (Forensic Psych), Grad Dip Appld Psych, B.A (Psych), Cert IV (TAE)
Registered Psychologist Psychologist and Clinical Director
Shanker Pragnaratne is a registered psychologist, a NDIS registered Specialist Behaviour Support Practitioner and a Board Approved Supervisor (Psychology Board, AHPRA). His career spans over thirty years, from public mental health and in government and non-government disability services (including in management and policy roles) to private practice and teaching. He has experience in supporting those with complex presentations, including dual disability, trauma issues and offending behaviour, and has a keen interest in building the capacity of organisations to support those with complex needs.
Shanker worked from 2013 – 2016, as the Senior Practice Advisor for Disability and Complex Care, South Division, Dept. of Health and Human Services (now DFFH). In this role, he provided clinical consultation to the Disability programs of South Division (including on Divisional MACNI panels) and delivered learning programs (including reflective practice and training in trauma informed practice) tailored to individual programs across South Division. In private practice, Shanker provided psychological services under Medicare (from 2007-2017), forensic risk assessments and treatment plans for those subject to supervised treatment orders (STO), and a range of services in the disability sector. He was also a contracted consultant and trainer in Positive Behaviour Support for Melbourne Polytechnic (then, NMIT), a lecturer in the Disability and Education programs at RMIT (2012-2013), and a contracted clinical supervisor to a number of not-for-profit disability organisations (prior to the roll-out of the NDIS). From August 2007 to March 2012, Shanker worked as Manager, Positive Behaviour Support at Yooralla, which incorporated the mandated role of Authorised Program Officer (APO). In this integrated clinical and senior management role, he led and promoted a culture of Positive Behaviour Support across Yooralla, improving outcomes for people who were subject to restrictive practices. Prior to this, he was Senior Projects Officer at Disability Services Division (DHHS) and the then Office of the Senior Practitioner (OSP; Disability Services Division, DHHS), responsible for a policy portfolio which included the practice interface between Disability Services and Corrections Victoria, and the then State-wide Forensic Services.
Shanker also served as a member of the board of directors of Moira Disability and Youth Services, Melbourne from 2017-2022. In his current work, he provides clinical supervision and training in Positive Behaviour Support to organisations and staff groups and is honoured to lead an extremely talented behaviour support team at Prag Consulting.
Alicia Bakker
Qualifications: MSW; BA (Soc Sc)
Senior Clinician, Specialist Behaviour Support and Practice Development
Alicia is a senior associate and a clinical supervisor with Prag Consulting. She has worked in the disability sector for a number of years including as a Behavioural Consultant and team leader at Melbourne City Mission’s Affirming Families Positive Behaviour Support Program. Prior to this she has worked for several years providing crisis intervention support for young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Alicia enjoys supporting children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability and mental health needs from a Positive Behaviour Support approach. She is passionate about building positive relationships, promoting full inclusion in family and community life and improving quality of life for children and young people with complex needs.
Alicia has completed a BA in Social Sciences at La Trobe University and a Master of Social Work at Monash University. She also has a keen interest in alternative therapeutic approaches and has undertaken training in animal assisted therapy.
Dr. Katherine Howells, PhD
Qualifications: PhD, MPsych(Ed&Dev), BPsych(Hons)
Psychologist (Ed & Dev Registrar) & Senior Associate Clinical and Behaviour Support
Katherine is a registered psychologist and Senior Associate at Prag Consulting. She holds a Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology and a PhD. Her doctoral research explored the outcomes of community, organised physical activity for children on the autism spectrum, and she has published several journal articles in this area.
Katherine has experience supporting neurodivergent young people in therapeutic settings and is passionate about promoting inclusion, building community participation, and supporting overall wellbeing. Her approach is warm, empathetic, and collaborative, drawing on a range of evidence-based strategies tailored to each person’s individual needs.
Outside of her work, Katherine enjoys being in nature and spending time with pets.
Stephanie Angelis, B Psych. (Hons); M Clin Psych.
Qualifications: B Psych. (Hons); M Clin Psych.
Registered Psychologist & Senior Associate, Clinical and Behaviour Support
Stephanie is a psychologist and an experienced behaviour support practitioner, who has recently completed a Master of Clinical Psychology. She has experience working across disability, forensic, education, and acute mental health settings, supporting individuals across the lifespan with a range of mental health and behavioural presentations.
Stephanie has experience supporting individuals across the lifespan and has a particular interest in the assessment and support of individuals presenting with forensic behaviours, complex trauma, and co-occurring mental health difficulties. Through her clinical training, she gained experience in education and acute mental health settings, developing skills in psychological assessment, formulation, risk assessment and management, and evidence-based intervention within fast paced environments.
Stephanie is passionate about supporting young people’s mental health needs through trauma-informed, person-centred practice. She values collaboration with care teams and enjoys supporting services to adopt a Positive Behaviour Support framework to ensure holistic, ethical, and developmentally appropriate support for each individual.
