mañana

Mañana crew – here to support YOU.

A bit about Us…

Writing About Yourself is Weird… Jordan Dickson.

With a collection of expanding registered practitioners, I guess it helps to know what we are all about as humans!
I’m Jordan Dickson, I don’t want to be a founder, a CEO, a clinical lead, a principle, any of those, I just want to be helpful to others.

Personally; keen surfer, keen kiter, keen snowboarder. Likes video games, comics (have you read invincible!), rock climbing! 2 cats.
Weird things: I like to go the the library to get CD’s and listen to the whole thing!If you are calling and can’t find me, best guess is that I’m in the ocean! (I’ll call you back!)

Professionally: A developing and ongoing relationship with the systems and governance of the NDIS since its pilot rollout July 2013 (wow 10 years+).

Forever grateful for a change of career to meet a wonderful bunch of participants in early service delivery that taught me that quality of life and making the most of everyday is for everyone! Always a person centred supporter.

From entry at the support worker care level to evolutions to house management, day programs, STA coordination, Team leads etc, an important skills pathway that never forgets that while the participant is forefront, the supporters of the participant and the teams that surround them daily are often the influencing catalyst for quality of life increases.

While working in the USA, with complex participants in the equivalent SIL space, I was trained the process behaviour support (which the NDIS now calls Improved Relationships). Understanding behaviour as communication, and the environmental influences on behaviour, in conjunction with a participants ability to make change per their function remains at the forefront of practice.

Human rights first delivery in best practice (per RP), Training for stakeholders to support participants, Combined support advocacy, and working with the participants direct in their environments are the cornerstones of my practice for “Improved Relationships” (That’s not just the focus with me and the participant, but everybody in the participants support circle BTW.)

I have been an NDIS Behaviour Practitioner for 5 years, and the NDIS recognise my skills in the capability framework at the advanced practitioner level (P0003529).

There’s all sorts of certificates to validate the practice:
Graduate Certificate in Special and Inclusive Support
Cert IV Training and Assessment
Association for Behavioural Contextual Science
Managing Challenging Behaviour etc,

But that’s not what matters, what matters is how I go about assisting YOU.

Our Client Representative – Lachlan Strange

Nothing without the input from the people we represent.

Lachlan Strange displays a strong determination to ensure that participants in the scheme, and particularly participants working with Manana are represented and accounted for in the company direction, planning and feedback.
Lachlan has a strong interest in it, because: he’s a participant too!
Lachlan knows the importance of making choices and having your say compared to having others make choices for you. He knows that as an adult, and a person with both complex disability diagnosis and mental health, he still deserves a say. He sees that for himself and it’s a great thing!

Lachlan understands the importance of the Improved relationships and behaviour support role and the help that it can offer to assist with services and interactions in making the NDIS teamwork.

Lachlan also understands his participant rights, his rights to consent, and his rights to choose support to suit his goals and outcomes – he has lived it.

That makes it only right that he’s included on our board to help us serve people like him.

P.S. Lachlan sees and edits all this, he’s approved it!

Use Your Voice inscription on gray background

Clare Wright ( Alter Ego: Woo Woo Wong)

**Hi, I’m Clare – your friendly neighbourhood Behaviour Support Practitioner!**I’ve been working in the NDIS sector since it first rolled out in Newcastle, wearing many hats along the way. I started as a support worker in community and SIL settings, transitioned into managing SIL houses (which I absolutely loved), and even did a stint as a Coordinator of Supports before finding my passion in behaviour support, where I’ve been focused for the past two years.

My special skill set lies in connecting with people, listening deeply, and being okay with the uncomfortable – it’s all part of helping people grow and thrive. When I’m not working, you can find me running (probably too much), doing CrossFit, or trying out new challenges. I also love watching anime and playing my Nintendo Switch – can I get any cooler? My dog, Axel, is my best mate and an anchor for my mental health – because animals are just that special.

I’m here to support you, be part of your journey, and help you reach your goals, one step at a time.

Hi, I’m Axel – Clare’s loyal companion and best mate!
I’m turning 7 on the 22nd of June 2025 (mark your calendars!), and I’m loving life as Clare’s (or as I call her, Mum) friendly sidekick. I’m always up for a walk, especially along my favorite route that I insist we take most days. Ear rubs and pats? Yes, please—I can never get enough! And while I’m a good boy most of the time, I have a little secret: I like to sneak a taste of the cat’s food when Mum isn’t looking.

Mum takes amazing care of me, always reminding me that I’m the best boy and tucking me into bed when she gets up at ridiculous hours (like 5 AM!) to head to the gym or for a run, cutting into my precious beauty sleep. Life with Mum is the best, and I’m so lucky to be her fur baby.

Tom Patterson (AKA: Cyber; wont use public Wifi.)

Hey, I’m Tom, an easy-going and friendly guy who’s all about enjoying life with the people I meet along the way. When I’m not at work, you’ll usually find me kicking a ball around, hanging out with my young kid, or slurping down a strawberry thick shake (seriously, it’s an obsession). I love staying active, I’m slightly obsessed with football (okay, very obsessed), and I believe a little humour and warmth go a long way in making life a whole lot better! I bring a gentle and respectful approach alongside a hint of light-heartedness to create a space where even the toughest of conversations feel that little bit easier. If you are looking for someone who makes you feel heard and valued, I’d love to connect!

In a work sense, I bring my love of team work to the game of Behaviour support, I’m a focused skills builder and works closely with my crew to make sure they are always dribbling the ball up the pitch towards the goal. I pretty versatile in all positions depending on the client’s need, working from the wing (direct assistance), the goal (NDIS compliance and standards) or from the bench (with other supporters).

If only I was recruited by an actual football side, but I have glass ankles!

Amanda Teasdale (An expert on Chicken Round ups?!?)

As knowledgeable as she is, Mandy wouldn’t write her own bio!

She’s not a self promoter, but she is a veteran in the NDIS behaviour support space.She won’t show it on meeting as she is really nice, but she’s a force when it comes to understanding the holistic approach to support and behaviour impacts as a function of greater environment.

Mandy has always, always been an advocate of clients first to the point she will even get in (a little) bit of trouble defending the rights of participants. She’s not afraid of pushing the system to respond to her clients needs, and has mixed it with the big and small organisations, the mixed system teams (Health, DCJ, OOHC), the registered and unregistered mobs, and families – Mandy thrives to support families!

A real experienced and mixed modality operator, there’s truly not a NDIS support space that can shock her, or that she can’t apply herself towards to supporting her participants.

From supporting interpersonal relationships between participants in love, support of health with comorbid A&D + mental health clients, working towards accommodation and supported placements for kids at risk of harm and a sprinkle of “lets get it done now, get in, I’m driving!” approach. She can cover it.

Outside of the game, she adores her little sidekick grandson and puppy baby equally, has recently become an avid ocean fisherwoman, and sneaks away to her cabin at most chances, once she’s done the grass back on the farm which she calls “vodka mowing” or “daiquiri yard maintenance”.

If you’re looking for someone with the holistic lens of the total NDIS and the impact of behaviours on support who’s down to earth and is easy to relate too – she’s a valued insight for any team.

Rhiannon Allison (Queen of Admin, Assassin of Overdue billing)

Technical expert NDIS

Meet Rhiannon, Manana’s very own NDIS billing and claims guru! She’s our resident expert when it comes to navigating the ins and outs of financial admin, making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. She’s been working in the NDIS space for a long time, so she knows the claims and payments process like the back of her hand.

Rhiannon is a quiet force of nature, always working diligently to untangle tricky payment issues and rectify billing errors. She’s quick to solve problems, even if it means putting in extra hours to get the job done right. With Rhiannon on your side, you can rest assured that your accounts are in the most capable hands.

Beyond her billing brilliance, Rhiannon is a self-confessed gamer girl with one of the warmest personalities you’ll ever encounter. She’s a huge motivator for our team, always ready to support and offer a kind word. She’s also sharp as a tack and not much gets past her. She’s probably got the answer or knows who to ask! You’ll often find her doing little thoughtful acts of gratitude for others, quietly brightening everyone’s day and pretending she had nothing to do with it!

Amy Bartolacci (Hidden Talent: 90’s Rap)

Hi, I’m Amy – lover of sunshine, food, bright colours, Lego builds, dinosaurs, gardens full of plants, and yes… spreadsheets (I’m an Excel tragic who finds conditional formatting exciting – please don’t judge). I’m also a self-confessed book nerd who can happily deep dive into any topic – so if you’ve got a passion, I’ll want to know everything about it, probably with a hundred follow-up questions. My Italian heritage has cultivated my love of coffee, food and wine, and is likely why I talk with my hands and get overly enthusiastic about pretty much everything. My family means the world to me, and that sense of connection and care is something I bring into all parts of my work.

Professionally, I’m an Advanced Behaviour Support Practitioner and Registered Psychologist. I began my psychology degree in 2010 (yep – it’s been a journey!) and became generally registered in 2025. Along the way, I discovered my passion for behaviour support while working as an NDIS support coordinator in 2019; I took the plunge to pursue dual expertise in both psychology and behaviour support in 2022, and the rest (as they say) is history. Apparently, I don’t do things in halves – it’s all in, or nothing!

Since then, I’ve loved supporting children, adolescents and adults, as well as their families and SIL teams, through practical, person-centred strategies that really fit everyday life. I specialise in functional assessments and behaviour support plans that blend evidence-based psychology with behaviour support, making them both comprehensive and realistic. I’m also a big believer in the power of data – give me a spreadsheet and I’ll turn raw numbers into a story that actually helps people (if behaviour support had a love language, mine would be formulas and column charts).

At the heart of it all, I’m here to listen, collaborate and bring a mix of professional insight, creativity and joy into the behaviour support journey. Whether that looks like problem-solving tricky situations with evidence-based tools, empowering a team with strategies that work in real life, or just sharing a coffee while we plan the next step, I’ll meet you where you’re at.

TL;DR – It can feel like you’re spending time with a walking affirmations book, and if that makes you want to vomit that’s okay – we can still be friends.

Cody Rudland (He’s Not Sure how he got here, But Great at his role!)

My name is Cody Rudland. I’m a proud Wiradjuri man, a dad, a storyteller and a Behaviour Support Practitioner. I’m not a clipboard clinician, and I actually fell into this line of work by complete accident.

When I was 19 years old I moved to London. I picked up work as a part-time barkeep, and full-time as a Teacher’s Assistant at Cricket Green School, a special education school. That job changed my life. I found joy, purpose, and people I still call family today. (Shoutout to Tommy, hope you’re well, bruv.) The school offered to sponsor me to stay in London, but in the end, I missed the warmth of the Australian sun way too much. I moved home in 2016.

When I came back to Australia, I jumped into support work with Allambi, Life Without Barriers, and a few smaller organisations with a client base consisiting of characters that all had extensive BSP and RP requirements. Somewhere along the way, my rapport, consistency, and obsessive note-taking got noticed, and I was offered a role as a Behaviour Support Practitioner at an allied health organisation.

I threw myself into learning the craft with real training, real practice, real mistakes, and real growth. After a while, I realised the traditional allied-health model didn’t sit right with me, and also wasn’t completely suited to my clients outcomes and goals (They hate offices as much as i do!). I eventually found Manana, where I finally feel ethically aligned.

Now, my practice is person-centred, trauma-informed, culturally grounded, and relationship-driven. I meet people where they’re at. I focus on safety, trust, and co-regulation. I utilise my skills in creativity, humour, gaming, storytelling, walking, yarning, whatever works.

Outside of work, I’m a family man, a gamer, a thinker, and a very tired dad to a wild two-year-old who takes ownership of my whole heart (and all of my sleep). I believe in doing support with honesty, humour, culture, and humanity. No ego. No jargon. No bullshit. Just real people, working together, trying to make life better, calmer, safer, and more connected.

GRACE mCmAHON AKA: Fox Divi. (Yes, it’s a side hustle packing Box Divvy produce boxes, And yes, my colleagues tease me about it relentlessly.)

I’ve been in the industry for 13 years. I started at the ground level as a support worker, moved into support coordination, and finally landed on my feet as a Behaviour Support Practitioner.
Wearing all these different hats taught me something really important: behaviour is just communication. The best way to help someone isn’t from behind a computer, it’s by getting to know them, listening, thinking creatively, and getting involved with their whole team

Home is shared with my husband and our two young daughters, who keep us verrrry busy and creative, plus our two Labradors who add to the chaos. It’s a lot but it makes me extremely grateful.

I’m a huge nature lover and the beach is my reset button. In the rare moments I get actual free time, I’m running, traveling, or scouting out new food and coffee spots.

Editors note: Grace hated writing her bio too, and struggled to find a photo where she wasn’t “up to no-good” or with a glass of wine in hand. Her stuggle was real and that makes her incredibly down to earth, understanding, and inviting to share things with! Being a BSP with a sense of realism that not everyone is “good” all the time!

Jordan bell (Jordan upgrade 2.0)

Hi! I’m Jordan… or Jordan 2.0 (like getting a tech upgrade!)

I come from a Bsc psychology background, but did my defining years as a team lead for complex participants. Professionally, I’ve been working in the NDIS space for a few years now, starting as a support worker and moving into a SIL house coordinator role. Those experiences have really shaped how I work today and gave me a strong appreciation for the day-to-day realities of support.

Jordan 1.0 found me taking a lead behaviour space within a complex team and was impressed! Most importantly, I take a collaborative and person-centered approach in everything I do. I truly believe that every person is the expert in their own life, and my role is to work and learn alongside you so we can build something that actually fits your goals and your world. I also like to bring a bit of light-heartedness and humor into my work where I can, because sometimes things feel a little easier when we can share a laugh along the way.

Outside of work, you’ll usually find me at the gym. I’ve been an avid CrossFitter for a number of years now (which my ability doesn’t always reflect!). While I love the health and wellness side of it, what I really love is the sense of community and connection. It’s a lot easier to do hard things (like burpees or running… yuck) when you’ve got the right people around you and a bit of encouragement, same as for behaviour support right?

I’m someone who genuinely enjoys the simple things in life – grabbing a coffee with a friend, going for a walk along the beach, or sitting in the sun with a good book. That said, I’m always up for an adventure and love getting involved in anything new that comes my way. Animals are a big soft spot for me, especially dogs. I don’t have one just yet, but there are strong plans in place for a little dachshund in the near future, so watch this space!

At the end of the day, I’m here to listen, learn, and support you in a way that feels genuine and useful to YOU.

Jake Stephens (Overthinking is okay to think about a lot right?)

Jake (snake) comes from a background of youth and young people, he holds a Bachelor of Development Studies. (Which means he thinks about the parts of a system and how they affect and individual).

Jake brings over six years of hands-on experience supporting children, young people, and adults with complex behavioural, psychosocial, and mental health needs.

Jake is a passionate Liverpool FC fan, a self-described “number 1 person” most likly to shares his minor anxieties or systemic grandisoe NDIS corrections in the group chat.

Grounded in trauma-informed, person-centred, and strengths-based care, Jake is dedicated to upholding participant autonomy and dignity. Clients and support networks value his empathetic, relatable approach and his strong commitment to advocating for every individual’s quality of life.

Known for his humor and high-energy enthusiasm, Jake is an avid sports fan (and loyal ~~NSW~~ QLD advocate) who loves a good banter, staying active, and connecting with his community.

Kody O’Brien-Brown (Self appointed “Superior” Kody)

KOBB take the rookie card, but is anything but. Years or work in team lead roles with youth and children in care, position him perfectly for a balnced understanding of the system that impact behaviour and thier support and work arounds.

Kody is committed to delivering person-centred, evidence-based support that enhances the quality of life for participants and their support networks.

Kody focuses on proactive, collaborative strategies and positive behaviour support. He works closely with participants, families, and multidisciplinary teams to implement effective frameworks, reduce restrictive practices, and foster meaningful skill development and independence.

Known for his approachable and collaborative nature, Kody is passionate about community inclusion and empowering individuals to achieve their personal goals.

Hes also perhaps the only man in the world to finish Runescape!

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