About
The Heart Behind
Breaking Barriers For Life
Michelle is a caring, supportive, and highly skilled professional who genuinely believes in the importance of connection and trust. She creates comfortable bonds that allow space for growth and positive change, bringing hope through a positive attitude, a collaborative spirit, and a passion for transformative change in the lives of those she walks alongside.
The vision of Breaking Barriers for Life is for everyone, especially neurodivergent individuals and their families, to feel safe, empowered, and included in all settings. Michelle works alongside individuals and families to break down barriers, provide skill-building opportunities, and offer practical, realistic strategies to create positive, lasting change.
Who We Support
We’re here to support you at every stage of life, offering compassionate, person-centred care for children under Key Worker approach, adolescents, adults, and families who are NDIS participants and we also support over 65’s, who are Support At Home clients.
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NDIS Participants across the life span who have developmental delays or disabilities.
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Parents & caregivers of individuals of all ages who have developmental delays, disabilities and/or complex needs, to provide support, caregiver workshops and/ or one to one coaching, to support families unique needs.
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Aged care clients who require support to navigate systems, such as Centrelink, support completing advanced health directives, support with accessing nursing homes. Provide therapeutic care, assessments, and evidence-based interventions. And provide support to caregivers to reduce carer burnout.
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Children & young people (including early intervention) provide direct intervention to support emotional resilience, improved social functioning and overall wellbeing across all settings.
Holistic Care,
Experts in Complexity.
Breaking Barriers for Life is led by Michelle, an AASW Accredited Disability Social Worker (ADSW). This accreditation recognises qualified social workers who have demonstrated specialised expertise in the disability sector and meet the high professional and ethical standards set by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
Accredited Disability Social Workers are trained to support people with disability to enhance quality of life, strengthen social and emotional wellbeing, and increase participation in everyday life and community settings. They also bring valuable expertise to aged care settings, supporting older adults with therapeutic care, assessments, and evidence-based interventions.
Professional Expertise Includes:
AASW Accredited Disability Social Worker (ADSW)
Specialised expertise in disability social work and disability support systems
Membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and adherence to the AASW Code of Ethics
Supporting individuals to enhance wellbeing, independence, and social participation
Conducting professional assessments and delivering evidence-based interventions
Providing NDIS therapy supports and Functional Capacity Assessments
Delivering therapeutic support, functional assessments, and evidence-based care within aged care services
Advocating for human rights, inclusion, and social justice
Deep knowledge of disability supports, community services, and care systems
Our Values
Our ethos is to support transformative change for people living with disability by moving beyond a medical, care-based model and embracing a human rights-based approach guided by the principle of “nothing about us without us.” We walk alongside individuals and families to ensure their voices, strengths, and lived experience are heard and valued, shaping person-centred, empowering, and anti-oppressive support that leads to meaningful and lasting change.
INTEGRITY
Integrity is the bedrock of our values, guiding us to uphold honesty, transparency, and ethical principles in all our actions and decisions.
INDIVIDUAL FIRST
“Individual first" encapsulates our commitment to prioritising the unique needs, perspectives, and well-being of each person in our approach, ensuring personalised care and support.
INCLUSIVITY
Inclusivity is at the heart of our values, promoting a diverse and welcoming environment where every individual is respected, heard, and celebrated.
EMPOWERMENT
Empowerment is a cornerstone of our values, dedicating ourselves to equipping individuals with the confidence, tools, and support needed to take control of their own lives and fulfill their potential.
EMPATHY AND COMPASSION
Embracing empathy and compassion as fundamental values, we strive to create a space where understanding and kindness converge, fostering healing and connection in every interaction.
HOPE
Cultivating hope is essential for fostering resilience, inspiring a positive outlook, and empowering individuals to overcome barriers with renewed strength and determination.
Why Choose Breaking Barriers for Life?
We provide a holistic approach by addressing the diverse and multidimensional needs of clients, considering their physical, emotional, social, and psychological well being. We tailor interventions and services to meet the unique needs of clients, ensuring their dignity, autonomy, and self-determination are respected.