Background and Early Career

Joyce-Lyn Smith is a compassionate and experienced professional who has dedicated over 25 years to supporting people with disabilities. Her career began as a support worker, helping individuals in complex situations. Over time, she developed her skills further through various roles, including a decade at Disability Services Queensland in the Intensive Behaviour Support Team. There, she provided specialist guidance to families and organisations. Joyce-Lyn also spent time with the NDIS, gaining a deeper understanding of the planning process. Her expertise lies in Positive Behaviour Support, having trained with Dr Gary LaVigna at the Institute of Applied Behaviour Analysis in Los Angeles.

Founding PoDDSS

Joyce-Lyn always dreamed of starting her own business to focus on supporting people with complex needs. With the support of clinical psychologist Dr John Livingston, she founded PoDDSS. Understanding the challenges faced by families and organisations, she set out to mentor services managing behaviours of concern. Joyce-Lyn’s extensive training and experience have enabled her to support people in highly complex cases. Her approach is based on the belief that every behaviour communicates something. She draws on her deep understanding of sensory support, movement differences, and conditions like Prader-Willi Syndrome, Intellectual Disabilities, and Autism to guide her work.

Professional Development and Mentoring Approach

Joyce-Lyn recently completed an Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management, further specialising her expertise in the disability field. She’s committed to building a strong, capable team that delivers high-quality support and practical guidance. As a mentor and supervisor, Joyce-Lyn encourages a thoughtful, sustainable approach: “Think big, start small, move slowly, grow.” Her methods are creative yet grounded in evidence. She focuses on improving functional capacity and relationships. Alongside Mr Karl Jacks, she co-developed a program aimed at helping people with complex sensory and movement needs, reflecting her ongoing innovation in disability support services.

Community Focus and Leadership Style

A strong advocate for visual communication tools, Joyce-Lyn ensures all PoDDSS staff integrate these supports into their work to foster independence. Her services go beyond Positive Behaviour Support—she offers mentoring for families and providers, professional supervision for independent workers, and training across the sector. Joyce-Lyn’s open-door policy encourages families, participants, and support providers to drop in and connect with her team. Although she’s often out working with clients, she’s always keen for a chat when available. Her leadership reflects her deep commitment to quality, inclusion, and improving the lives of people with disabilities.