Sunshine Specialist Supports


About Me

My name is Shaughn O’Donoghue, I am the director of Sunshine Specialist Supports and I’ve lived on the Sunshine Coast for 20 years. I have worked in the disability sector for almost 30 years and am passionate about guiding people to get the most out of their life. During this time, I’ve helped people with all abilities achieve incredible goals.

My values:

The core of my values is to listen first. I want to hear your story, your dreams, visions and goals; what has worked for you before, and what experiences do you want to avoid.

Then I employ Person Centred Planning – using modern technology, strengths based approach, capacity and resilience building and providing guidance / advice before intervention. I am resilient and persistent – I won’t give up on you and I will ensure that once you’ve reached your goals, you continue to achieve these outcomes, and where possible look at how we can raise the bar.

I am mindful that not all things go to plan. I have the insight and experience to know when there is a need to re-evaluate and change direction, and have helped many people who have overcome incredible hurdles after looking at problem from a new perspective.

My aim is to support others to be the best they can, and to overcome obstacles and barriers to find their path to success; and to build an inclusive business that celebrates all individual’s unique qualities and in doing so contribute to the diversity and richness of our community.

My skills:

My experience:

I have worked for 18 years with Disability Services as a Supports Facilitator (Service Advisor), Team Leader and Manager, as well as in various project and governance roles. Prior to working for the Queensland Government, I worked for a number of disability service providers before opening my own business as a community arts worker who coordinated large scale, inclusive and accessible community events and ran music workshops and performances for people with a disability.

As a Supports Facilitator I worked with people to identify solutions that met their support needs by linking them to informal supports and recreational activities within their community that reduce the need for formal supports.

I have linked hundreds of individuals to vocational and skill-development programs, domestic support and personal care providers.

As Team Leader, I regularly referred clients to therapists for case management and therapeutic interventions; produced written reports, person centred and positive behaviour support plans, and lead the intake and assessment team in the busiest service centre in the state.

I have worked hands-on with many complex cases from:

I understand the complexities of working with people who have a substitute decision maker, and I have vast experience working with multiple stakeholders in complex environments.

Using a strengths-based approach I focus on providing participants the opportunity to build their capacity to have the greatest level of involvement in exercising choice and control of their NDIS plan. I let my clients and their loved ones guide me on the level of involvement they want from me.

I am aware of the changes and challenges the NDIA presents to participants and service providers: the NDIA is a new system with new rules and is more participant-directed.

In the four years I have been running this business I have built it to now have eight (8) Support Coordinators and an office manager. We have enjoyed this success simply because I have stuck to my values, delivered on my promises and I have only hired team members who demonstrate those same values and passion in their work.

In those four years I have also developed software that is specifically designed for Support Coordinators. This software is intended to make the administrative tasks for support coordinators as intuitive and simple as possible. It is designed to assist support coordination companies of all sizes to work as efficiently as possible and specifically to assist small businesses and sole traders to grow and expand their businesses. I am fortunate to have teamed up with the Support Coordination Academy who have provided the same tools and training resources they provide to their Support Coordination Fundamentals students. This is the only software for support coordinators that is designed by support coordinators and the only one to contain training tools specific to the role of Support Coordination.

I am also working with the Support Coordination Academy as a consultant to deliver training to their students and to assist in the development of training resources.

Please do not hesitate to call me if you have any questions.

Shaughn O’Donoghue
Director
Sunshine Specialist Supports

0412 080 494
[email protected]
www.sunshinespecialistsupports.com.au


0412 080 494