Ms Emily Webb, Mr Tristan MacGillivray, Ms Jayne Dennis
1Forensic Disability Services, Australia
Biography:
Tristan has a background in Health Science, a Master’s in Data Analytics, and a Specialist Certificate in Forensic Disability. Tristan has had a range of roles across Forensic Disability Services, in residential, clinical, stakeholder engagement, and management appointments. Tristan currently oversees service data and performance while leading intake coordination for Forensic Disability Clinical Services. Tristan is a co-author of the Therapeutic Feedback Model and the designer of its data collection and reporting application. This diverse professional trajectory has afforded Tristan comprehensive perspective on the structure, function, and recent evolution of forensic disability service delivery in Victoria.
Jayne is the Manager Forensic Residential Services within Forensic Disability Services in Victoria’s Dept of Family, Fairness and Housing. Jayne has held several key leadership roles in forensic disability for more than 32 years since attaining her Degree in Applied Science, Intellectual Disability Studies. Jayne has extensive hands-on experience providing compassionate care to individuals undergoing offender treatment in residential services and actively contributes to the profession by inspiring forensic disability workers and guiding them in their professional development. Jayne is also a lead developer and co-author of the Therapeutic Feedback Model.
Alejandro Avendano-Jones (M.Prof.Psych, MFMH) is the Manager of Service and Practice Development at Forensic Disability Services (DFFH) in Victoria. He is a registered psychologist with postgraduate qualifications in Forensic Mental Health and Professional Psychology. Alejandro leads initiatives that enhance service quality, clinical governance, and evidence-based practice across disability, justice, and mental health sectors. He works closely with government departments, clinical teams, and justice stakeholders to strengthen responses to individuals with complex needs and promote safer, more inclusive and accountable systems. Alejandro is committed to advancing ethical practice, workforce capability, and policy development to improve outcomes for people with intellectual disability and intersecting vulnerabilities.
Abstract:
Correctional and forensic rehabilitation services hold a fundamental responsibility to reduce harmful behaviours with clients. As behaviour change begins from a baseline of risk and unwanted behaviour, tensions emerge between delivering ethical, evidence-based interventions and managing the cumulative effect this has on staff. Forensic Disability Services’ Residential Treatment Facilities (RTF) aims to address this tension through the Therapeutic Feedback Model (TFM).
The TFM delivers compulsory offender rehabilitation for people with cognitive disability convicted of serious sexual and violent offences with the goal of increasing quality of life while reducing recidivism risk. The TFM is underpinned by Positive Behaviour Support (Horner et al., 1990); Risk, Need, and Responsivity principles (Andrews, Bonta & Hoge, 1990); and the Good Lives Model (Ward, 2002), delivered using a cognitive behavioural approach to align behavioural expectations with capabilities and treatment goals. Residential and clinical staff are required to support residents with skills and strategies to replace or reduce maladaptive behaviour via regular feedback, and restorative opportunities. While this approach reflects effective intervention, it can expose staff to psychological or physical risk of harm. In turn, the workforces’ implicit response to seek retribution, or protect themselves may hinder client outcomes due to the opportunity to utilise reward programs or contingencies for purposes otherwise unintended. Supported by survey outcomes from staff, this presentation will discuss the risks and benefits of implementing therapeutic approaches like the TFM and how staff responses and feelings towards clients and their behaviours should be considered in the development and implementation of the program.