Jill Hellemans

I am a Certified Behaviour Analyst, and I hold a Masters in Special Education along with a Postgraduate Diploma in Child and Family Counselling.

I began my career in special education in 2001 and have spent over two decades working with children with additional needs, their families and teachers across homes, schools and preschools. I have worked across both the not for profit sector and private practice, supporting children across all developmental domains with a particular focus on behaviour, communication and learning. Early in my career I co-developed and launched Sydney's first not for profit early intervention service built on the science of Applied Behaviour Analysis within a family focused model.

My career has taken me well beyond the therapy room. I had the privilege of running a pilot program for Aboriginal families in the La Perouse and Redfern communities, providing targeted support for children with additional needs and building capacity within those families. Internationally, I have worked in India delivering teacher training and building the capacity of educators in schools to better support children with additional needs. I also partnered with MultiLit to develop a suite of online professional learning modules for teachers focused on positive teaching and positive behaviour support, translating research into practical, accessible tools for educators on the ground.

As Director of All Aboard Inclusion, I now lead a team dedicated to supporting children with diverse needs in mainstream preschool settings. I am also a regular conference presenter, speaking on research to practice in special education and behaviour analysis, and have delivered workshops and training at universities, schools and preschools across Sydney, Regional NSW and internationally.

• Co-authored Chapter 18 in the Australian Autism Handbook: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-australian-autism-handbook-benison-o-reilly/book/9781925183849.html

• Managing Challenging Behaviour in the Classroom: Positive Teaching and Function-Based Approaches, LDA Bulletin, Learning Difficulties Australia, September 2020

• Annie's Centre Podcast on Classroom Behaviour Management: https://www.buzzsprout.com/743399/7668664

• Behaviour Bits with Jenn Colechin, Episode 18: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2FRsdpfW7yDwu9zCua9ge7 

It started before I even had a career. I was volunteering in India at a horse riding program for children with disabilities and something shifted in me that I have never been able to shake. Being alongside those children, watching them light up, I knew this was my path.

But if I am honest, it is the children themselves who have kept me here. I will never forget the first boy I worked with in early intervention. He was absolutely devoted to Thomas the Tank Engine and In the Night Garden. I made it my personal mission to learn every character name, every catchphrase and recite the videos back to him, because I wanted so desperately to connect with him and build the kind of trust that would open the door to learning. That is still how I approach every child I work with today. No matter what a child loves, I want to find my way into that world with them.

I am also deeply passionate about building teams of clinicians who lead with joy, who understand that fun and connection are not the soft extras, they are the whole point.

Inclusion is a human right. Every child deserves to belong, not just to be present, but to genuinely thrive in their community alongside their peers.

For me, the most inspiring moments are not always the ones you might expect. Yes, I want to see children learning and connecting and playing side by side. But the thing that fills me up most is watching the adults around a child start to think differently. When an educator shifts their perspective and suddenly sees what is possible, when barriers that once seemed fixed start to come down, that is when real inclusion begins.

I am passionate about building the capacity of educators to support children with additional needs, because when we invest in the people around a child, we change everything. I want to create learning environments where children, educators and peers all find connection through play, where difference is not an obstacle but an invitation to do things better.

Without a doubt, My Little Pony and Alf. I saved every bit of pocket money I could get my hands on to buy the Alf phone and I treasured it so much that I still have it today. I love that those childhood obsessions now give me a genuine appreciation for the special interests my clients bring. There is nothing quite like the look on a child's face when you truly get what they love.