Support for those who need it most.
Supporting individuals with disability involved in or at risk of entering the justice system.
Who is this for?
SAL Consulting’s Forensic Disability Practice is for children, young people, and adults with disability whose lives intersect with the criminal justice system, or who are at risk of such involvement.
Our services focus on people whose justice involvement may be related to:
Cognitive impairment, intellectual disability or acquired brain injury
Schizophrenia and other complex mental health disorders
Neurodevelopmental disability
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Complex communication or sensory needs
Behavioural challenges or patterns linked to unmet needs
People with disability are disproportionately represented in the justice system and often face challenges accessing support that truly meets their needs. Our practice recognises the complex interaction between disability, behaviour, trauma and legal involvement, and works from a human-rights, strengths-based and trauma-informed framework to address this.
How does it work?
We provide individualised, clinically rigorous assessments and tailored support, designed to build understanding, reduce risk and improve quality of life. Our approach blends specialist clinical expertise with practical care planning which aims to ensure people are supported in ways that promote safety, dignity and community integration.
Our services include:
Risk assessments, including behavioural and offending-risk evaluation
Forensic behaviour assessments
Service model planning and design – ensuring supports and environments match need
Offence-specific and offence-related intervention programs
Multidisciplinary consultation and behaviour support within a forensic context
Working collaboratively with systems/services to design and implement transition plans from prison/forensic hospitals to community living
We work collaboratively with individuals, families, carers, multidisciplinary care teams and, when appropriate, legal representatives. We ensure recommendations are clear, practical and aligned with the person’s goals and the requirements of justice, health and disability systems.
Our clinicians bring deep experience in forensic and disability practice, including advanced assessment, intervention planning and behaviour support.
What is the outcome?
Every referral culminates in a comprehensive written report that:
Summarises clinical findings and formulation
Clearly explains identified needs and contributing factors
Provides practical, evidence-based recommendations
Offers planning guidance that services and care teams can implement
Our reports and recommendations are written to be clear for individuals, families, clinicians, support teams and other professionals alike — ensuring decisions are better informed, supports are better tailored, and outcomes are stronger.
Where required, we can also integrate with broader care planning processes - - including behaviour support plans, risk management frameworks and multidisciplinary service delivery. All of which create cohesive and sustainable pathways forward.
Our Purpose.
The aim of Forensic Disability Practice at SAL Consulting is to support people with disability to:
Understand and meet their needs safely
Reduce interactions with the justice system where possible
Achieve meaningful, stable and supported lives in the community
We do this by connecting clinical insight with practical planning tools, and by partnering with people rather than just assessing them.
Recognised leaders in the space.
Get Real spoke with Yvonne at the Complex Needs Conference 2025 where she presented on the use of Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics assessment (NMT®) to understand the interplay between factors like disability, trauma, and the current circumstances of a person with complex needs.
SAL Consulting’s Forensic Disability Practice is led by Dr Yvonne Maxwell, a highly respected clinician with extensive experience in forensic psychology and complex disability practice. Dr Maxwell provides clinical leadership, governance and oversight across the service, ensuring all assessments and interventions reflect best practice, ethical rigour and current research.
Dr Maxwell is supported by a specialised team of experienced clinicians who work under her leadership to deliver high-quality forensic disability assessments and interventions. This team-based approach ensures clients receive timely access to expert support, while maintaining the high clinical standards for which Dr Maxwell and SAL Consulting are known.
Our National Forensic Practice Team
Specialised Assessment for Legal Matters
Independent, professional assessments to inform court processes and support fair outcomes.
Who is this for?
This service is for individuals involved in legal proceedings where mental health, disability, cognitive functioning, or parenting capacity are relevant factors. Our assessments are often requested by legal representatives, courts, guardianship tribunals, or service providers seeking expert opinion in complex cases.
Assessments are particularly useful in matters relating to:
Capacity to make informed decisions (e.g. financial, personal, or medical)
Parental responsibility and family court proceedings
Risk assessments (which pertain to risk of recidivism, identifying factors related to offending behaviour, treatment / service recommendations).
Tailored reporting relevant to the mental impairment act(s) in each jurisdiction
How does it work?
SAL Consulting’s clinicians bring clinical rigour, trauma-informed practice, and extensive experience in preparing materials for court.
Our process includes:
Review of relevant documents and background materials
Direct assessment with the individual (in clinic or a suitable community setting)
Interviews with key stakeholders, where appropriate
Use of standardised assessment tools and clinical judgement
A clear, detailed written report addressing the specific legal context, with professional findings and recommendations
We are experienced in providing objective, balanced assessments that are appropriate for legal and tribunal settings, and our staff are able to prepare professional reports and provide expert witness testimony when required.
Culturally responsive practice.
We recognise the disproportionate representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within Australia’s justice system, and the importance of providing forensic services that are culturally safe, respectful and responsive.
Our Approach
Our approach is grounded in understanding each person within the context of their culture, community, relationships and lived experience. We work collaboratively with individuals, families, communities and other supports to ensure our practice is culturally attuned and responsive to the needs of the people we work alongside.
This commitment is particularly important to our work with Aboriginal people and communities across Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and reflects SAL Consulting’s broader commitment to culturally informed practice across our services.