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Sometimes families notice changes in behaviour over time. A child, teenager, or adult may begin feeling more overwhelmed, withdraw from activities they used to enjoy, or find everyday situations more difficult to manage.
These changes can be confusing and stressful for both the participant and the people supporting them.
Behaviour Support can help families better understand what might be happening and what strategies could make daily life easier.
Importantly, Behaviour Support is not just for crisis situations. Many families access Behaviour Support early to help prevent small challenges from becoming bigger ones.
Signs Behaviour Support May Be Helpful
Behaviour Support may be helpful if you are noticing things like:
- Increased frustration or emotional outbursts
- Feeling socially isolated or excluded from activities with peers
- Avoiding environments that were previously manageable
- Increased anxiety in certain situations
- Difficulty coping with changes in routine
- Meltdowns or shutdowns becoming more frequent
- Communication challenges that lead to distress
- Family members noticing behaviours changing over time
Often behaviour is a way of communicating that something isn’t working in a person’s environment or that they need additional support.
A Behaviour Support Practitioner works to understand why behaviours are happening and what changes might help reduce stress and support the person to feel safer, calmer, and more confident.
What Happens During a Behaviour Support Assessment
During the assessment process, the Behaviour Support Practitioner will take time to understand the participant’s life, routines, and supports.
This may include:
- Speaking with family members and support workers
- Talking with teachers or therapists
- Reviewing existing reports
- Understanding the participant’s strengths, communication style, and environment
The goal is to develop practical strategies that are realistic and easy for families and support teams to use in everyday life.
What About Restrictive Practices?
Sometimes behaviours can create safety concerns for the person or others around them. In these situations, additional safeguards may occasionally be required.
Behaviour Support Practitioners are specially trained to ensure that any restrictive practices are only considered when absolutely necessary and always in line with strict NDIS guidelines. A key focus of Behaviour Support is to reduce and eliminate the need for these practices over timeby building better supports and strategies.
How the Assessment Can Help Your NDIS Plan
At Therapy Partners, an experienced Behaviour Support Practitioner can complete a Behaviour Support Assessment and Recommendations Report.
The assessment typically uses up to 10 hours of available NDIS Capacity Building funding, billed at the NDIS standard rate of $193.99 per hour.
Following the assessment, families receive a detailed report outlining strategies and recommendations. This report can also support NDIS plan reviews and discussions with planners or Support Coordinators about whether Behaviour Support funding may be appropriate in the participant’s plan.
Taking the First Step
If you’re based in Gold Coast or Brisbane, and you’ve noticed behaviours becoming more difficult to manage, or if someone you care about seems to be struggling in certain environments, a Behaviour Support Assessment can be a helpful first step.
Families, participants, and Support Coordinators are welcome to contact Therapy Partners to discuss whether Behaviour Support may be helpful and how to organise a referral.
