Positive

Behaviour Support

When behaviours of concern are getting in the way of everyday life, it can be easy to focus on stopping the behaviour. We take a different approach. Positive Behaviour Support starts with curiosity, compassion and understanding — looking at why a behaviour is happening and what the person may be communicating, experiencing or needing.

Our approach is person-centred, strengths-based and neuroaffirming. We look beyond the behaviour itself to understand the whole picture, including the person’s environment, relationships, communication, sensory needs, skills, preferences and experiences.

Together, we work to:

  • Understand what is driving behaviours of concern

  • Reduce situations that make things harder

  • Build communication, emotional regulation and coping skills

  • Teach practical skills that support greater independence

  • Increase choice, control and participation in everyday life

  • Support families, schools and support teams to respond consistently and confidently

  • Most importantly, improve quality of life — not simply change behaviour

A plan that fits real life

Positive Behaviour Support isn’t about creating a plan that sits in a folder. We take the time to understand what is happening across the person’s everyday environments and develop practical strategies that can actually be used at home, at school, in the community and wherever life happens.

Following a comprehensive assessment, we develop an individualised Behaviour Support Plan that outlines proactive strategies, skill development and appropriate responses to behaviours of concern. Where required, we also provide ongoing support to help the person and the people around them put these strategies into practice.

The goal isn't compliance. It’s helping people feel understood, supported and equipped with the skills and environments they need to thrive.

Behaviour is communication. Let’s work out what it’s trying to tell us.

Chanelle

Alongside her work as a Registered Psychologist, Chanelle offers Positive Behaviour Support with a warm, collaborative and person-centred approach. She believes that understanding each person's individual needs, strengths and environment is essential to developing support that makes a meaningful difference in everyday life.

Drawing on her background in psychology, Chanelle works alongside individuals, families and support networks to develop practical, tailored strategies that build skills, encourage independence and improve quality of life. Her focus is on understanding the person behind the behaviour and creating positive, sustainable change that reflects their individual goals and circumstances.

Martin (Marty)

Marty is one of our Positive Behaviour Support Practitioners, bringing a curious and person-centred approach to supporting children, young people and families. With an undergraduate degree in Psychology, Marty has a strong interest in understanding the why behind behaviour and helping people develop practical skills that make everyday life feel a little easier. His approach focuses on understanding the individual, their environment and what they are communicating through their behaviour, rather than simply trying to change the behaviour itself.

Marty particularly enjoys working collaboratively with families, support teams, educators and other professionals to develop strategies that are practical, strengths-based and meaningful in everyday life. He starts with the person, not the behaviour and believes positive behaviour support should be practical enough to work in real life.

Outside of work, you’ll usually find Marty listening to or playing music, getting involved in tennis or soccer, gaming, or spending time outdoors. Fun fact, Marty was once in a band!

We start with curiosity

We get to know the person, their strengths, communication, preferences, environment and what is happening around behaviours of concern.

We work out the “why”

Rather than asking “How do we stop this behaviour?”, we ask “What is this behaviour communicating or helping this person achieve?” We look for patterns, triggers, unmet needs and environmental factors.

We build a plan

We develop an individualised Behaviour Support Plan with practical strategies to prevent behaviours of concern, respond safely when they occur, and support the development of new skills.

We teach new skills

Where appropriate, we support the person to develop skills such as communication, emotional regulation, coping, problem-solving, flexibility, independence and self-advocacy.

  • The first appointment is primarily about getting to know you.

    We'll talk about what has been happening, what you'd like to be different, the person's strengths and interests, what is already working and where things are getting stuck.

    Depending on the situation, we may also begin gathering information about behaviours of concern and the environments in which they occur.

    You don't need to have everything figured out before you come to us. That's our job to work through together.

  • A Behaviour Support Plan is an individualised plan that outlines how a person's support team can help prevent and respond to behaviours of concern while building skills and improving quality of life.

    A comprehensive plan is informed by a behaviour assessment and may include proactive strategies, environmental changes, skill development and guidance for the people supporting the person.

    We don't want your plan sitting in a folder. It needs to make sense to the people actually using it.

  • It should.

    People's needs, environments, relationships, skills and circumstances change. A Positive Behaviour Support Plan should be reviewed and updated when new information becomes available or when circumstances change.

  • Funding is usually drawn from Capacity Building – Improved Relationships, which covers specialist behavioural intervention support including assessment hours, report writing and ongoing coaching. In some cases Improved Daily Living or Core funding can be used.

  • There's no one-size-fits-all answer.

    Some people may need more intensive support initially, while others may benefit from periodic appointments, observations, plan reviews or team training.

    We'll work with you to determine what level of support is actually useful.

  • Absolutely — and we think collaboration is one of its strengths.

    Behaviour can be influenced by communication, sensory processing, anxiety, emotional regulation, relationships, physical health and the environment.

    Where appropriate, our Behaviour Support Practitioner can collaborate with psychologists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, educators and other professionals involved in someone's care.

    This is particularly useful at Home Psychology & Speech Therapy because our psychology, speech and behaviour support services can work together rather than operating in separate silos.

  • PBS can be particularly helpful when behaviours are connected with things such as communication differences, sensory needs, executive functioning, emotional regulation, transitions or differences in how a person experiences their environment.

    Our approach is neuroaffirming, which means we don't view autistic or ADHD traits themselves as behaviours that need to be “fixed”.

    Instead, we focus on supporting the person's needs, reducing barriers and building skills that help them participate in life in ways that are meaningful to them.

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