Behaviour Support

Behaviour Support That Sees the Whole Person

Sometimes behaviour is the loudest part of someone’s story. There might be meltdowns, shutdowns, aggression, self-injury, school refusal, property damage, or moments that feel scary and exhausting for everyone involved.

At Brave Mental Health, we don’t just ask “How do we stop this?”
We ask, “What is this behaviour trying to tell us, and how can we support this person better?”

Our Behaviour Support Practitioner works with children, young people and adults to understand the function of behaviour – the “why” underneath what we see on the surface – and to build practical, compassionate behaviour strategies that improve life at home, school, work and in the community.

What is Behaviour Support?

Behaviour support is a specialised, evidence-based approach that looks at the link between a person’s environment, skills, mental health and behaviour. Instead of blaming or “fixing” the person, we focus on understanding what they are trying to communicate and what might not be working in the world around them.

In practice, Behaviour Support can include:

Careful assessment and observation
Behaviour therapy and behavioural intervention to build new skills
Designing everyday supports that reduce stress and increase safety
Creating structured documents like a Behaviour Support Plan or Interim Behaviour Support Plan that everyone around the person can follow

Our work is grounded in the NDIS behaviour support framework, but everything is written and explained in plain, human language so families and support teams actually feel able to use it.

Who Might Benefit From Behaviour Support?

Behaviour support can be helpful for many different people and situations. At Brave Mental Health, we commonly support individuals who are living with:

ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
Depression
Anxiety or trauma-related distress
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia and other complex mental health conditions
Intellectual disability and other neurodevelopmental differences

You might consider behaviour support if you’re noticing:

Aggression or self-harm
Property damage
Intense emotional outbursts or shutdowns
School refusal or leaving class/absconding
Difficulties with personal care, medical visits or community access
Conflict at home, in shared living or at school that just won’t settle

You don’t have to wait until things are “really bad” to seek help. Behaviour support is just as powerful when used early, to prevent crises and keep life on a steadier path.

A Person-Centred, Gender-Affirming Approach

Brave Mental Health is person centred and gender affirming. That means:

We respect and use the person’s chosen name, pronouns and identity.
We understand that behaviour is shaped by culture, trauma, disability, neurodivergence and experiences of stigma or discrimination.
We actively create space for LGBTQIA+ clients and families to feel safe and seen.
We prioritise person centred strategies that reflect the person’s strengths, preferences, sensory profile and values – not just what is convenient for services.

For us, Behaviour Support is about promoting dignity, choice and quality of life, not simply reducing behaviours on a list.

What Does a Behaviour Support Practitioner Actually Do?

Our Behaviour Support Practitioner is like a curious detective and a coach rolled into one. They don’t arrive with a ready-made program; they take time to understand your unique situation and then build supports around that.

Here’s what that usually involves:

We start with a detailed conversation about:

What is going well
What feels hard, scary or exhausting
When and where behaviours occur
What you’ve already tried and how it went
Your NDIS goals and what “better” would look like for you

We can meet with the person themselves, family members, support workers, teachers, support coordinators and other professionals – with consent.

Next, we look for patterns. We might:

Observe at home, school, day program or in the community
Review previous assessments and reports
Talk to people who know the person well
Ask about routines, sensory needs, communication, sleep, health and mental health

Our aim is to understand the function of behaviour. For example, is the behaviour:

A way of escaping something overwhelming or confusing?
A way to get attention, connection or help?
Linked to pain, sensory overload, anxiety, psychosis or low mood?
A learned pattern that has worked for the person in the past, even if it causes problems now?

We bring these pieces together in a clear Functional Behaviour Report, which explains what we have noticed and what this means for support.

If there are serious risks or existing restrictive practices (for example, physical holds, seclusion, locked doors or medication used to control behaviour), we may first create an Interim Behaviour Support Plan.

This short-term document:

Describes the behaviours of concern and immediate risks
Records any current restrictive practices in line with NDIS requirements
Offers straightforward safety strategies that staff and family can use straight away
Gives everyone a roadmap while we continue assessment and planning

It’s about making sure no one is left without guidance while a full plan is being developed.

Once we have a deep understanding of the person and the behaviour, we develop a full Behaviour Support Plan. This is where things get practical and detailed.

A Brave Mental Health Behaviour Support Plan usually includes:

A clear description of behaviours of concern in everyday language
Triggers, early warning signs and patterns over time
Strengths, interests and protective factors
Communication style and sensory profile
Person centred strategies to reduce distress and set the person up for success
Teaching plans for new skills (for example, asking for help, using a communication device, negotiating choices, using coping strategies instead of hitting or self-harm)
Step-by-step guidance on how to respond when behaviour starts to escalate
Safety and crisis procedures that protect both the person and others
Plans to monitor and, where possible, reduce restrictive practices over time

The plan is designed to be shared with parents, support workers, schools and other key people so that everyone is responding in a consistent, respectful way.

A document alone doesn’t change behaviour. That’s why we also provide behaviour therapy, coaching and behavioural intervention to help you put the plan into practice.

This might include:

Modelling strategies during sessions
Coaching support workers and family members in real situations
Adjusting environments, routines and expectations
Checking in with schools, GPs, psychiatrists, OTs, psychologists and support coordinators
Regularly reviewing and updating the plan as the person’s life, skills and goals change

We walk alongside you – not just hand over a plan and disappear.

Conditions and Experiences We Commonly Support

Because behaviour is connected to so many aspects of life and health, our clients come with a wide range of diagnoses and experiences, including:

Why Behaviour Support Matters

Living with ongoing behaviours of concern can feel like everyone is stuck in survival mode. Families may feel judged or blamed. Support workers may feel unsure or burnt out. The person at the centre of it all can feel misunderstood, punished or out of control.

Thoughtful Behaviour Support changes the story.

By understanding the function of behaviour and designing respectful behaviour strategies, we aim to:

Reduce the frequency and intensity of crisis moments

Increase safety and predictability for everyone

Build communication, coping and daily living skills

Strengthen relationships and trust

Support mental health recovery alongside other therapies and medical care

Promote independence, choice and participation in everyday life

Ready to Explore Behaviour Support?

If you’re noticing patterns of behaviour that are worrying, confusing or simply wearing everyone down, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Brave Mental Health offers gender affirming, person centred Behaviour Support across Australia (telehealth and, where possible, in-person). We develop Behaviour Support Plans, Interim Behaviour Support Plans, Functional Behaviour Reports, Recommendation Letters and ongoing behaviour therapy that are grounded in real-world experience and genuine respect.

You bring your lived experience and goals.
We bring clinical knowledge, curiosity and kindness.

Together, we can build safer, calmer and more hopeful days – one small step at a time.

Get your first free online consultation

At Brave Mental Health, we believe that taking the first step towards mental well-being should be accessible and worry-free. That’s why we’re excited to offer you a complimentary online consultation to help you start your journey towards healing and resilience. Through our expert Mental Health Counsellors.

Brave Mental Health

0491 082 357

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