Behaviour Support Practitioner
Serving Cardinia & Cardinia Shire

NDIS Behaviour Support in Cardinia

Some of the work I do starts because a teacher, principal or support coordinator has flagged a pattern. School’s getting harder, incidents are piling up, and nobody’s quite sure why yet. I try to work out what’s underneath it, sensory load, communication gaps, something unmet that the behaviour is standing in for, rather than treating the behaviour itself as the whole problem.

What Behaviour Support Looks Like in Cardinia

From there I build a plan that travels between home, school and anywhere else the child spends time, and I stay involved after I write it. If restrictive practices are already being used, I can usually prioritise an Interim BSP within two weeks rather than waiting the full four to six.

For a family in Cardinia, this might mean:

• Mapping the triggers behind aggression, property damage, running away, shutdowns, or refusal
• Building replacement skills such as requesting a break, using visuals, tolerating change, or communicating pain
• Creating simple scripts and routines for mornings, transitions, community outings, and personal care
• Helping schools in Cardinia and Cardinia Shire use the same proactive strategies, language, and escalation steps as home
• Reviewing what’s working over time and adjusting the plan as the participant grows or circumstances change

I work directly with schools where that helps, sitting in on meetings, contributing to a plan the school’s already got, or starting one from nothing. The same approach carries through regardless of the participant’s age, five or fifteen or forty five, the method doesn’t really change.

Getting Started

A few people have asked what actually happens once they get in touch, so here’s the short version. First there’s a free 20-minute call, no referral needed, just a conversation about your situation. If it makes sense to go ahead, we sign a service agreement and book the initial assessment in, usually at home or at school with consent.

A full Behaviour Support Plan generally takes four to six weeks from there. If it’s urgent, especially where restrictive practices are already involved, I can usually get an Interim BSP done in about two weeks so you’re not left without any plan in the meantime. I try to keep the wait as short as possible for Cardinia families, same as anywhere else I work.

NDIS Funding & Early Childhood Support in Cardinia

Cardinia Shire falls within the NDIS Southern Melbourne region. Behaviour Support is commonly funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living. Local Area Coordination for Cardinia is provided by Latrobe Community Health Service or LINK Health and Community. We support plan-managed and self-managed participants:

• Plan Managed — your plan manager handles all invoicing; no out-of-pocket payments
• Self Managed — we invoice you directly; you claim reimbursement from the NDIS myplace portal
• Early Childhood (under 7) — no formal diagnosis required; families in Cardinia can also access Cardinia Shire's free Maternal and Child Health service for developmental checks alongside NDIS Early Childhood supports

Not sure what’s in your NDIS plan, or who Latrobe Community Health Service or LINK Health and Community is for your area? Book a free consultation — we’ll explain your options in plain language.

Who We Work With in Cardinia

Brave Mental Health works with individuals across the lifespan in Cardinia and the surrounding Cardinia Shire area. We support:

• Children under 7 accessing Early Childhood supports through Cardinia Shire's free Maternal and Child Health service and the NDIS, including children without a formal diagnosis
• School-aged children with autism, ADHD, developmental delay, anxiety, or communication differences
• Young people with trauma histories, emotional regulation challenges, or behaviour that affects school participation
• Adults living with family, independently, or in supported accommodation in Cardinia who need consistent support plans
• Parents, siblings, carers, and support workers who need coaching, not judgement
• Support coordinators seeking a responsive Behaviour Support Practitioner for a participant in Cardinia

School and Community Collaboration in Cardinia

If there’s a support coordinator or early childhood service already involved, we’re happy to loop them in so nothing runs as two disconnected processes.

Telehealth and In-Home Support

All sessions are available by secure telehealth, which is often easier for Cardinia families managing work, school pick-up, and support schedules. In-home and community-based sessions may also be available where clinically appropriate.

About Your Practitioner

Your Behaviour Support Practitioner is Himani Arora, founder of Brave Mental Health. Himani has 5+ years of experience supporting NDIS participants across Melbourne, including families in Cardinia and across Cardinia Shire. She is trauma-informed, culturally affirming, and brings genuine expertise and warmth to every family she supports.

“I believe every person — regardless of their diagnosis, background, or the challenges they face — deserves support that truly sees them. Not just their behaviour, but their whole self.”

— Himani Arora, Behaviour Support Practitioner