Behaviour Support Practitioner
Serving Dandenong South & City of Greater Dandenong

NDIS Behaviour Support in Dandenong South

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 Dandenong South

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 Dandenong South, this might mean:

• Assessment for behaviour linked to communication needs, sensory distress, trauma, anxiety, or unmet health needs
• Practical home strategies for Dandenong South families who feel they’re constantly walking on eggshells
• Positive Behaviour Support approaches focused on quality of life, skill-building, and safety
• Collaborative planning with support coordinators, Latrobe Community Health Service or LINK Health and Community, therapists, educators, and informal supports
• Plain-language recommendations that are easier for busy families and teams to follow

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 Dandenong South families, same as anywhere else I work.

NDIS Funding & Early Childhood Support in Dandenong South

City of Greater Dandenong falls within the NDIS Southern Melbourne region. Behaviour Support is commonly funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living. Local Area Coordination for Dandenong South 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 Dandenong South can also access Greater Dandenong City Council'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 Dandenong South

Families and support teams contact us from Dandenong South for many different reasons. Common referral situations include:

• A young child whose behaviour has changed after starting childcare, kinder, or primary school in Dandenong South
• A participant with autism or ADHD who becomes distressed by transitions, noise, demands, or changes to routine
• A family where everyone is exhausted by sleep difficulties, aggression, meltdowns, or constant negotiation
• A school in City of Greater Dandenong needing clear, consistent strategies after repeated incidents
• A participant with psychosocial disability or dual diagnosis who needs support that is calm, respectful, and practical
• A family from a multilingual or multicultural background wanting support that doesn’t ignore culture, identity, or faith

School and Community Collaboration in Dandenong South

Many families come to us because the behaviour is most visible at school. With consent, we talk directly to teachers and wellbeing staff so the same calm strategies and early warning signs are used at home and at school.

Telehealth and In-Home Support

Telehealth works well for parent coaching, support worker consultation, plan reviews, and NDIS guidance. Where observation is needed, we discuss the most appropriate setting with the family: home, school, or video-based observation.

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 Dandenong South and across City of Greater Dandenong. 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