Behaviour Support Practitioner
Serving Oakleigh & City of Monash

NDIS Behaviour Support in Oakleigh

A growing number of the adults I support have a plan that was written for a completely different stage of their life and it just hasn’t kept up. Living situation’s changed, goals have changed, sometimes the whole support team around them has changed. I go back to basics and work out what’s actually driving things now, could be a psychosocial disability, unmet health needs, or a living environment that’s stopped working, and build something the person and their support workers can genuinely use day to day.

What Behaviour Support Looks Like in Oakleigh

That’s different work to a first assessment for a young child, but it starts the same way: listening before writing anything down. Families with younger kids get the same starting point from me. I look at the whole picture first, then decide what actually needs to happen.

For a family in Oakleigh, this might mean:

• Understanding behaviour patterns across home, school, day programs, respite, or supported accommodation in City of Monash
• Supporting families where behaviour is affecting sleep, sibling relationships, community access, or personal care
• Developing proactive strategies before behaviour escalates, rather than only reacting during a crisis
• Coaching carers and support workers to notice early warning signs and respond consistently
• Preparing behaviour support documentation aligned with the participant’s NDIS goals

Getting Started

If you’re not sure what happens after you reach out, here’s roughly how it goes. We start with a free 20-minute call, no referral needed, just a conversation about what’s going on and whether I’m the right fit. If we go ahead, I’ll need a signed service agreement, and then we book in the initial assessment, usually at home, sometimes at school with consent.

From there, a full Behaviour Support Plan typically takes four to six weeks. If things are urgent, particularly if restrictive practices are already in use, I can prioritise an Interim BSP within two weeks instead. Either way, you’re not left waiting without a plan of any kind while the full assessment is underway. I try to keep the wait as short as possible for Oakleigh families, same as anywhere else I work.

NDIS Funding & Early Childhood Support in Oakleigh

City of Monash falls within the NDIS Inner Eastern Melbourne region. Behaviour Support is commonly funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living. Local Area Coordination for Oakleigh is provided by your allocated Local Area Coordinator. 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 Oakleigh can also access Monash 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 your allocated Local Area Coordinator is for your area? Book a free consultation — we’ll explain your options in plain language.

Who We Work With in Oakleigh

Brave Mental Health works with individuals across the lifespan in Oakleigh and the surrounding City of Monash area. We support:

• Children aged 2–12 with Autism (ASD), including children adjusting to kinder, school, or new routines in Oakleigh
• Teenagers with ADHD, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, school refusal, or escalating conflict at home
• Adults with intellectual or developmental disability who need safer daily routines and clearer support strategies
• Children and young people with complex trauma, including those in out-of-home care or kinship care
• CALD families in Oakleigh who want culturally respectful support that works well across different family and community contexts
• LGBTQIA+ participants and families who need affirming, trauma-informed support

School and Community Collaboration in Oakleigh

Behaviour rarely happens in only one setting. We can work with families, schools, day programs, and support workers so everyone understands the plan and uses it the same way.

Telehealth and In-Home Support

All sessions are available by secure telehealth, which is often easier for Oakleigh 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 Oakleigh and across City of Monash. 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