Behaviour Support Practitioner
Serving Sargood & City of Greater Dandenong

NDIS Behaviour Support in Sargood

A lot of the families I meet who are early on in this, either just diagnosed or still waiting on one, tell me they feel a bit lost in the terminology. I start with an assessment, not a form. I want to know what’s actually happening day to day before I write anything down: what the mornings look like, what happens after school, what sets things off and what settles them again.

What Behaviour Support Looks Like in Sargood

From there, the work usually includes a Functional Behaviour Assessment, so we’re not guessing at what’s driving the behaviour, a written Behaviour Support Plan that’s actually usable, home strategies that fit a real week rather than an ideal one, and coaching for whoever’s around the person day to day. A plan only works if the people using it understand why, not just what.

For a family in Sargood, this might mean:

• Assessment for behaviour linked to communication needs, sensory distress, trauma, anxiety, or unmet health needs
• Practical home strategies for Sargood 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

Most people tell me the relief isn’t the paperwork, it’s having someone who actually gets what they’re dealing with. I keep working with families as kids get older too, through school years, the teenage stuff, right through to adulthood. The plan should grow with the person, not get rebuilt from scratch every time something changes.

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 Sargood families, same as anywhere else I work.

NDIS Funding & Early Childhood Support in Sargood

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 Sargood 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 Sargood 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 Sargood

Our behaviour support work in Sargood is suitable for children, young people, and adults who need thoughtful, individualised support. This includes:

• Children aged 2–12 with Autism (ASD), including children adjusting to kinder, school, or new routines in Sargood
• 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 Sargood 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 Sargood

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

You can choose support that fits your week. Some sessions work best online, some are best done in the home. We recommend the format that matches the participant’s goals and safety needs, not the other way around.

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 Sargood 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