Frequently Asked Questions

The consultation is a short, calm conversation with Himani. You can explain what has been happening, what your NDIS plan includes, and what kind of support you are hoping for. Himani will ask a few practical questions, explain whether behaviour support is likely to fit, and outline the next step if you choose to continue.

There is no pressure to proceed. Many families use the call simply to understand their options.

No. You can contact Brave Mental Health directly. Referrals from support coordinators, plan managers, schools, GPs, paediatricians, or allied health providers are welcome, but they are not required.

Behaviour support can help when behaviour is affecting safety, daily routines, school participation, sleep, personal care, community access, sibling relationships, or support worker consistency. You do not need to wait until things become a crisis.

Common reasons families reach out include aggression, meltdowns, shutdowns, running away, self-injury, school refusal, anxiety-driven avoidance, property damage, difficulty with transitions, or behaviour that carers are unsure how to respond to safely.

You will work with Himani Arora, founder of Brave Mental Health. Himani is a registered Behaviour Support Practitioner with experience supporting NDIS participants across Melbourne, including children, teenagers, adults, families, carers, and support teams.

A Behaviour Support Practitioner helps understand why behaviours of concern are happening and develops practical strategies to reduce distress, improve safety, build skills, and support quality of life. The work is based on Positive Behaviour Support, which looks at the person, their communication, sensory needs, environment, relationships, health, trauma history, and daily routines.

A Behaviour Support Plan, often called a BSP, is a personalised document that explains what the behaviour may be communicating and how the support team should respond. A good BSP is not just a report. It should be usable by families, carers, teachers, and support workers in everyday life.

It usually includes proactive strategies, early warning signs, communication supports, environmental changes, skill-building goals, response steps for escalation, and review recommendations.

A Functional Behaviour Assessment looks for the reasons behind behaviour. This may include interviews, review of existing reports, observation, behaviour data, sensory and communication information, and discussion with the people who know the participant well.

The aim is to answer questions like: What is happening before the behaviour? What need might the person be trying to meet? What makes things better or worse? What skills or environmental changes would reduce the need for the behaviour?

Not in a simplistic way. Behaviour support is about understanding behaviour and reducing the distress, risk, or unmet need behind it. The goal is to help the person communicate, cope, participate, and feel safer. We do not use punishment-based approaches.

Restrictive practices are actions that restrict a person’s rights or freedom of movement, such as physical restraint, chemical restraint, mechanical restraint, seclusion, or environmental restraint. If restrictive practices are being used, they must be documented, authorised where required, monitored, and reduced over time.

Part of behaviour support is helping teams find safer, more respectful alternatives wherever possible.

Often, yes. Behaviour support is commonly funded under Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living. The exact wording and budget category can vary, so it is worth checking your plan, plan manager, or support coordinator. If you are unsure, bring your plan wording to the free consultation and we can help you understand what to ask next.

Yes. Brave Mental Health works with plan-managed and self-managed NDIS participants. If you are plan managed, invoices are sent to your plan manager. If you are self managed, invoices are sent to you and you claim reimbursement through the NDIS portal.

If your plan is agency managed, contact us before booking. Agency-managed funding can have different claiming requirements. We can help you understand the right pathway and what to check with your support coordinator or the NDIA.

Not always. Children under 7 may be able to access supports through the NDIS Early Childhood approach without a formal diagnosis. Older children, teenagers, and adults usually need an NDIS-eligible disability or condition and relevant funding in their plan.

If you are early in the process, we can help you understand what questions to ask your Early Childhood partner, LAC, or support coordinator.

Sometimes. Behaviour support and counselling are different services and must match the goals and funding in the participant’s plan. Behaviour support usually focuses on behaviours of concern, support strategies, skill-building, and team consistency. Counselling focuses more directly on emotional wellbeing, coping, grief, anxiety, trauma, relationships, or adjustment.

A full Behaviour Support Plan commonly takes 4-6 weeks after the service agreement is signed and the assessment process has started. More complex situations may take longer, especially when several people or settings need to be consulted.

If there is an urgent safety concern or restrictive practices are already being used, an Interim Behaviour Support Plan may be prepared sooner while the full assessment continues.

Yes, with consent. Behaviour often looks different across home, school, respite, day programs, supported accommodation, and community settings. We can consult with teachers, wellbeing staff, education support staff, support coordinators, allied health professionals, and support workers so everyone is using the same calm, proactive strategies.

Yes. Telehealth works well for parent coaching, support worker consultation, plan reviews, NDIS guidance, and many assessment conversations. Where direct observation is needed, we discuss whether home, school, community, or video-based observation is most appropriate.

In-home or community-based sessions may be available across Melbourne where clinically appropriate. Some work is more effective online, some is better in person, and some needs collaboration with school or support teams. We will recommend the format that best matches the participant’s goals, safety needs, and daily routine.

No. Families usually come to behaviour support after trying very hard for a long time. Our job is not to blame parents, carers, teachers, or support workers. Our job is to understand the pattern, reduce pressure on everyone, and build strategies that are realistic enough to use on hard days.

Yes. Brave Mental Health works with families from many cultural, faith, and language backgrounds across Melbourne. We understand that behaviour support must fit the person’s family context, values, communication preferences, and support network.

Yes. If an interpreter would help the participant or family communicate more comfortably, we can discuss how to include one. Clear communication matters, especially when talking about behaviour, safety, trauma, family routines, and NDIS decisions.

Yes. Brave Mental Health provides affirming, respectful support for LGBTQIA+ participants and families. We take identity, safety, trauma, family relationships, and community context seriously.

No. Brave Mental Health is not a crisis or emergency service. If someone is in immediate danger, call 000. For crisis support in Australia, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Behaviour support can help reduce future risk, but it is not a substitute for urgent emergency care.