Positive Behaviour Support in Perth: How Behaviour Bridge Can Help
When you are seeking support for a loved one with a disability, finding the right professional can feel overwhelming. You want someone who is experienced, compassionate, and truly understands your family’s unique needs. If you are looking for Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) in Perth, Western Australia, Behaviour Bridge is here to help.
Led by Julianne Shepley, a dedicated and registered Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner, Behaviour Bridge provides expert, person-centred services to NDIS participants across the Perth metropolitan area.
In this guide, we will explain what our services involve, how we work with families, and how you can access our support through the NDIS.
What Is Positive Behaviour Support?
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is an evidence-based approach used to support individuals who engage in challenging behaviours.
Rather than focusing on punishing or simply “stopping” the behaviour, PBS seeks to understand why the behaviour is happening. We believe that all behaviour is a form of communication. When a person engages in challenging behaviour, they are usually trying to tell us that they are overwhelmed, in pain, frustrated, or need something they cannot access.
By understanding this communication, we can change the environment and teach the person new, safer ways to get their needs met. The ultimate goal of PBS is not just to reduce challenging behaviour, but to significantly improve the person’s overall quality of life.
Our Services at Behaviour Bridge
At Behaviour Bridge, we offer a comprehensive range of PBS services tailored to the individual needs of each NDIS participant.
1. Functional Behaviour Assessments (FBA)
The foundation of any successful intervention is a thorough understanding of the behaviour. Julianne Shepley conducts comprehensive Functional Behaviour Assessments. This involves observing the participant in their natural environment (home, school, or community), interviewing family members and support workers, and analysing data to determine the exact function of the behaviour.
2. NDIS Behaviour Support Plans
Using the information gathered during the assessment, we develop highly individualised Behaviour Support Plans (BSP). These plans are practical, easy to understand, and provide clear strategies for proactive support, skill-building, and safe de-escalation.
3. Training and Implementation
A plan is only effective if the people using it understand it. We provide hands-on training for parents, teachers, and support workers. We ensure that everyone involved in the participant’s care knows how to implement the strategies consistently and confidently.
4. Restrictive Practice Management
If a participant’s behaviour poses a significant risk of harm, restrictive practices may currently be in use. As a registered practitioner, Julianne Shepley is qualified to develop plans that include regulated restrictive practices, with a strong focus on strategies to safely reduce and eventually eliminate their use over time.
Why Choose Behaviour Bridge?
We know that families in Perth have choices when it comes to NDIS providers. Here is why families choose Behaviour Bridge:
- Person-Centred Approach: We put the individual at the centre of everything we do. We focus on their strengths, preferences, and goals, ensuring that our strategies respect their dignity and autonomy.
- Practical Strategies: We do not write 50-page reports filled with academic jargon that sit in a drawer. We write practical, actionable plans that families and support workers can actually use in their everyday lives.
- Collaborative Working: We believe that parents are the true experts on their children. We work with you, not just for you. We also collaborate closely with other allied health professionals, such as Occupational Therapists and Speech Pathologists, to ensure a unified approach.
- Local Perth Expertise: Based in Perth, WA, we understand the local NDIS landscape, local schools, and community services. We are available for face-to-face observations and meetings across the metropolitan area.
How to Access Our Services Through the NDIS
Behaviour Bridge is an NDIS-registered provider of Positive Behaviour Support. To access our services, you will need specific funding in your NDIS plan.
Behaviour support is funded under the Capacity Building budget, in the Improved Relationships category. You will need funding allocated for “Specialist Behavioural Intervention Support” and “Behaviour Management Plan Including Training.”
If you are unsure if you have the correct funding, or if you need help requesting this funding at your next plan review, we recommend reading our guide on how NDIS behaviour support funding works or speaking with your Support Coordinator.
Take the Next Step
Living with challenging behaviour can be exhausting and isolating, but you do not have to navigate it alone. With the right support, positive change is possible.
If you are looking for a compassionate, experienced Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner in Perth, we would love to hear from you.
Ready to build a bridge to a better quality of life? Contact Behaviour Bridge today to discuss how Julianne Shepley can support your family.
