Positive Support Approaches for Family and Caregivers

Introduction

Navigating challenging behaviours can be difficult for individuals with disabilities and their families. This is where positive behaviour support offers a path forward. It's an approach that looks beyond the behaviour to understand its root cause, aiming to improve a person’s strengths and overall quality of life. Instead of just reacting, this method focuses on creating a supportive environment and teaching new skills. By working with a dedicated support network, you can foster independence and create lasting positive change.

Key Highlights

• Positive behaviour support is a person-centered approach that improves wellbeing by understanding the purpose behind challenging behaviours.

• The NDIS provides funding for tailored services, including the development of a formal behaviour support plan.

• Families can learn key strategies, like proactive environmental changes and positive reinforcement, to manage behaviours in daily life.

• A strong support network, including family and professionals, collaborates to ensure the support plan is effective.

• Quality training gives caregivers the skills and confidence for effective behaviour support.

• Real-world examples show how a positive behaviour support plan can lead to greater independence and a better quality of life.

The Role of Positive Support Within the NDIS Framework

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) recognizes the importance of specialized support for participants, including those with autism spectrum disorder. Within the NDIS framework, positive behaviour support is a key service designed to enhance relationships and improve quality of life. The goal is to develop a comprehensive support plan with clear behaviour support strategies.

This funding helps you access professionals who can create a behaviour support plan tailored to your unique situation. These services focus on reducing difficult behaviours by addressing their underlying causes, including sensory sensitivities, not just managing the symptoms.

How Positive Support Works with NDIS Funding

If you have an NDIS plan, funding for positive behaviour support from a team of behaviour support practitioners is available under the ‘Improved Relationships’ budget in Capacity Building—not Core Supports. To access this, a Support Coordinator or NDIS Planner must confirm that behaviours of concern impact your quality of life.

Once approved, you can work with a qualified behaviour support practitioner to assess your needs and create a personalized plan with strategies to meet your goals and address challenging behaviours.

If restrictive practices are used, a comprehensive behaviour support plan is required to comply with NDIS quality and safety standards and work toward eliminating these practices.

Who Can Access Positive Support Services Under NDIS?

To access positive support services, you must first qualify for the NDIS. Eligibility usually requires being under 65, an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and having a significant, permanent disability that impacts daily life. With years of experience, early intervention needs may also qualify.

Anyone meeting these criteria and facing challenging behaviours—such as autism, developmental delays, or complex needs—can benefit. The aim is to understand behaviours and improve communication.

An NDIS planner will assess your needs to see if positive behaviour support is appropriate. If approved, funding will be added to your plan so you can work with trained staff to build new skills and enhance well-being.

Positive Support Strategies for Families and Caregivers

As a family member or caregiver, you play a vital role in creating a supportive environment. A positive behaviour support framework includes positive support strategies that are practical tools you can use to help manage challenging behaviours and promote positive interactions. The first step is often shifting your perspective to see behaviour as a form of communication.

By understanding what your loved one is trying to express, you can address their unmet needs and support needs more effectively. These strategies are not about quick fixes but about working with support staff to build long-term skills. Let's explore some common examples you can apply in daily life.

Common Examples of Positive Support in Daily Life

Implementing positive support strategies in daily life can make a big difference. These proactive approaches create an environment where your loved one feels understood and supported, enhancing their communication skills and reducing challenging behaviours by teaching new skills instead of just reacting.

Improving communication to better express needs and emotions in appropriate ways.

Common strategies include:

• Improving communication to better express needs and emotions

• Adjusting the home environment to reduce sensory overload or triggers

• Teaching social skills to foster connections and friendships

• Using visual schedules to make routines clearer and less stressful

Encouraging Positive Changes in Family Dynamics

Introducing effective positive behaviour support strategies can transform family dynamics, shifting the focus from managing challenges to creating a supportive environment where everyone feels heard and respected. Working together as a team—families, caregivers, and professionals—ensures consistent routines and builds trust.

A strong support plan empowers both individuals and families. By identifying triggers and using proactive strategies together, you foster growth, connection, and lasting positive changes in your family’s interactions.

Building Collaborative Support Plans

A successful behaviour support plan relies on a collaborative approach to collaboration. It’s more than a document—it’s a practical guide created by the support team, including the individual, their family, and professionals. The process begins by identifying strengths, goals, and preferences to keep the plan person-centered and meaningful.

The team works together to understand behaviour causes and develop proactive strategies, minimizing the use of restrictive practices. This ensures everyone uses consistent approaches toward shared goals. A comprehensive behaviour support plan is individualized and based on thorough assessment.

Developed within one month if restrictive practices are used; provides immediate risk mitigation and short-term strategies while ensuring the freedom of movement for individuals.

Professionals and Training in Positive Behaviour Support

Effective positive behaviour support, including positive behavioural support, depends on trained professionals who guide you and your family. Behaviour support practitioners lead this service, often collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to address all aspects of wellbeing, including mental health.

These experts develop plans and provide essential training for staff and families, ensuring everyone has the skills and confidence to implement strategies that consider each individual’s unique needs consistently—crucial for improving quality of life. The following sections outline the involved professionals and available training.

Types of Professionals Involved in Positive Support

A support team often includes several people to provide full care. The main helper is the behaviour support worker, who identifies causes of challenging behaviours, including communication difficulties, and creates strategies to address them.

Effective teamwork brings in specialists. A speech therapist can help with communication issues that cause stress, while an occupational therapist suggests changes to make daily life easier. Psychologists assist with deeper mental health concerns, and all practitioners must adhere to the standards set by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

When these experts work together, they address every aspect of a person’s well-being. By combining their skills, the team provides consistent, comprehensive support to meet complex needs and help the person and their support people achieve their goals.

Training Programs Available for Families and Caregivers

Various training programs empower families and caregivers with the skills to apply positive behaviour support and promote skill development. These programs cover understanding the causes of challenging behaviours, improving communication, and recognizing individual strengths. Participants work with behaviour support practitioners who offer practical, personalized strategies.

Sessions may include developing a behaviour support plan and using proactive strategies in daily life. By building a supportive environment, caregivers reduce feelings of isolation, encourage community participation, and improve overall quality of life. Ongoing training helps families address challenges and foster positive change within their support network.

Conclusion

In summary, positive support approaches are invaluable for enhancing the lives of individuals under the NDIS framework and their families. By implementing effective strategies to address behavioural challenges and collaborating with professionals, caregivers can foster a nurturing environment that promotes growth and well-being. This journey not only strengthens family dynamics but also encourages positive behavioural changes that can lead to lasting improvements. Embracing these practices empowers families to navigate challenges with confidence and compassion.

If you're ready to make a difference in your family's support system, reach out today for a consultation or call daar at 02 9133 2500 for guidance on implementing positive support strategies effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do families benefit from positive support approaches?

Families benefit by receiving a clear support plan with practical strategies for encouraging positive actions. This shared approach among family members reduces stress, helps manage challenging behaviours of concern more effectively, and equips everyone with the tools to help their loved one learn important new skills for greater independence and wellbeing.

Where can I find easy-to-read resources about positive support?

You can find accessible information on positive behaviour support and speech pathology through providers like Ability Action Australia or on the NDIS website. These organizations offer guides and resources designed to help you build practical skills, understand the process, and improve the quality of life for you and your support network.

Can positive support really lead to lasting positive changes?

Yes, it can. Positive support is a long-term approach focused on creating sustainable positive outcomes. A well-designed behaviour support plan, combined with ongoing monitoring and continuous improvement, addresses root causes of behaviour, enabling individuals to navigate life’s challenges. This leads to meaningful improvements in a person's overall quality of life and builds a foundation for lasting success.