Maximising the Benefits of Your Behaviour Support Service
May 6, 2025
Behaviour support services are designed to help individuals reduce risk behaviours and improve their quality of life. A great behaviour support service adopts a person-centred approach, exploring a person's life holistically and focusing on their strengths. At helpz, you can expect your behaviour support practitioner to be neuroaffirming, providing support that respects and values neurological differences. They tailor strategies to align with each individual's unique needs and preferences. To help you maximise the benefits of your behaviour support service, we have put together a comprehensive list of tips and strategies.
Set Clear Goals
- Identify Objectives: Work with your behaviour support specialist to identify specific, measurable goals. This could include reducing challenging behaviours, improving social skills, or increasing independence.
Regular Reviews: Regularly review and adjust your goals to ensure they remain relevant and achievable.
Engage Actively
- Participate Fully: Actively participate in all sessions and activities. The more engaged you are, the more you will benefit from the service.
Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to ask questions if you’re unsure about any aspect of the support plan. Understanding the process is key to success.
Be Honest
- Open Communication: Be honest with your behaviour support specialist about your experiences, challenges, and progress. Transparency helps tailor the support to your needs.
- Share Concerns: If something isn’t working or you’re facing difficulties, communicate this openly. It allows for timely adjustments to your plan.
Collect Data
- Track Progress: Keep detailed records of behaviours, incidents, and improvements. This data is crucial for assessing the effectiveness of strategies.
Use Tools: Utilise any tracking tools or apps recommended by your specialist to make data collection easier and more accurate.
Involve Key People
- Family and Caregivers: Involve family members or caregivers in the process. Their support and understanding can significantly enhance the effectiveness of the service.
Collaborate with Professionals: Work with other professionals involved in your care, such as teachers or therapists, to ensure a cohesive approach.
Implement Strategies Consistently
- Follow the Plan: Consistently implement the strategies and techniques recommended by your behaviour support specialist. Consistency is crucial for achieving lasting change.
- Monitor Progress: Keep track of your progress and any changes in behaviour. This information can help your specialist make necessary adjustments to your support plan.
Stay Positive and Patient
- Celebrate Small Wins: Celebrate your progress, no matter how small. Recognising achievements can boost motivation and confidence.
- Be Patient and Persistent: Behaviour change takes time. Stay patient and persistent, even if progress seems slow.
Utilise Resources
- Educational Materials: Take advantage of any educational materials or resources provided by your behaviour support service. These can offer valuable insights and additional strategies.
- Support Groups: Join support groups or forums where you can share experiences and learn from others facing similar challenges.
Provide Feedback
- Share Your Experience: Provide feedback to your behaviour support service about what is working well and what could be improved. Your input can help enhance the service for you and others.
By following these strategies, you can maximise the benefits of your behaviour support service and achieve meaningful, lasting improvements in your behaviour and overall well-being.
Learn more about behaviour support here.
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While the NDIS continues to evolve, our commitment to supporting people remains the same.
Understanding the challenges, strengths, and support needs of people living with PWS Prader–Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare, complex genetic condition that affects many areas of a person’s life, including physical health, development, behaviour, and emotional wellbeing. While it’s often associated with eating and weight, PWS is much more than this, and understanding the whole picture is key to supporting individuals and their families well. PWS occurs when specific genes on chromosome 15 do not function as they should. This happens very early in development and is usually completely out of anyone’s control. It is not caused by anything a parent did or didn’t do, and in most cases it is not inherited. Although PWS is considered rare, families living with it are navigating its impacts every day. The condition is lifelong, and support needs often change as the person grows. Early signs and development Many children with PWS are identified in infancy. Babies often have very low muscle tone, which can make them appear “floppy.” Feeding can be difficult at first, with poor sucking and slow weight gain. Some babies may need extra feeding support during this stage. As children grow, the presentation of PWS changes. Muscle tone usually improves, but new challenges emerge. One of the most well‑known features of PWS is hyperphagia , a persistent and overwhelming sense of hunger that develops in early childhood. People with PWS do not experience fullness in the same way others do, which means food can become a constant focus without careful management. Alongside this, children may experience developmental delays, learning differences, short stature, and delayed puberty. Behavioural and emotional regulation can also be challenging, particularly during times of change, stress, or unmet expectations. Behavioural and emotional considerations People with PWS often thrive on routine, predictability, and clear boundaries. When these supports are in place, many individuals do very well. When they aren’t, anxiety, distress, or challenging behaviours can increase. Some common behavioural features include: Strong need for routine and consistency Difficulty coping with change or uncertainty Emotional outbursts linked to anxiety or frustration Repetitive or compulsive behaviours, such as skin picking These behaviours are not about “choice” or poor parenting. They are closely linked to how the brain processes information, stress, and impulse control in PWS. Health considerations Because of differences in metabolism, muscle mass, and hunger regulation, people with PWS are at higher risk of obesity and related health conditions if food access is not carefully managed. This can include diabetes, sleep apnoea, and cardiovascular issues. Hormonal differences are also common and may affect growth, bone health, puberty, and energy levels. Many individuals benefit from ongoing medical monitoring and treatment, including growth hormone therapy, which can support muscle tone, strength, and overall health. Support across the lifespan There is no cure for Prader–Willi Syndrome, but early, consistent, and coordinated support makes a significant difference . Support often includes: Clear structure around meals and food access Allied health supports such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy Behaviour support that focuses on predictability, emotional regulation, and skill‑building Medical care from paediatricians, endocrinologists, and other specialists Strong collaboration with families, schools, and support workers As individuals move into adolescence and adulthood, planning for independence, supported living, employment, and community participation becomes especially important. Families and the invisible work Families supporting someone with PWS often carry a significant, ongoing load. Managing food environments, advocating for understanding in schools and services, navigating systems like the NDIS , and planning for the future requires constant attention and emotional energy. This work is often invisible to others, but it is essential. Families are experts in their child, and their knowledge and insight should always be valued and respected. Prader–Willi Syndrome and the NDIS In Australia, PWS is recognised as a lifelong condition under the NDIS . Many individuals require ongoing supports related to daily living, behaviour support, therapies, and community participation. Because PWS is rare and sometimes misunderstood, families may find themselves needing to explain the condition and its risks repeatedly. Strong, informed advocacy and clear documentation are often key to securing appropriate and responsive supports. Why awareness matters Greater awareness of Prader–Willi Syndrome helps reduce stigma, improves understanding, and leads to better outcomes. When professionals, communities, and systems understand that PWS is a complex neurological and genetic condition — not simply an issue of eating — support becomes more compassionate, effective, and sustainable. With the right structure, understanding, and support, people with PWS can live meaningful, connected lives, and families can feel less alone in the journey.
One thing we see time and time again in behaviour support is that the most effective plans aren’t created in isolation, they’re built together. That’s really what co-design is about. It’s not just a buzzword. It’s making sure the people who know the participant best are actively involved in understanding what’s going on and shaping what we do next. This becomes especially important during formulation. So, what’s a formulation session? A formulation session is where we slow things down and try to make sense of behaviour as a team. Rather than jumping straight into “how do we stop this?”, we take a step back and ask: What might this behaviour be communicating? When does it tend to happen? What seems to make things better or worse? It’s not about getting a perfect answer on the day. It’s about building a shared understanding that we can keep refining over time. Why co-design actually matters in practice Everyone comes into a formulation session with a different perspective. Families and carers often bring the history and the day-to-day reality Support workers see what happens in the moment Support Coordinators are looking at the bigger system and consistency Practitioners bring a framework to help organise it all If we don’t bring those views together, we end up with gaps or plans that look good on paper but don’t quite work in real life. When people are properly involved in the process, there’s usually better buy-in, more consistency, and less reliance on reactive strategies. What we’re trying to do in these sessions At its core, formulation is about understanding patterns. We might map things out simply: What’s happening before the behaviour? What does the behaviour actually look like? (clearly and without labels) What tends to happen afterwards? From there, we start looking at possible reasons—or functions—behind the behaviour. For example, is the person: trying to communicate something? overwhelmed or dysregulated? trying to get away from something? seeking connection or something preferred? There’s rarely just one answer, and that’s okay. What matters is that the team has a shared way of making sense of it. Making it useful, not just theoretical A good formulation should actually help guide what we do next. That’s where co-design really makes a difference. It keeps strategies grounded in reality: Will this work in the home or school environment? Is it something staff feel confident to try? Does it fit with the participant’s preferences and goals? If the answer is no, then we adjust it. That flexibility is part of the process. A few things that help sessions run well From experience, formulation sessions tend to be most useful when: People bring specific examples , not just general concerns There’s space for different viewpoints , even if they don’t fully align We focus on patterns over time , not one-off incidents The tone stays curious rather than critical Even small shifts in language can help, moving away from “non-compliance” and towards “what might be driving this?” Co-design takes a bit more time upfront, but it makes everything else easier. When a team has a shared understanding of behaviour, support becomes more consistent, more proactive, and more aligned with the person’s needs. And ultimately, that’s what we’re aiming for, support that actually makes sense in the person’s world, not just in a report. Have you attended a formulation session with your Behaviour Support Practitioner ? Book one now.
