Understanding Challenging Behaviours: Causes, Meaning and Support
All behaviour is a way of communication. People use behaviour to show what they want,...
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Whether you or someone you’re supporting experiences aggression, emotional outbursts, self-harm, anxiety-driven behaviours, withdrawal, or difficulty regulating emotions, you’re not alone.
Mosaic’s Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) team works alongside people with disability, their families, and support networks to understand the reasons behind behaviour and develop practical strategies that improve everyday life.
Our Behaviour Support Practitioners have been supporting people with disability for over 10 years. We work with people of all ages across Perth to reduce behaviours of concern and improve everyday life.
Get in touch us at (08) 9314 8900 or fill the form below to book an appointment with one of our experts:
A challenging behaviour – or behaviour of concern – is any behaviour that may jeopardise your health, dignity, relationships or independence, or the rights or wellbeing of others.
From verbal and physical outbursts to self-harm, there are many types of behaviours of concern that can affect a person’s quality of life or ability to participate in the community. Some examples include:
These behaviours are often signs that a person needs additional support, communication tools or environmental changes.
Understanding behaviour differently
You may not have heard of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) before. PBS is a NDIS-funded service that helps people with disability improve their quality of life by understanding the reasons behind behaviour. Rather than simply trying to stop behaviours, PBS looks at:
Because all behaviour communicates something, understanding the cause is often the first step towards meaningful and lasting change.
Our PBS practitioners support people experiencing behaviours of concern associated with:
Positive Behaviour Support can help people with complex conditions:
Positive Behaviour Support can help families:
Positive Behaviour Support is very much a team effort. We work alongside:
By ensuring everyone understands the strategies being used, we can create more consistent support and better outcomes.
When restrictive practices are involved, our practitioners work in line with NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission requirements while focusing on reducing and eliminating restrictive practices wherever possible. Our approach prioritises safety, human rights, choice and control, independence, and quality of life.
I am very happy with the service that has been provided to and on behalf of Bart. Bart has thoroughly enjoyed his sessions and they both have nothing but positive feedback.
I am also very grateful for the communication provided by Sebastian which has been a very positive experience. Conversations with Sebastian have been very productive and professional – exactly what we were hoping for.
Also the inclusion of Bart in the decision making process has been very much appreciated.
Family member of a Mosaic client accessing Positive Behaviour Support
Our Positive Behaviour Support practitioner is always willing to go out of her way to help our daughter. We truly appreciate the help and support that Mosaic staff provide.
Parent of a Mosaic client accessing Positive Behaviour Support
The PBS service offered by Mosaic are the best services I have had with any NDIS Provider. PBS is awesome and goes above and beyond for us.
A Mosaic client accessing Positive Behaviour Support
Mosaic’s experienced Positive Behaviour Support Practitioners in Perth support people with disability of all ages, helping to reduce behaviours of concern, strengthen support networks, and improve quality of life.
Whether you’re exploring options for the first time or already have NDIS Behaviour Support funding, our team is here to help.
Mosaic is currently accepting new Positive Behaviour Support referrals, and our Behaviour Support Practitioners have capacity to commence support immediately. When you get in touch, our team will discuss your situation, answer any questions, and help determine the next steps.
Call us on (08) 9314 8900 or fill the form below to speak with a Behaviour Support Practitioner Team Lead.
For Positive Behaviour Support services, you need to have National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding or equivalent.
If using NDIS funding, you must have the following line item included in your NDIS plan:
If you are unsure whether you have access to this funding, please contact our friendly team at hello@mosaic.org.au for assistance.
PBS is usually most effective when viewed as a long-term approach. While some people may experience positive changes within a few weeks or months, meaningful and lasting outcomes often take time.
In many cases, our PBS Practitioners will first spend time getting to know the person, understanding the causes of behaviours of concern, and developing a Behaviour Support Plan. The plan then needs to be put into practice consistently by family members, support workers, and other people involved in the person’s support.
Some families notice improvements quickly through simple changes to communication, daily routines, or support strategies. However, more complex situations may take 12 months or longer to achieve significant and sustainable change.
A Functional Behaviour Assessment involves working with you to collect information to help us identify the reason behind your behaviour of concern. Our experienced practitioners use a range of data collection tools to ensure we are getting an accurate picture. This allows us to tailor a range of strategies and create your individualised Behaviour Support Plan to encourage positive replacement behaviors that aim to improve your quality of life.
Following the completion of your Functional Behaviour Assessment, your practitioner will create a range of tailored strategies suited to your needs. These strategies form the basis of your comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan.
Yes. Training and coaching for family members, support workers, and other key people is an important part of PBS offered by Mosaic.
Our PBS Practitioners work closely with everyone involved in the person’s support to help them understand the reasons behind behaviours of concern and how to respond in a safe, consistent, and positive way. Training may begin while a Behaviour Support Plan is being developed, particularly if there are immediate risks to the person’s safety or wellbeing, or if changes to current support approaches are needed.
Once the plan is in place, we provide guidance and practical strategies to help family members and support workers confidently put the recommendations into practice. Consistent support across home, community, and other settings is often key to achieving positive outcomes and reducing behaviours of concern over time.
Yes. Home, school, workplace, and community visits are an important part of PBS.
Behaviours of concern can be influenced by different environments, routines, expectations, and interactions. By observing the person in the settings where they spend their time, our PBS Practitioners can gain a better understanding of what is working well, what challenges may be present, and what supports may be needed.
Working across different environments also helps ensure that support strategies are practical, consistent, and effective. We collaborate with family members, support workers, teachers, employers, and other key people involved in the person’s life to develop shared approaches that support positive outcomes.
Yes. One of the key goals of PBS is to reduce and, where possible, eliminate the need for restrictive practices over time.
Restrictive practices may sometimes be necessary to keep a person or others safe while more effective support strategies are developed. Our PBS Practitioners work closely with the person, their family, and support team to understand the reasons behind behaviours of concern and create positive, proactive supports that improve quality of life.
As these supports are put in place, the aim is to gradually reduce restrictive practices whenever it is safe and appropriate to do so. While this can happen quickly for some people, for others it may take months or years. Every situation is different, but the long-term focus is always on increasing independence, choice, and wellbeing while reducing reliance on restrictive practices.
Generally yes, the same practitioner will work with you for the length of your annual plan. Of course, there may be occasions when they are not available…for instance when they are on leave. In those cases, another member of our expert team will work with you, utilising your Behaviour Support Plan.
Because our services are designed around each individual and their needs, this can vary. Generally, during the first three months you will see your practitioner approximately monthly. It’s important to know that they also do a lot of work behind the scenes in between sessions with you, continually collecting data and assessing your progress.
Yes. We support many people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including those with more complex support needs.
In fact, many of the people we work with through PBS are autistic. Our PBS Practitioners take the time to understand each person’s strengths, communication style, sensory needs, and the factors that may be influencing behaviours of concern.
Yes. While many of our clients live in Mosaic homes, we can still assist you if you live in a home provided by another disability services organisation.
Yes. We want you to be comfortable with your plan, so if you have any concerns, we encourage you and your family/guardian to work with your practitioner to talk it through and make some changes.
A behaviour of concern is any behaviour that may jeopardise your health, dignity, relationships or independence, or the rights or wellbeing of others. They often affect your quality of life or your ability to participate in the community. Some examples are:
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