sigma-therapies

My Child's Teacher Recommended OT. What Does That Mean?

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:54:28 GMT

As a parent, you can feel overwhelmed in this situation: sitting in a parent-teacher interview, or reading a note in the school bag, and hearing that your child might benefit from seeing an Occupational Therapist.

Your first reaction might be confusion. An OT? Isn't that for adults recovering from injuries? Is there something wrong that I've been missing? Am I about to be told my child has a problem?

Take a breath. A teacher recommending Occupational Therapy is not a verdict. It's an observation from someone who spends hours a week watching your child learning how to cope with a demanding environment. The teacher must have noticed that something is harder for your young one than it needs to be.

Find out what these recommendations mean, what happens next, and how to figure out whether OT is the right step for your family.

What teachers notice that leads to an OT referral

Teachers see children in a context most parents don't: managing a busy classroom, following multi-step instructions, sitting still for stretches for quite a while, transitioning between activities, holding a pencil for extended periods, navigating the social dynamics of a group, and regulating their emotions when things don't go their way.

That environment places a very specific set of demands on a child. And some children find those demands difficult; not because they're not trying or they're being difficult, but because some of the underlying skills that make those tasks manageable aren't quite where they need to be yet.

Teachers often notice things like:

Handwriting that's effortful, messy, or slow, or a child who avoids writing tasks altogether.
Difficulty sitting still, staying focused, or completing work within the time given.
Struggling to follow classroom routines or transitions between activities.
Getting dressed and undressed slowly for sport or swimming – the buttons, the laces, the organising of the bag.
Avoiding certain textures, foods, or physical activities, or seeking them out intensely.
Finding it hard to manage emotions when things feel unexpected or overwhelming.
Difficulty with tasks that appear simple: cutting, drawing, packing their bag, organising their desk.

None of these things defines a child as naughty or as difficult. We’re dealign with a child who may need some additional support. OT is one of the most practical ways to provide it.

What does an Occupational Therapist do?

The job of an OT is to look at how a child is managing the everyday tasks and activities that matter in their life – school, home, play, self-care, friendships – and figure out why these are harder than they should be.

Occupational Therapists are specifically trained to observe the connection between a child's body and brain and what they're being asked to do. They pay attention to things like fine motor skills (the small, precise movements needed for writing and self-care), gross motor skills (whole-body coordination and movement), sensory processing (how the brain takes in and responds to information from the environment), attention and concentration, executive function (planning, organising, starting and finishing tasks), and emotional regulation.

What Occupational Therapy is not: it's not tutoring, it's not speech therapy, and it's not about labelling your child or telling you what's wrong with them. It's about understanding how your child is experiencing the world and then building practical strategies to help them manage it better.

What happens when you see an OT

The first step is usually an initial conversation (either by phone or in a first appointment) where the OT talks with you about what you've been noticing at home, what aspects the teacher has raised, and what your child finds easy versus hard.

From there, a formal assessment may be recommended. This involves the OT spending time with your child, observing how they approach various tasks, and using specific tools to obtain a clearer picture of their strengths and where things become tricky. Depending on your child's age and needs, this might look like play-based activities, drawing tasks, movement-based games, or a structured one-on-one session.

The more information you can bring to this process, the better. Useful things include:

Your own observations from home: mornings, mealtimes, getting ready for school, homework, bedtime.
The specific concerns the teacher has raised, ideally in writing if the school can provide it.
Any previous reports from other professionals, including school reports, paediatric assessments, or speech pathology reports.
Your child's history: birth and development, any significant health events, how they've managed transitions like starting school.

You know your child better than anyone. The OT's job is to combine that knowledge with their clinical assessment to build the most useful picture possible.

What comes out of an OT assessment?

After assessing your child, the OT will discuss the findings with you and recommend a path forward. This might include:

Therapy sessions – working directly with your child on specific skills, either in clinic, at school, or in your home.
Strategies for home and school – practical recommendations that you and the teacher can implement in daily life. Sometimes this has a bigger impact than therapy sessions alone, because the strategies are applied where the child needs them.
A written report – if a formal assessment has been completed, a written report documents findings and recommendations. This is particularly useful for NDIS planning, school support plans, or paediatric referrals.
Environmental modifications – changes to the physical environment at home or school that reduce the demands on your child and support their participation.

Private or NDIS – how does funding work?

If your child doesn't have an NDIS plan, Occupational Therapy is available privately. You don't need a referral from a GP to see an OT, though a referral may help claim a Medicare rebate through a Chronic Disease Management Plan if your GP thinks it's appropriate. It’s worth asking.

If your child already has an NDIS plan, OT typically sits under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living . If OT hasn't been included in the plan and you think it should be, a GP letter or paediatric report supporting the need for OT can help make the case at your next plan review.

At Sigma Therapies, we work with both private and NDIS-funded families — and we're happy to talk through the options before you commit to anything.

The most important thing to remember

A teacher recommending OT is not a judgment on your child or your parenting. It's a nudge toward support that could make a real difference at school, at home, and in the daily moments that make up your child's life.

If you're not sure where to start, our team is here to help .

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Disclaimer: This post for is for i nformation only purposes. For personalised advice, speak with a qualified health professional.

Get In Touch

For referral enquiries, clinical consultations, or questions about complex cases, our team welcomes conversations with support coordinators and allied health professionals.

Call our intake team:

Can a Toddler See an Occupational Therapist?

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:46:06 GMT

A lot of parents assume Occupational Therapy is for older children: school-age kids struggling with handwriting, or children who've already received a diagnosis. But some of the most impactful Occupational Therapy work happens much earlier than that. And the earlier the support begins, the more difference it tends to make.

If you've been watching your toddler and quietly wondering whether something feels a little different, this might be worth reading.

You don't need a diagnosis to access Occupational Therapy

This is probably the most important thing to know. You don't need a formal diagnosis to enquire about OT for your child. Autism assessments, developmental delay reports, referral from a paediatrician - these are not required to start. If something is negatively affecting your child's daily life or making your entire family’s life harder, that is enough of a reason to reach out.

What can Occupational Therapy help with for kids under 5?

Feeding difficulties. Some food selectivity is completely normal in toddlers. But when mealtimes are consistently distressing, your child gags or panics at certain textures, or when they only accept a limited range of foods, that's worth investigating. Feeding difficulties in young children are often sensory in nature. They may also be motor, medical, emotional or routine-related. OT can support the sensory and mealtime participation aspects, but swallowing, choking, growth, nutrition, or medical concerns should be directed to the GP, paediatrician, Speech Pathology or Dietitian as appropriate.

Getting dressed and daily care routines. If your child has strong, consistent reactions to clothing, shoes, tags, or having their hair and teeth brushed (to the point where daily routines are a battle), sensory processing differences may be involved. An OT can help you understand what's happening and build routines that are more manageable for everyone.

Fine motor development. Fine motor skills are the small, precise movements that young children need for grasping, stacking, using utensils, drawing, and eventually writing. If your child seems to be falling behind in this area compared to other children their age, early OT support builds the foundations they'll need later.

Sensory responses that feel intense. Every child has sensory preferences. But in certain situations, there might be more than preferences. For example, when a child's response to sounds, lights, textures, or movement continues to intensify, with disruptive effects every day of the week. Or when they seem to need very high levels of input, like crashing, jumping, or constantly mouthing objects. An Occupational Therapist can help you get clarity with a sensory assessment.

Play and exploration. Play is how young children learn. An OT looks at the way your child explores toys, engages with their environment, and interacts during play. The therapist has the skills to identify any underlying developmental factors that are affecting your child’s play. If so, these factors may be worth addressing early.

Sleep and settling. A lot of parents are surprised to hear that sensory and regulation differences in toddlers often show up at bedtime. We’re talking about difficulty winding down, needing very specific conditions to settle, or waking frequently and being very hard to resettle. OT can help with sleeping routines, particularly when sensory regulation is a factor.

What do OT sessions look like for a toddler?

Mostly play. Every activity an Occupational Therapist involves young children in is built around play. That’s because it’s something that feels natural and enjoyable for the child. At the same time, they are building the underlying skills their nervous system needs.

Parents are a central and active part of every session. OT will give you practical strategies you can use straight away. Not just observations and take-home notes. The real work and improvements happen between appointments, at home, as part of your daily routines.

Does my child need to be diagnosed first?

No. Early intervention OT does not require a prior diagnosis. In fact, one of the most valuable things an OT assessment can do is help you understand what is going on. Sometimes, it’s before anyone else has been able to give you a clear answer.

If your child is on a diagnostic pathway and waiting for an assessment, you don't have to wait. OT support can begin today. It often helps with any future assessment process, by providing valuable, unique information on your child’s progress.

How is kids’ OT funded?

The NDIS early childhood approach supports children younger than 6 with developmental delay or developmental concerns, and children younger than 9 with disability. Where a child has an NDIS plan, OT may be funded through relevant capacity building supports.

For families without NDIS, private OT is available directly; no GP referral is required to enquire or book.

When should I reach out?

If you've been sitting on the 'should I or shouldn't I?' question, we recommend finding out sooner rather than later. You're not overreacting. You know your child. And a conversation with an OT costs nothing and answers a lot.

At Sigma Therapies, our paediatric Occupational Therapists work with children from age 3, supporting families across Perth: in clinic at Bibra Lake, on mobile across the metro area, and via telehealth.

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Disclaimer: This post for is for i nformation only purposes. For personalised advice, speak with a qualified health professional.

Get In Touch

For referral enquiries, clinical consultations, or questions about complex cases, our team welcomes conversations with support coordinators and allied health professionals.

Call our intake team:

The Difference Between Emotional Regulation and Behaviour Problems and How OT Helps

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:37:26 GMT

Most parents can relate: your child has a complete meltdown because their toast was cut the wrong way. Or they shut down entirely when it's time to leave the park. Or they go from fine to furious in about thirty seconds, over something that, from the outside, seems tiny.

And you're left wondering: is this a behaviour problem? Is it something I'm doing wrong? Is this just their personality, or is something else going on?

We’d like you to consider a different point of view: what looks like a behaviour problem is very often an emotional regulation issue. And these two things need very different responses.

Understanding the difference doesn't just reduce conflict at home. It can genuinely change how you support your child — and how your child starts to experience themselves.

Behaviour versus regulation

Behaviour is what we can see. The yelling, the throwing, the refusal, the tears, the shutdown. It's the outward action, the thing that happens in the room.

Regulation is what's happening underneath. It's a child's ability to notice what they're feeling, make sense of it, and respond in a way that works for them and for the people around them.

When regulation is working well, a child can feel frustration and will say, "I'm really frustrated." They can feel anxious about a new situation and still walk into the room. They can feel overwhelmed and can find a way to settle themselves or ask for help.

When regulation is struggling, those same feelings become too big, too fast, or too confusing to manage. The behaviour – the meltdown, the aggression, the shutdown – isn't the child being manipulative or choosing to be difficult. It's the only response available to them in that moment, because their nervous system has run out of other options.

This is an important distinction because it changes our response. Consequences and behaviour management strategies work best for children who have the skills to respond differently in the moment, but haven't. They don't work well when a child doesn't have those skills yet.

What makes regulation hard for some children?

Regulation isn't a personality trait. It's a skill that develops gradually through childhood, with great variation among children. And some children find it harder to develop due to their nervous system.

A few of the most common reasons a child might struggle with regulation are worth mentioning:

Sensory processing differences. When a child's brain processes sensory input differently – finding certain sounds, textures, lights, or physical sensations more intense or difficult to filter – their nervous system is working harder to get through a normal day. By the time they get home from school, they may have very little left in the tank. What looks like an outburst over homework is often the result of a day of sensory overload that was invisible to everyone around them.
Transitions and unpredictability. Some children find even small, predictable changes destabilising. Moving from one activity to another, an unexpected change to routine, or a plan that didn't go as expected can trigger a stress response that looks completely out of proportion to the situation.
Interoception – the body sense we don't talk about enough. Interoception is the ability to notice and understand signals from inside your body, such as hunger, tiredness, tension, a racing heart, and a tight chest. It's the foundation of emotional awareness. Children who have difficulty with interoception often can't identify what they're feeling until it has already escalated beyond their capacity to manage. They're not ignoring their feelings. They're genuinely not getting the signal until it's reached emergency level.
Fatigue, hunger, and cognitive load. One’s capacity to regulate is finite. A child who has been working hard to concentrate, manage social demands, and hold it together all day at school has used significant regulatory resources by the time they get home. The after-school meltdown is almost universal for this reason: home is safe, the effort of holding it together is over, and everything that was suppressed comes out.

Where does OT come in?

Occupational Therapists are specifically trained in the connection between the body, the nervous system, and daily functioning. When a child is struggling with regulation, an OT looks at the whole picture: sensory processing, body awareness, daily routines, environmental factors, and the skills the child has (or is still developing) for managing big feelings.

Here's what Occupational Therapy for regulation involves in practice:

Identifying what's driving the behaviour. An OT assessment looks at the underlying factors: sensory sensitivities, interoception difficulties, motor skill gaps, and environmental triggers that might be contributing to what the family is seeing. This changes the conversation from "how do we stop this behaviour" to "what does this child need?"
Building body-based calming strategies. Regulation isn't a cognitive exercise for most children; it happens through the body. OTs work with children on strategies like movement, breath, and sensory input to help the nervous system settle. These are specific tools tailored to what works for a particular child.
Supporting sensory needs directly. If sensory processing is a significant factor, an OT can develop a sensory diet. It’s a personalised plan of specific activities and inputs that help regulate the nervous system across the day. This might look like movement breaks, using specific textures or tools, environmental adjustments, or changes to the structure of the day.
Co-regulation – building the skill with support. Young children in particular can't self-regulate in isolation. They learn to regulate by being alongside calm, regulated adults. OTs work with parents and carers on co-regulation skills: how to self-regulate in a difficult moment and how to support your child to return to a manageable state without inadvertently escalating things.
Bridging home and school. One of the most common frustrations families describe is that strategies work in one setting and fall apart in another. OTs work across environments, talking to teachers, providing school-based recommendations, and helping everyone in a child's life respond consistently. Consistency is what makes regulation skills stick.

Practical, not judgmental – that's the goal

OT for emotional regulation is not about telling you your child there’s something wrong with them. It's about understanding how their particular nervous system works, building the skills they need, and creating an environment – at home, at school, in the community – where they can thrive.

Children who get this kind of support don't just have fewer meltdowns. They start to understand themselves better. They develop language for their feelings. They build confidence. And the families around them find that daily life – the mornings, the school runs, the evenings – gradually becomes something they can all manage without dreading.

If this sounds like your child, it might be worth a conversation.

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Disclaimer: This post for is for i nformation only purposes. For personalised advice, speak with a qualified health professional.

Get In Touch

For referral enquiries, clinical consultations, or questions about complex cases, our team welcomes conversations with support coordinators and allied health professionals.

Call our intake team:

What Is a Functional Capacity Assessment?

Mon, 18 May 2026 01:45:06 GMT

If someone has suggested your family member needs a Functional Capacity Assessment, or if you've seen it mentioned in your NDIS plan and wondered what it is, you're not alone. It's one of those terms that gets used a lot in the disability sector without much explanation behind it.

Here is a plain English guide for families dealing with FCA.

A Functional Capacity Assessment is an evaluation of how a person manages the tasks and activities of daily life in their natural environment. At Sigma Therapies, it’s our Occupational Therapists who complete these assessments. In a broader sense, several other qualified professionals are recognised by NDIS as having the right and capacity to undertake FCAs, such as physiotherapists, psychologists, or medical specialists. ( NDIS )

The OT will build a detailed view of where the person is right now: what they can do independently, where they need some support, and where significant barriers are getting in the way. They look at everything that makes up daily functioning: personal care, getting dressed, preparing meals, moving around the home and community, managing a routine, communicating, and participating in work, school, or social activities.

Don’t think it’s a test. There are no right or wrong answers. It's not about highlighting what someone can't do, it's about understanding the full picture so the right support can be put in place.

What happens during an FCA assessment?

Every FCA is a little different depending on the person's age, disability, and circumstances, but typically the OT will:

Spend time talking with you and your family member. They'll want to understand daily routines: what a typical morning looks like, which activities are manageable and which ones are a real struggle, what support is already in place, and what the family has noticed over time. Your observations as a carer are genuinely valuable. You've been watching and supporting this person in ways no clinician has.

Observe your family member doing everyday tasks. Rather than relying entirely on what people describe, the OT will watch the person in action: how they approach a task, where they get stuck, how they problem-solve, how they manage when something doesn't go as expected. This observation differentiates an FCA from a standard intake conversation.

Assess the environment. The home, the school, the community setting. These are places where the OT is looking at to identify whether the physical environment is set up to support the person or if it creates roadblocks. Apparently straightforward things such as the layout of a bathroom, the height of kitchen benches, or the noise level in a space can have a significant impact on how well someone functions.

Use standardised assessments where appropriate. Depending on the person and the purpose of the FCA, the occupational therapist may also use specific clinical tools to assess things like fine motor skills, cognition, sensory processing, or fatigue. These provide more precise clinical data and are often required to support specific NDIS funding requests.

The whole process might happen in one longer session or across several visits, depending on the complexity of each case.

What does the FCA report look like?

At the end of the assessment, the OT writes a detailed report. This document covers what was assessed, what was found, and what is advised.

The recommendations section is one of the most effective parts of the FCA. It translates everything the OT has observed and assessed into practical suggestions: types of support, equipment, home modifications, therapy, or strategies that could make a real difference to the person's daily life.

This report is written to be used by the NDIS, by support workers, by other allied health professionals, and by you as a family.

Is FCA different from other assessments?

Yes, an FCA is broader and more functional than most assessments you'll come across. A diagnosis report tells you what condition someone has. A psychological assessment tells you about cognitive or mental health factors. An FCA tells you how those things, and everything else, play out in the person's daily life.

A well-written FCA can be highly relevant to the NDIS because it links functional impact, goals, support needs, and practical recommendations in a way that can potentially assist planning and funding conversations. The language and structure of a good FCA maps directly onto NDIS goals and funding categories, which is why it's so often recommended before a plan review or when new supports are being requested.

Who is it for?

FCAs can be useful across different life stages and care contexts. Within the NDIS, they are commonly used for children, teenagers, and adults who require evidence of functional support needs. (NDIS) Outside the NDIS, similar functional assessments can also be useful in aged care contexts. Basically, where the question "what support does this person need, and why?" arises, a thorough, evidence-based answer could be beneficial through an FCA.

How should I prepare for an FCA?

Before a Functional Capacity Assessment, we recommend simply thinking about what a typical day looks like for your family member. What goes well? What's consistently hard? Where do you step in to help, and how often? What would be different if the right support were in place?

You don't need to come up with a perfect summary. Honest, practical observations are far more handy than anything formal. The OT will guide the conversation; your job is just to share what you know.

Thinking about an FCA for your family member?

The team of Occupational Therapists at Sigma Therapies completes FCAs for children, adolescents, and adults across Perth and regional WA. We take the time to understand your family member as a whole person, and to write practical reports, not just thorough.

If you'd like to find out more or book an assessment, we'd love to hear from you.

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Disclaimer: NDIS planning processes are changing, so families should always check current NDIS guidance or seek advice about what evidence is required for their situation. The Australian Government has stated that the rollout of new framework planning has been delayed until 1 April 2027.

Get In Touch

For referral enquiries, clinical consultations, or questions about complex cases, our team welcomes conversations with support coordinators and allied health professionals.

Call our intake team:

How a Functional Capacity Assessment Supports Your NDIS Plan

Mon, 18 May 2026 01:33:35 GMT

One of the most common frustrations families share is sitting in an NDIS planning meeting and feeling that the funding their family member received didn't quite reflect what they actually needed. Having the sense that the plan looked reasonable on paper but didn’t match the reality of daily life.

So what is the connection between an FCA and your NDIS plan?

A Functional Capacity Assessment can be one of the most useful sources of functional evidence to support NDIS planning conversations. (NDIS describes FCAs as assessments of a person’s ability to perform daily tasks at home, work, and in the community. ( NDIS )

Here is a quick overview of how the FCA contributes to the implementation of your NDIS plan, when to get one, and why the quality of the report matters more than most families realise.

Why the NDIS needs evidence and what counts

The NDIS is a needs-based scheme, which means funding is allocated according to what a person truly needs to live their life, not only because of their diagnosis. Two people with the same diagnosis can have completely different functional needs depending on how their condition affects them day to day, what their home environment is like, and what support they already have access to.

This is where the FCA makes a difference: it provides the specific, functional evidence that planners need to understand your family member's situation. Beyond their condition in general terms, the focus is placed on how they perform activities in their home, in their routines, with their particular strengths and challenges.

Without that evidence, planning conversations can default to general assumptions about what a diagnosis usually requires. With evidence, the conversation can be specific, well-supported, and much harder to underfund.

How an FCA contributes to your plan

It explains the "why" behind funding requests. The NDIS doesn't fund disability supports just because a family asks for them. It funds them because there's documented evidence of need. An FCA written by a skilled OT translates everyday observations ("she can't manage the morning routine without help") into clinical evidence ("the participant demonstrates significant difficulties with executive function, sequencing, and task initiation that impact her ability to complete personal care and domestic tasks independently"). Same reality. A totally different impact in a planning conversation.

It identifies what types of supports will help. An FCA documents difficulties, but it also recommends solutions. The OT's recommendations section outlines the types of therapy, support, equipment, or home modifications that are clinically indicated for this person. The more detailed and clearly justified the recommendations, the more useful they are as a foundation for funding requests. It’s important to remember that these recommendations can support funding requests, but NDIA decisions remain subject to the NDIS funding criteria. ( NDIS )

It captures what changes over time. People's needs evolve. A child moves into adolescence. An adult's condition progresses. A person's circumstances change significantly after a hospitalisation or a family transition. A new or updated FCA at key moments provides current evidence that reflects where the person is now, not where they were 12 months ago when the last plan was written. This is particularly important at plan reviews, where outdated assessments can result in funding that no longer fits.

It supports requests for specific equipment and home modifications. Your family member may need a wheelchair, a shower chair, a hospital bed, home modifications to improve access and safety, or assistive technology to support their independence. For some assistive technology, equipment, or home modification requests, the NDIS may require clinical evidence, such as an OT report or assessment. The evidence needed can vary depending on the type, cost, risk, and complexity of the support being requested. ( NDIS )

An FCA that documents the functional need behind each item, and connects it clearly to the person's goals and daily activities, gives the planner the justification they need to approve it.

When is the right time to get an FCA?

Before the first NDIS plan. If your family member is new to the NDIS, an FCA helps ensure the initial plan reflects actual needs from the start rather than starting with a minimal plan and spending the first year trying to get it increased.

Before an NDIS plan review. If the existing plan isn't meeting your family member's needs, a current FCA gives you the evidence to make a case for change. This is especially important if needs have increased or your circumstances are different since the last assessment.

When new supports are being requested. If you’re seeking funding for specific therapy, equipment, home modifications, or home and living supports such as Supported Independent Living, an FCA may form part of the evidence used to support the request.

When things have changed significantly. A new diagnosis, a change in health, and a transition between life stages represent significant changes in circumstances. These changes might be a good reason to ensure the clinical evaluation still applies.

Why report quality matters

Not all FCAs are equal. A thorough, well-written FCA can be the difference between a plan that genuinely reflects your family member's needs and one that falls short.

The most useful FCAs are specific — they describe the person's functional capacity in their actual environment, not in general terms. They connect difficulties clearly to daily activities and goals. Their recommendations are justified, practical, and clearly linked to NDIS funding categories. And they're written in a way that a planner who has never met your family member can read and understand.

If an FCA is vague, overly brief, or doesn't connect its findings to functional impact and practical recommendations, it may not carry the weight you need in a planning conversation — even if the need is genuinely there.

A few things worth knowing before you go into a plan review

Bring your FCA . If you have a recent, comprehensive FCA, take it to the planning meeting and refer to it specifically when discussing each area of funding.

Make sure it's current. If your family member’s FCA is older than 12 months, or their needs have changed significantly, consider whether an updated assessment is required before the review. (Currently, reports submitted as evidence need to be written within the last 12 months to accurately reflect needs or circumstances. ( NDIS )

Ask your OT about the connection. If you're already working with an OT, ask them directly: "Does this report support the funding we're requesting?"

At Sigma Therapies, our Occupational Therapists complete FCAs for children, adolescents, and adults across Perth and regional WA. We write thorough, practical reports that are genuinely designed to support your family member's NDIS plan — and we're happy to talk through what's needed before you commit.

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Disclaimer: NDIS planning processes are changing, so families should always check current NDIS guidance or seek advice about what evidence is required for their situation. The Au stralian Government has stated that the rollout of new framework planning has been delayed until 1 April 2027.

Get In Touch

For referral enquiries, clinical consultations, or questions about complex cases, our team welcomes conversations with support coordinators and allied health professionals.

Call our intake team:

What Changes When Your Occupational Therapist and Behaviour Support Practitioner Work Together

Mon, 18 May 2026 01:07:27 GMT

If your family member has both an Occupational Therapist and a behaviour support practitioner involved in their care, you might have noticed that, sometimes, they don't talk to each other.

The OT does their assessment, writes a report, and makes recommendations. The behaviour support practitioner develops a plan. And you, as the parent, the carer, the person holding it all together, are often left trying to bridge the gap between two separate documents, two separate professionals, and two sets of strategies that don't necessarily line up.

Why does it matter? Because when these two disciplines work together in unison, the support your family member receives becomes more consistent, more targeted, and more effective where it counts: at home, at school, in the community, and in daily life.

The Occupational Therapist Perspective

An OT who works with your family member isn't just ticking boxes on a form. They first complete a detailed evaluation to understand how someone functions in their daily life. It’s called a Functional Capacity Assessment, depicting a comprehensive picture of the person: their routines, their environment, where things tend to go smoothly, and where they tend to break down. All this information is directly relevant to behaviour.

Think about the morning routine. An OT observing a child or adult moving through their morning isn't just looking at whether they can dress themselves. They're noticing where demands spike, where a transition is too sudden, where sensory input becomes too high. Even where certain tasks require more concentration than is practically available at that hour of the day. These are often the moments when distress builds, and behaviour escalates.

With appropriate consent and information-sharing arrangements in place, a behaviour support practitioner can access this level of detail: which part of the morning is hardest, what the environment looks and sounds like, what skills are available versus which ones collapse under pressure. The practitioner can use the data to build strategies that address a specific situation, not to generalise.

How does this influence real-life practice? Instead of a plan with responses to difficult behaviour after it happens, you get a plan designed to change the conditions that make difficult behaviour likely in the first place.

OT & PBS Strategies That Reinforce Each Other

One of the most valuable benefits of Occupational Therapy and Positive Behaviour Support working together is that strategies stop competing with each other; instead, they mutually reinforce.

An OT might recommend visual schedules to help with sequencing and reduce anxiety around transitions. A behaviour support plan addressing distress during the same transitions benefits from a common tool. When both practitioners become aware of the trigger and proposed strategy, both reports reference it, and everyone supporting your family member is using it consistently. If they don't know what the other has recommended, you end up with two separate solutions that feel different depending on who's in the room, and neither gets the chance to take hold.

The same applies to environmental adjustments or to the way demands are introduced and sequenced through the day. When these are aligned across OT and behaviour support and communicated clearly to the support workers, teachers, and family members delivering them, your family member experiences consistency wherever they are. Consistency is deeply settling for people who find unpredictability extremely challenging.

As a family, you shouldn't have to be the one making these connections. But knowing that this integration is possible, and asking whether it's happening, is one of the most useful things you can do when you're building your support team.

How OT and PBS Collaboration Reduces Stress at Home

When OT and behaviour support work together, something shifts in the home environment.

The proposed strategies are clearer. You’re not presented with two separate sets of instructions from two separate reports, but a coherent approach that everyone can follow. From support workers, teachers, grandparents, to siblings, they contribute to a less stressful experience for the person you’re supporting. The challenging behaviour making daily life so hard is now reduced.

For families, this means even less guesswork and exhaustion trying to translate professional recommendations into something practical. People express a sense of relief in these circumstances that there is a coordinated team around them.

It Starts With the Right Conversation

If your family member currently has OT support or is being assessed, it's worth asking whether that information is being shared with their behaviour support practitioner. If they don't yet have behaviour support in place, understand how it could help, particularly if daily routines are a consistent source of difficulty.

You don't need to have all the answers before you reach out. That's what the first conversation is for.

Sigma Therapies OT and behaviour support teams work from shared clinical information, with appropriate consent, which means assessments inform plans and the strategies your family receives are built to work together. We support children, adolescents, and adults across Perth and regional WA.

If you'd like to talk about what support might look like for your family, we'd love to hear from you.

Get In Touch

For referral enquiries, clinical consultations, or questions about complex cases, our team welcomes conversations with support coordinators and allied health professionals.

Call our intake team:

Positive Behaviour Support in Action: Safer Routines for the Whole Family

Mon, 18 May 2026 01:02:29 GMT

When families first hear about Positive Behaviour Support, most of the conversation tends to centre on the person receiving it: the strategies, the plan, the goals.

Of course, PBS is built around that person, so it makes sense. But there's also another side of this approach that deserves attention: when PBS is working well, it makes daily life better for everyone in the home.

It’s not just the person receiving support who benefits

When families first hear about Positive Behaviour Support, most of the conversation tends to centre on the person receiving it: the strategies, the plan, the goals. Of course, PBS is built around that person, so it makes sense. But there's also another side of this approach that deserves attention: when PBS is working well, it makes daily life better for everyone in the home.

You can notice calmer routines: in the mornings, at mealtimes, during transitions, and at the end of a long day when everyone's emotional energy can be depleted. There’s increased predictability, and the strategies become clear enough for everyone to follow. The constant low-level tension that builds up in households where behaviour is unpredictable can also start to ease.

If you're a parent, carer, or sibling who has been living inside a difficult routine for a while, that shift is worth understanding.

The Hidden Exhaustion

Difficult moments can wear families down. So does everything around them: how you start watching for signs before anything has even happened; the way conversations get driven or noise levels are managed, and certain topics quietly becoming off-limits not because anyone decided to, but because the household learned over time what keeps things relaxed. Sometimes, siblings adjust their behaviour, almost without knowing it, to reduce friction. Or you may lie awake wondering whether tomorrow will be like today, or harder.

It’s a sort of ongoing vigilance with a real cost. It tends to be invisible to the people outside the home, to the professionals writing reports, sometimes even to the family itself, because it has just become the way things are.

PBS doesn't eliminate every difficult moment. But when it's working well, it changes the conditions that make difficult moments so frequent and so unpredictable. When that changes, being on guard all the time in the background diminishes.

The Role of Consistent Routines

One of the most valuable things PBS brings to a family is clarity about what to expect, what to do, and how everyone in the household should act when things turn gruelling.

For the person receiving support, predictability has a settling effect. Distress is less likely to build if they know what's coming next and transitions are signalled in advance. At the same time, if the demands of the day are structured to match their capacity, they feel more at ease and can control their stress levels. Most challenging behaviours aren’t random. They're responses to a world that feels unpredictable or overwhelming. If you can change the predictability of that world, you can also change the behaviour.

For the rest of the family, the benefit is different but equally relevant. A clear, agreed-upon approach to the difficult moments is proven to be successful as compared to improvised, in the heat of the moment reaction. Thinking through a response calmly and in advance allows the household to stop operating in crisis mode. People know what to do. They feel more confident doing it. And they don’t feel the pressure of figuring it out on the spot, every single time.

Here are some practical ways to put this into practice:

Visual supports that everyone can use. A visual schedule showing what's happening next. It’s a great tool for the person who finds transitions hard as well as for the whole family. Transitions become a shared, predictable moment rather than a negotiation if everyone refers to the same schedule.

Agreed language to reduce assumptions. Different people respond differently to the same situation. It’s a common source of inconsistency in families. Mum says one thing, dad says another, the support worker tries something else. PBS plans can help as they include specific, agreed language: what to say, how to say it, in what sequence. The person receiving support is therefore met with a consistent message, regardless of who is communicating. That consistency is calming in itself.

Agreed responses to difficult moments. When a behaviour escalates, the natural response is emotional — completely understandable. But if everyone already knows what to do, that emotional charge has somewhere to go. Having a plan doesn't prevent hard moments, but it changes how everyone copes with them.

Environmental changes that prevent escalation. Sometimes, the most effective strategy is a small change to the physical environment. It can be a slight reduction in noise during a difficult transition, reorganising the sequence of morning tasks, or creating a space where the person can regulate without feeling cornered. You don’t need to introduce dramatic interventions. They're adjustments that, once made, become the new normal.

What Changes for Siblings

Families have told us this is one of the most meaningful outcomes once PBS is in place: the change experienced by siblings of children and adults with disability.

They’re one group that often carries more than anyone realises. They've learned to read moods, to adjust their behaviour, to manage their own responses with a maturity that shouldn't be required of them. They love their family members deeply, but they're also so tired that words can’t describe.

So when the home environment becomes more predictable and the strategies become clearer, siblings get something back. They don't have to be constantly on watch; they can feel the confidence that comes from having a behaviour plan. Bit by bit, the household is not a place to be managed but rather a home where you can be yourself.

A Plan That Fits Your Real Life

Positive Behaviour Support isn’t abstract. It's an approach built around your family in real life, from morning and after-school routines, to Sunday afternoons when everyone is tired and there are still hours left in the day.

A behaviour support practitioner who takes the time to understand how your household works can build really useful strategies. Not strategies that would work for a family with unlimited time and no competing demands. Strategies that fit around a school run, a work schedule, a sibling who needs attention too.

Talk to Our Team

At Sigma Therapies, our behaviour support practitioners work alongside families to build plans that are practical, personalised, and grounded in daily experiences. We support children, adolescents, and adults across Perth and regional WA.

If you have a family member whose behaviour is affecting life at home, you don't need to wait until things reach a crisis point to reach out. Earlier support tends to make a bigger difference.

Get In Touch

For referral enquiries, clinical consultations, or questions about complex cases, our team welcomes conversations with support coordinators and allied health professionals.

Call our intake team:

Can Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Help Your Family?

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:42:56 GMT

You have a child or family member who finds certain situations overwhelming, who struggles to communicate what they need, or whose behaviour has started to affect daily life at home or school.

If you've been searching for support for them, you might have come across the term Positive Behaviour Support , or PBS.

Like many families, you may have wondered, "What actually is this? Is it right for us? And where do I even start?"

What Is Positive Behaviour Support?

Positive Behaviour Support is an evidence-based approach to understanding why a person behaves the way they do. It enables the development of practical strategies to help them thrive.

It's not about punishment. It's not about forcing someone to act "normal." And it's definitely not about labelling a person as difficult or broken.

PBS starts with a simple premise: all behaviour is communication. When someone is struggling (i.e., melting down at school drop-off, refusing transitions, becoming distressed in loud environments, or lashing out at people they love), there's always a reason. Positive Behaviour Support helps uncover that reason and, from there, builds a plan that actually makes daily life better.

For families in Perth navigating the NDIS, PBS is also a funded support, typically sitting under Capacity Building (Improved Relationships) in your NDIS plan.

What Does PBS Actually Look Like in Real Life?

This is the question families ask us the most, and it's a fair one.

PBS isn't a single session or a quick fix. It's an ongoing, collaborative process; your family is at the centre of it every step of the way. Here's what to expect:

Getting to know your family. Your PBS practitioner will spend time understanding your family member as a whole person: their strengths, their interests, what lights them up, and what tends to make things harder. This might involve conversations with you, observations at home or school, and input from support workers or teachers.
Understanding what's driving the behaviour. This is sometimes called a functional behaviour assessment, but think of it more simply as figuring out what's really going on. Is it a sensory issue? A communication barrier? Anxiety? A need for connection or control? Understanding the "why" is what makes the strategies work.
Building a support plan that fits your life as it is now. We're not building a generic document for you, but a practical, personalised plan with solutions your family can implement. These may include: scripts for tricky moments, visual supports, step-by-step routines, communication tools, and adjustments to the environment. Generally, things that work across your home, school, and the community.
Coaching and ongoing support. Your practitioner doesn't just hand you a plan and disappear. They work alongside you, check in regularly, adjust the plan as your family member grows and changes, and make sure everyone around them (from support workers, teachers, to siblings) feels confident and included.

Is PBS Just for Kids?

No. And this is worth a clear identification.

Positive Behaviour Support supports people of all ages and all abilities. Whether you're a parent of a young child who's just received an autism diagnosis, a carer for a teenager who's hitting a difficult period, or an adult with disability yourself looking for more independence and less stress in daily life, PBS can help.

It's also for families. A good PBS practitioner understands that when one person is struggling, the whole family feels it. Reducing stress, improving routines, and giving everyone clearer strategies makes a difference for everyone in the home.

Common Questions Families Ask Us

"Will PBS work for my child's specific diagnosis?"
Positive Behaviour Support is used across a wide range of disabilities and diagnoses: autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, ADHD, acquired brain injury, and more. It's designed to be tailored to the individual, not the diagnosis.
"How long before we see a difference?"
Some families notice changes within a few weeks once strategies are consistently in place. Others take longer, particularly if complex factors are involved. PBS is a process, not a quick fix, but families consistently tell us that even the early stages of understanding what's driving behaviour bring real relief.
"Does PBS involve restrictive practices?"
A good PBS plan is built to reduce the need for any restrictive or reactive responses. If restrictive practices are currently in use, your registered PBS provider is required by the NDIS to have a plan to reduce and eliminate them over time — always with your family's rights and dignity as the priority.
"Is my family member's voice included?"
Absolutely! This is fundamental to what makes PBS different. Wherever possible, the person receiving support is involved in shaping their own plan. Their preferences, their goals, and what matters to them come first.

What Families in Perth Tell Us They Want

When we talk to families who are considering PBS, a few themes come up again and again:

Practical strategies they can use at home and at school today
Feeling heard, not judged or blamed
A clearer picture of what's happening and why
Less stress. Fewer difficult moments. A more settled home.
Support that doesn't disappear after the first session

These aren't unreasonable things to want. They're exactly what good PBS looks like.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you're based in Perth and wondering whether PBS might help your family, we'd love to have a conversation . As an NDIS Registered Provider, Sigma Therapies has a team of PBS practitioners experienced across a range of ages, disabilities, and family contexts. We work across home, schoo, and the community, and we keep you family at the centre of everything we do.

Change starts with one conversation.

Call us today and let’s talk about how we can support you or your loved one.

No pressure, just a chance to ask questions and see whether we're the right fit.

Call us today:

Or start a referral form:

Referring to Positive Behaviour Support: What Support Coordinators Need to Know

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 14:44:51 GMT

As a Support Coordinator or allied health professional working with NDIS participants, the quality of your PBS referrals directly affects participant outcomes.

Understanding what good PBS looks like and how to match participants to the right level of support is one of the most valuable skills you can develop in your role.

PBS Under the NDIS: Funding and Registration

Behaviour support falls under Capacity Building: Improved Relationships (CB Relationships) in an NDIS plan. For participants where any regulated restrictive practice is in use (or where there is a risk they may be introduced), a registered behaviour support provider is not optional; it's a legislative requirement under the NDIS (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018.

Key registration considerations for referrers:

Only NDIS-registered behaviour support providers can develop behaviour support plans that authorise regulated restrictive practices.
Registered providers must report the use of restrictive practices to the NDIS Commission.
Interim behaviour support plans must be developed within agreed timeframes; comprehensive plans require functional behaviour assessment before completion.
Sigma Therapies is a registered NDIS provider for behaviour support.

If you're unsure whether a participant's current arrangements require a registered provider, the NDIS Commission 's provider registration guidelines are the definitive reference.

The Seven Capability Domains:
What Your Referral Should Cover

The NDIS PBS Capability Framework organises practitioner competencies across seven domains. A well-structured referral and PBS response should address all of them:

Interim Response : Immediate safety strategies while a comprehensive assessment is underway.
Functional Behaviour Assessment: Identification of antecedents, setting events, functions of behaviour, and environmental factors.
Behaviour Support Planning: Collaborative, rights-based plan development with participant and support network.
Implementation: Coaching and capacity building for carers, support workers, and educators.
Know It Works : Data collection, monitoring, and plan review cycles.
Reduce and Eliminate Restrictive Practices: Authorisation processes, reporting, and active reduction strategies.
Continuing Professional Development and Supervision: Practitioner currency and quality assurance.

When reviewing a PBS provider's offering, these domains provide a useful audit framework. A provider who can articulate their approach across all seven (not just assessment and plan writing) is demonstrating genuine capability.

What Makes a High-Quality Referral

Incomplete referrals create delays and, more significantly, mean the practitioner begins work without the context needed to develop an effective plan. When referring to Sigma Therapies for PBS , the most useful information includes:

Clinical and background information:

Current diagnoses and relevant medical history
Previous behaviour support plans (if any)
Functional communication level and preferred communication methods
Known sensory, trauma, or anxiety considerations

Current behaviour context:

Description of behaviours of concern (topography, frequency, intensity, duration, where known)
Settings where behaviours occur (home, school, community, transport)
Current restrictive practices in use, if any, and whether NDIS Commission notification has occurred
Any existing safety or crisis plans

Support network:

Names and roles of key people in the participant's life (family, support workers, educators)
Any existing allied health team: Occupational Therapy , speech pathology, psychology
Support coordinator contact details for ongoing coordination

NDIS plan details:

Funding available under CB Relationships
Plan managed or agency managed
Plan review date

The more complete this picture, the faster we can mobilise, and the more targeted the initial assessment will be.

PBS and Restrictive Practice Compliance:
What Referrers Need to Know

This is the area where referrers sometimes feel uncertain — and it matters significantly.

If a participant is currently subject to any regulated restrictive practice (physical restraint, chemical restraint, mechanical restraint, seclusion, or environmental restraint), the following apply:

A registered behaviour support provider must be engaged.
The restrictive practice must be authorised in accordance with state/territory requirements (in WA, this is governed through the Disability Services Act and NDIS Commission requirements).
The behaviour support plan must include active strategies to reduce and, where clinically appropriate, eliminate the restrictive practice over time.
The provider must report regulated restrictive practice use to the NDIS Commission.

Non-compliance in this area carries significant consequences for both the service provider delivering the restrictive practice and, increasingly, for other parties in the participant's support network who have awareness of the situation.

If you have a participant in this situation and are unsure about the next steps, contact our team. We're experienced in navigating these compliance requirements and can advise on appropriate referral pathways.

Sigma Therapies: Referral Pathway

Referring to Sigma Therapies for PBS is straightforward:

Step 1: Complete our referral form or contact our intake coordinator directly
Step 2: We'll review the referral and confirm the right practitioner level for the participant's needs
Step 3: Intake call with the participant and/or their support network
Step 4: Interim plan developed within agreed timeframes if required
Step 5: Functional behaviour assessment and comprehensive plan development
Step 6: Ongoing implementation support, coaching, and review cycles

Current wait times: Our intake process is done under 48 hours, with appointments usually secured within two weeks. We recommend you contact us for current availability as we maintain a priority pathway for participants with urgent restrictive practice compliance needs.

Accepted funding: NDIS self-managed, plan-managed and agency-managed.

Your Free Guide to Making Confident Positive Behaviour Support Referrals

Get In Touch

For referral enquiries, clinical consultations, or questions about complex cases, our team welcomes conversations with support coordinators and allied health professionals.

Call our intake team:

Why Choose NDIS Occupational Therapy for Children, Adults, and Aging People?

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 07:34:58 GMT

NDIS Occupational Therapy (OT) offers invaluable support to individuals with disabilities at any stage in their lives. It enhances their independence and overall quality of life.

From children developing essential skills to aging adults maintaining their self-reliance, Occupational Therapy provides tailored solutions to meet diverse needs.

The Importance of Occupational Therapy for NDIS Participants

Occupational Therapy focuses on enabling individuals with disabilities participate in the activities they want and need to do, whether it's daily living tasks, education, work, or leisure. It helps individuals develop the skills needed to perform activities independently. Tailored interventions assist people in overcoming physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges that impact their everyday lives. The NDIS scheme recognises Occupational Therapy as a crucial service for achieving these goals by providing funding and support to access qualified therapists and interventions.

NDIS Reforms and Their Impact on Occupational Therapy

The NDIS is undergoing reforms following a 2024 review , aimed at improving the participant experience and ensuring the scheme's long-term sustainability. Some key changes include:

Individualised Planning: Focusing on more personalised and flexible plans that better address individual needs and goals.
N avigators and Support Coordination: Replacing the existing Local Area Coordinators and Support Coordinators with "Navigators" to provide more effective and personalised support.
Early Intervention Pathway: The development of a specific pathway for children under 9 to ensure early access to intervention services.

An increased emphasis is also placed on evidence-based practices. This means services like occupational therapy must demonstrate their effectiveness in achieving positive outcomes for participants. This push ensures that funding is allocated to therapies that are proven to make a difference.

Benefits of Occupational Therapy for Children

Occupational therapy brings considerable value during the early intervention for children with disabilities. It helps them develop essential skills in areas such as:

Fine Motor Skills: Skills necessary for writing, drawing, and manipulating small objects.
Gross Motor Skills: Skills required for movement, balance, and coordination.
Sensory Processing : Helping children manage and respond to sensory input from their environment.
Daily Living Skills : Assisting with tasks like dressing, eating, and hygiene.

By having access to NDIS funding, children have the opportunity to benefit from a range of Occupational Therapy services, including:

Assessment: Evaluating a child's strengths and challenges to develop a tailored intervention plan.
Therapeutic Intervention: Providing activities and exercises to improve specific skills.
Assistive Technology: Recommending and training children to use devices that enhance their abilities.

Example: A child with autism might benefit from Occupational Therapy to improve their sensory processing, social interaction, and self-regulation skills. Therapists can use sensory integration techniques, social skills training, and visual supports to help the child thrive in different environments.

Benefits of Occupational Therapy for Adults

Daily Living and Enhancing Independence and Community Participation

Adults with disabilities face unique challenges on a daily basis. Occupational Therapy activities can assist them in achieving greater independence and participating more fully in their communities. It can address a variety of needs, including:

Vocational Rehabilitation: Supporting adults to find and maintain employment.
Independent Living Skills: Assisting with household tasks, financial management, and community navigation.
Mental Health Support: Providing strategies for managing stress, anxiety, and depression.

Occupational therapists can assist adults in modifying their environment or adopting assistive technology to facilitate independent living. This may look like:

Recommending and implementing home modifications (e.g., installing grab rails, building ramps).
Training on the use of adaptive equipment (e.g., modified utensils, dressing aids).
Teaching strategies for time management, task planning and organisation.

Example: An adult recovering from an acquired brain injury could benefit from Occupational Therapy to regain skills needed for daily living, return to work, and participate in social activities. Therapists can provide cognitive rehabilitation, motor retraining, and strategies for managing fatigue and emotional regulation.

Occupational Therapy for Aging People

As people age, they may experience physical and cognitive changes that impact their ability to perform daily tasks. Occupational therapy can help aging individuals maintain their independence, safety, and quality of life through:

Falls Prevention: Assessing and addressing risk factors for falls, such as balance problems, visual impairments, and environmental hazards.
Home Safety Assessments: Identifying and modifying risks in the home to prevent accidents.
Cognitive Support: Providing strategies for managing memory loss, confusion, and other cognitive challenges.
Pain Management: Teaching strategies for managing chronic pain and improving function.

The term 'interventions' is often used with Occupational Therapy services for an aging population, as they describe evidence-based strategies that elevate comfort levels and self-assurance with:

Home modifications to enhance safety and accessibility.
Provision of assistive devices like walkers, wheelchairs, or specialized utensils.
Therapeutic exercises to improve balance, strength, and coordination.

Example: An elderly person with arthritis could benefit from Occupational Therapy to manage pain, improve joint function, and maintain independence in daily activities. Therapists can provide ergonomic assessments, adaptive equipment, and education on joint protection techniques.

Accessing NDIS Funding for OT

NDIS-funded occupational therapy typically falls under the "Improved Daily Living" and "Improved Health and Wellbeing" categories. Services can include:

Assessment: Comprehensive evaluations of a participant's functional abilities.
Therapeutic Intervention : Individualised treatment plans designed to address specific goals.
Assistive Technology: Recommendations, training, and support for using assistive devices.
Home Modifications: Assessments and recommendations for altering a participant's living environment.

To access NDIS funding for OT, individuals must first become NDIS participants and develop a plan that outlines their goals and support needs. Occupational therapists can then work with participants to develop a personalised therapy solution that aligns with these goals.

Telehealth is playing an increasing role in Occupational Therapy service delivery, particularly for individuals in remote areas. Future developments may include more sophisticated remote therapy platforms and digital tools to enhance accessibility and engagement.

NDIS Occupational Therapy is a critical service that empowers individuals of all ages with disabilities to achieve their goals and live fulfilling lives. Sigma Therapies advocates for an integrated care model which involves collaboration between Occupational Therapy and other health care disciplines, like psychology, and other healthcare disciplines. This holistic support addresses the complexity of needs unique to people living with disabilities.

Useful links: Check this fact sheet from NDIA about working with providers as a NDIS participant: "Working with Providers"

Change starts with one conversation.

Call us today and let’s talk about how we can support you or your loved one.

F ree 15-minute phone consultation to understand your story.

How Psychologists with Positive Behaviour Support Expertise Transform NDIS Clients' Lives

Sat, 05 Apr 2025 01:13:03 GMT

Individuals with disabilities often find themselves dealing with a complex landscape. Specialised support is essential to manage behaviours that may limit their participation in daily life. Psychologists with expertise in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) are in a unique position to help NDIS participants.

PBS practitioners have the ability to guide their clients through the process of developing the required skills to navigate social situations, regulate their emotions, and manage stress.

Understanding Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)

Positive Behaviour Support is a holistic, person-centred approach that seeks to understand the underlying causes of challenging behaviours. Unlike traditional methods that focus on suppressing unwanted actions, Positive Behaviour Support aims to create supportive environments, teach new skills, and address individual needs to reduce the likelihood of challenging behaviours occurring in the first place. It's a proactive, rather than reactive, approach that enables individuals to live more fulfilling lives.

Key Principles of PBS:

Person-Centred : Every intervention is tailored to the individual's unique needs, preferences, and goals.
Understanding Behaviour : Challenging behaviours are viewed as attempts to communicate needs or escape unpleasant situations.
Proactive Strategies : Focus is on creating supportive environments and teaching new skills to prevent challenging behaviours.
Data-Driven Decision Making : Interventions are continuously monitored and adjusted based on data collected.
Collaboration : Involves the individual, their family, support workers, and other professionals in the planning and implementation process.

The effectiveness of PBS relies on a thorough understanding of the individual's behaviour and the factors that influence it. This is achieved through Functional Behaviour Assessments (FBAs). They are, in essence, a way of uncovering the "why" behind behaviours. FBAs are used to identify the function or purpose of a challenging behaviour. The process consists of gathering information about the behaviour itself, the antecedents (what happens before the behaviour), and the consequences (what happens after the behaviour).

Based on the results of the Functional Behaviour Assessment, a Positive Behaviour Support plan is developed. This plan outlines specific strategies and interventions designed to address the underlying function of the challenging behaviour.

The Role of Psychologists in Positive Behaviour Support

Psychologists who specialise in Positive Behaviour Support conduct comprehensive behavioural assessments to identify the underlying causes of certain behaviours. They use this insight to create personalised intervention plans. Positive Behaviour Support plans may involve teaching coping mechanisms, modifying environments to reduce stressors, and training caregivers to reinforce positive behaviours at home and in community settings.

By working closely with the individual and their support network, Positive Behaviour Support psychologists foster long-term behavioural improvements that enhance the person's overall wellbeing and ability to engage meaningfully in daily activities.

Benefits of Positive Behaviour Support for NDIS Participants

One of the most significant advantages of Positive Behaviour Support is its focus on long-term solutions rather than short-term fixes. This approach helps build confidence, develop healthier relationships, and participate more fully in the community. By reducing stress and frustration linked to challenging behaviours, Positive Behaviour Support also leads to improved mental health and a better quality of life. Families and caregivers benefit as well, as they receive guidance on how to provide consistent and effective support.

Real-Life Impact of PBS

Positive Behaviour Support is more than just a theory; it transforms lives. Let’s see how we could apply PBS techniques in practice to achieve valuable change:

For a child with autism: Imagine a 7-year-old girl with autism, struggling with severe meltdowns triggered by sensory overload. As her psychologists, we would use Positive Behaviour Support techniques to identify her stressors and implement strategies like structured routines, visual schedules, and a sensory-friendly home setup. Over time, she would learn self-regulation techniques, reducing the frequency and intensity of her meltdowns. She then could confidently attend school and enjoy social activities with friends.
A teen with ADHD: A 15-year-old with ADHD would find it difficult to focus in school and would hence engage in disruptive behaviour. As Positive Behaviour Support psychologists, we could introduce a reward-based system and teach him mindfulness techniques to manage impulsivity. By also involving his teachers and parents in the process, his environment would become more structured, helping him succeed academically while improving his relationships with peers.
An adult with an intellectual disability: A 35-year-old man with an intellectual disability could exhibit aggressive behaviours when frustrated. As his psychologists, we would work with him to develop communication skills, teaching him to express emotions through words instead of outbursts. We could guide his caregivers with de-escalation techniques, leading to a significant reduction in incidents. This would allow the client to live more independently and enjoy a stable routine with less stress.

Positive Behaviour Support plans have been shown to significantly improve the independence, happiness, and overall quality of life of NDIS clients.

Accessing Positive Behaviour Support Services Through NDIS

The NDIS Commission plays a vital role in setting standards and protecting the rights of people with disabilities. Recent announcements and developments highlight the increasing emphasis on PBS as a core component of quality support services.

NDIS participants can access Positive Behaviour Support services as part of their funded supports under the 'Improved Relationships' and 'Capacity Building' categories. These services can include one-on-one therapy sessions, family training programs, and consultations with professionals to refine behavioural strategies over time. Engaging with experienced PBS psychologists ensures individuals receive comprehensive, structured support tailored to their unique needs.

Psychologists with expertise in Positive Behaviour Support are making a profound difference in the lives of NDIS clients. By understanding the underlying causes of challenging behaviours and implementing person-centred, evidence-based interventions, they are giving individuals the opportunity to live more fulfilling, independent, and inclusive lives.

The future of addressing challenging behaviours is a holistic approach to treatment. By integrating Positive Behaviour Support with other therapies, such as occupational therapy and speech therapy, we can better address all aspects of a client's needs, enhancing their independence and wellbeing.

Find out more about Sigma Therapies’ holistic approach to mental health and physical wellbeing here .

Useful links: Check the fact sheets and other resources available to participants on the NDIA website: What is Positive Behaviour Support

Change starts with one conversation.

Call us today and let’s talk about how we can support you or your loved one.

No pressure, just a chance to ask questions and see whether we're the right fit.

Call us today:

Or start a referral form:

Who is Eligible for NDIS Support? A Quick Guide for 2025

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 11:08:26 GMT

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an essential program in Australia, designed to provide support to people with disabilities. Individuals, families, and service providers alike benefit from a clear understanding of who is eligible for NDIS support.

So what are the NDIS eligibility criteria and its recent reforms? How do these changes impact individuals and organisations that work with disability?

Understanding NDIS Eligibility Criteria

NDIS eligibility isn't based solely on having a disability diagnosis. It involves a more holistic assessment of how the disability impacts a person's ability to participate in daily life. To be eligible, an individual must generally meet the following criteria:

Age: Be under 65 years of age when applying to the NDIS.
Residency: Be an Australian citizen, hold a permanent visa, or be a protected Special Category Visa holder.
Disability Requirements: Meet the disability or early intervention requirements.

Meeting the Disability Requirements

This is the most complex aspect of NDIS eligibility. An individual must prove the presence of a permanent disability that substantially impacts their ability to perform daily activities without assistance. This includes physical, intellectual, neurological, sensory, and psychosocial disabilities. Additionally, individuals who require early intervention to prevent further deterioration of their condition may also qualify for support under the NDIS.

For children under the age of 6, there are early intervention requirements. This means that the child has a disability or developmental delay that, without early intervention, would likely result in the child meeting the disability requirements later in life. Early intervention aims to reduce the impact of the disability and help children develop the skills they need.

Recent Reforms and Eligibility Criteria Changes (2024/2025)

The NDIS is a dynamic system, and changes are continually implemented to improve its effectiveness and efficiency. The recent reforms for 2024/2025 bring significant updates to eligibility criteria and the types of supports covered.

Focus on Functional Capacity

A key shift is the increased emphasis on functional capacity. The NDIS Amendment Bill updates require applicants to demonstrate how their disability affects their daily activities. This means providing detailed information about how the disability impacts:

Mobility (e.g., walking, transferring)
Communication (e.g., speaking, understanding)
Self-care (e.g., showering, dressing)
Social interaction (e.g., engaging with others, building relationships)
Learning (e.g., acquiring new skills, problem-solving)
Self-management (e.g., managing medication, making decisions)

This focus ensures that resources are directed toward individuals with the 'greatest' needs. For NDIS occupational therapists , this means assisting clients in clearly articulating the impact of their disability through comprehensive assessments and documentation.

How to Apply for NDIS Support

The application process begins with checking eligibility through the NDIS website or consulting a Local Area Coordinator. If eligible, the next step involves collecting medical documentation, functional assessments, and other supporting evidence from healthcare professionals. This documentation should clearly outline how the disability affects daily life and the types of support required.

Once all necessary documents are prepared, the individual can submit their application online, via phone, or through an NDIS partner organisation. If the application is successful, an NDIS planning meeting is arranged, during which the participant discusses their goals, needs, and preferred support services. Based on this discussion, a personalised NDIS plan is developed, outlining the funding and services available to them.

NDIS Support Lists: What's Covered?

On October 3, 2024, the NDIA released NDIS Support Lists. These lists are crucial because they clearly outline which supports the NDIS will cover. The lists are temporary, pending the agreement of final rules by governments, and affect access and planning decisions.

This development has significant implications for NDIS participants. It is meant to provide greater clarity on the types of supports funded by the NDIS. Also, its goal is to help participants and providers develop realistic and targeted support plans. Just as important, it informs how NDIS budgets should be allocated to ensure access to essential supports.

This information will allow NDIS providers, such as psychologists and occupational therapists, to provide informed advice to clients on which services are covered and to tailor their offer of assistance accordingly. This might also involve advocating for necessary supports that aren't initially included, demonstrating their value and necessity.

What Happens If an Application Is Denied?

If an NDIS application is denied, one has the right to request a review of the decision. This process involves submitting additional evidence or clarifications regarding the individual's needs. Seeking assistance from an NDIS support coordinator or advocacy service can increase the chances of a successful appeal, ensuring that those who genuinely require support receive the funding they need.

Eligibility Reassessments: Extended Timelines

The NDIA has extended the timeline for submitting reassessment documents from 28 to 90 days. This change is designed to alleviate stress and provide participants with more time to gather the required information. The NDIA has also committed to improving communication throughout the reassessment process.

This is a positive development, as it allows individuals and their support networks (including providers) more time to prepare comprehensive documentation. This can lead to more accurate assessments and better-tailored support plans.

The Role of Healthcare Providers

Psychology, PBS (positive behaviour support), and OT (occupational therapy) practices like Sigma Therapies play a vital role in supporting individuals navigating the NDIS. They conduct comprehensive assessments to determine the functional impact of a disability and prepare detailed documentation to support NDIS applications and reassessments. By creating tailored support plans, they make sure the participant’s goals align with the NDIS support lists.

They also provide evidence-based therapies and interventions to improve functional capacity and quality of life for participants. And many will advocate for clients to ensure they receive the supports they need. Allied health providers focus often on educating clients and their families about the NDIS, eligibility criteria, and available supports, which makes a real difference in the lives of people with disability.

Market Impact and Industry Responses

The updated eligibility criteria and support lists have had a noticeable impact on the disability support market.

Increased Scrutiny

The updated criteria have led to *increased scrutiny* on borderline cases, particularly those involving variable conditions. This means that applicants need to provide more detailed documentation to demonstrate the impact of their disability. This could lead to a higher administrative burden for both applicants and providers. It also necessitates a deeper understanding of the NDIS framework and the legislation around it.

Shifting Support Responsibilities

The introduction of clear support lists may result in some supports being shifted to state or community services. This could impact the availability of certain services and may require participants to seek alternative funding sources.

For Sigma Therapies, as an example, this means we are staying informed about the services available outside the NDIS, so we are able to connect clients with appropriate resources.

Technology Integration

Implementing digital tools could enhance communication and streamline the eligibility reassessment process further. This could involve using online platforms to share documentation, track progress, and communicate with the NDIA.

Ongoing Training

Providers will need ongoing training to navigate the evolving landscape effectively and ensure they provide high-quality support services. Education about changes in NDIS, new therapeutic techniques and other information assists clinicians to deliver up to date service.

Supporting NDIS Participants in Perth

Navigating NDIS eligibility and the application process can seem overwhelming, but understanding the key criteria and steps involved makes it more manageable. By following the correct procedures and providing thorough documentation, individuals can access the essential services they need to enhance their independence and overall wellbeing.

Understanding the intricacies of NDIS is complex. Professional support from psychology, PBS (positive behaviour support) practitioners, and Occupational Therapists is vital to ensure you understand your NDIS benefits.

Useful links: Check if you're eligible on the NDIS website: Am I eligible | NDIS

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