Five fast facts about Positive Behaviour Support on the Gold Coast

Positive Behaviour Support is now easier to access on the Gold Coast! We support NDIS participants throughout Queensland, from Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Ipswich through to Hervey Bay, Cairns and Townsville. If you’re ready to make a referral for Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) on the Gold Coast, you’re always welcome to jump into our online referral form to get the ball rolling and we’ll be with you every step of the way.

If you live on the Gold Coast and would like to learn more about Positive Behaviour Support, read on to find out more.

Five fast facts about Positive Behaviour Support on the Gold Coast:

1. Positive Behaviour Support focuses on positive alternatives and prevention

All behaviour is communication — this means that behaviours of concern are a method of communicating. Through Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), we seek to teach more positive ways of communicating and also consider what we can do to prevent behaviours of concern from occurring.

For example, if you’re a parent of a child who is nonverbal, and they consistently push their meals off the table, we consider what they are trying to communicate.

Your PBS practitioner might:

• use a communication book to ask your child what they are trying to communicate;
• request a dental or GP check up, to check for any medical reasons or to assess if pain might be making meal times challenging; and/or
• ask you to keep a chart of when the meals are pushed off the table, which meals are pushed off the table and what type of food is being offered.

Through observations, assessments and interviews, we can then respectfully guess why they are pushing their meals off the table, and suggest positive alternatives and how to prevent this behaviour. 

2. Positive alternatives might include communication strategies, skill-building or environmental modifications

Behaviours of concern and positive alternatives will vary greatly with each individual. One common factor in Positive Behaviour Support is that positive alternatives often include teaching communication strategies, new skills and recommending changes to a person’s environment.

Using our earlier example, if your child was trying to communicate that they would prefer to choose their own meal, we might help you create a communication board with meal choices and teach your child and family members how to use this board. Here’s an example of our communication book and here’s an example of a meal time communication board.

3. Collaboration is pivotal as we gather information

Research shows that working collaboratively with a person’s support network is an essential part of an effective Behaviour Support Plan. We work collaboratively as we collect information for each person’s Behaviour Support Plan. With your consent, we contact members of a person’s support team, such as other family members, support workers, GPs, teachers, doctors and allied health providers such as occupational therapists and speech therapists. We might ask for reports, conduct interviews or seek assistance in collecting data.

In our example above, family members, the GP and dentist all play a key part in helping identify why your child might be pushing meals off the table.

Our behaviour support practitioners work with a person’s support team regardless of where they’re located. If they’re on the Gold Coast, we can easily meet in person, or alternatively we can communicate through phone calls, video calls and/or email.

4. Implementation is a team effort

Implementing recommendations in a Behaviour Support Plan is a team effort. When funding allows, we provide training and guidance on how to put a plan into action. This can take various forms, such as in-person or video demonstrations, in-person training with accommodation providers, or even the provision of customised resources.

5. Support can take time

Ideally, eventually, a person will no longer need Positive Behaviour Support — eventually you will not need our services — this is a sign of successful Positive Behaviour Support. We work with a number of NDIS participants who are working through their second, third or fourth Behaviour Support Plan, and we can see a tangible difference in their lives, and in the lives of the important people in their lives, such as family. Disability and behaviours of concern can be complex; by measuring the effectiveness of our work, we can review and refine Behaviour Support Plans and recommendations to ensure the best outcome possible for our clients.

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Positive Behaviour Support on the Gold Coast: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make a referral for Positive Behaviour Support on the Gold Coast?

Get started by making a behaviour support referral on our website. From there, our team will be in touch with further information.

What is Positive Behaviour Support?

Positive Behaviour Support transforms your quality of life by building new support strategies, skills and behaviours to meet your needs and goals. Click here to view our articles and videos where we explain Positive Behaviour Support and PBS Plans.

How do I know if my NDIS Plan includes funding for behaviour support?

We can help you identify if you have behaviour support funding in your NDIS plan, click here to view our articles about NDIS funds.

Where are your clinics on the Gold Coast?

Ability Consultants is a Registered NDIS Provider on the Gold Coast.

We travel to you, whether that’s at home, school, supported accommodation, or another comfortable setting in the community. Our goal is to meet you where you feel most at ease.

Do you deliver Positive Behaviour Support in all Gold Coast suburbs?

We support NDIS participants throughout the Gold Coast, including but not limited to:

Southport, Surfers Paradise, Labrador, Robina, Varsity Lakes, Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach, Miami, Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach, Nerang, Coomera, Helensvale, Pimpama, Upper Coomera, Hope Island, Runaway Bay, and surrounding suburbs.

How do you deliver culturally safe Positive Behaviour Support on the Gold Coast for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities?

Delivering culturally safe support means more than just understanding behaviour, it means understanding culture, values, family systems, and lived experiences.

We begin by listening. Every family’s cultural background shapes how they view disability, behaviour, mental health, and support services. We take time to understand those perspectives and ensure strategies align respectfully with cultural beliefs and practices.

This may include:

• Ensuring clear and comfortable communication
  
• Adapting strategies to align with family values and parenting styles
  
• Being mindful of migration experiences, trauma, or systemic barriers
  
• Ensuring families feel heard, respected, and empowered in decision-making
  

Cultural safety means families never feel judged or misunderstood. It means creating a space where identity, language, and traditions are respected, while still delivering evidence-based, high-quality Positive Behaviour Support.

The goal is partnership, working together in a way that feels safe, inclusive, and culturally responsive.

How can I get started with Positive Behaviour Support on the Gold Coast?

The first step is to make a referral for Positive Behaviour Support on our website. You can do this anytime and you can make your own referral, or a member of your support team can make a referral on your behalf.

If you have any questions about Positive Behaviour Support, please feel welcome to call our team on 1300 694 625 or send a message using our contact form.