Positive Behaviour Support in Knox, Victoria: Meet PBS Practitioner Mitchell Short

Positive Behaviour Support in Knox just got easier to access, with PBS practitioner Mitchell Short joining our team in Melbourne. Mitch’s psychology qualifications and experience as a grief support counsellor are complemented by his strong understanding of person-centred support and his sincere approach to building trust. Find out more about Mitch below.

Meet Mitchell Short, Behaviour Support Practitioner in Knox, Victoria

Hi Mitch, welcome to our team of behaviour support practitioners in Melbourne, it’s great to have you on our team in Knox! Tell us about you!

Hi, and thanks for welcoming me into the Ability Consultants family. I'm 34 and I live in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. I have a keen interest in psychology, in particular, regarding how thoughts drive behaviour, and how those behaviours can, in turn, change the way we think.

In my previous career, I worked in the pricing analytics team with Coles supermarkets, so I am accustomed to working with data and translating that into usable, goal-directed information. I am a social and relaxed person who enjoys having a chat and getting to know people. I am a proud pet parent, with one dog and two cats, who take up a lot more of my time than they should!

You majored in psychology at Monash and went on to complete a Graduate Diploma of Psychology and Advanced Graduate Diploma of Psychology. What was it that drew you to study psychology?

Psychology has always been something that has interested me. I believe that having a better understanding of how people think and the way those thoughts translate into behaviours, actions and goals creates an amazing opportunity to help both myself and others.

There is a history of mental illness in my family, and my father passed away from cancer when I was 21. This was when my general interest in psychology turned into more of a purpose. I went through some rough times after my dad passed, and it was with the help of a fantastic psychologist that I found my spark again. Being able to use my own life experiences to help others, even if only a little, allows me to see my past as something to be thankful for, and is a major part of how I conduct myself when working with others.

How has your experience as a grief support counsellor influenced your approach to Positive Behaviour Support?

Working as a grief support counsellor has really opened my eyes to how important it is to treat people with kindness and no judgement. It is amazing how healing it can be for someone to just feel heard, and have their opinions and beliefs respected.

I take this approach into every interaction I have as a Behaviour Support Practitioner. Our plans and suggestions are only as effective as the people implementing them allow them to be, and I believe this comes from a place of trust and mutual respect.

By coming from a perspective of not only trying to understand and help the individual, but also their family and their support team, I have found that we are able to develop much better outcomes for everyone involved.

About Positive Behaviour Support and its impact

Can you tell us about a time you’ve seen Positive Behaviour Support in action and the effect it had on a person and/or their family?

I have a family member with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who has worked with a behaviour support practitioner (BSP) for a number of years. She has always shown a keen interest in animals and has a burning desire to work with animals in some form.

This family member had, and in some forms still has, a range of behaviours that made it difficult for them to receive the education they needed in order to achieve their goals.

With the support of their behaviour support practitioner, this family member has been able to better understand their own behaviour and why it can sometimes limit their opportunities in society. They have found new ways to interact with their environment and those around them when things become overwhelming. Although they are still working through a number of behaviours, their quality of life has increased significantly.

Not only are they studying in a field that they find interesting, which has greatly increased their self-esteem and general daily satisfaction, but they have a small number of new friends who are interested in the same topics. They are more excited for the future now than they have ever been, and this positive mentality flows through to their daily existence in so many small ways.

Can you share an example of a diagnosis or behaviour of concern and how Positive Behaviour Support can help?

As it is close to my heart, and I have touched on it previously, I will give an example of how Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) could help an individual with a diagnosis of ASD.

Individuals with ASD can sometimes become overwhelmed, and may have trouble communicating the feelings that they experience because of that. As such, their behavioural response may be to become physically violent towards others or themselves — they may yell, scream or swear, they may attempt to isolate themselves somewhere or flee from the stimulus which is causing them to feel overwhelmed.

In this regard, Positive Behaviour Support can assist in helping the individual and their support network to recognise situations or events that cause an individual to feel overwhelmed. We can also assist in trying to understand the escalation process that often occurs prior to an individual reaching a breaking point.

By understanding these situations, and signals that may indicate an individual is becoming overwhelmed, it is possible to intervene at an earlier stage in the process, reducing the chances that a situation occurs that is distressing or damaging to the individual or those around them.

Positive Behaviour Support in Knox, Victoria

As a behaviour support practitioner in Knox, what can NDIS participants and their support teams expect from you?

Due to my life experiences, I have a very person-centered approach to Positive Behaviour Support. I put great weight on mutual respect and building trust, which I believe comes from clear communication and a desire to work together.

I aim to get in touch within the first 48 hours of being allocated a client, to discuss what is going on and how you think I can best help.

I am a firm believer in doing what I say I am going to do, as I think this is fundamental to building trust. I am also happy to have a quick call with people prior to being engaged, to give them the opportunity to see if they feel comfortable with me, and if I am someone they wish to work with.

At the end of the day, as a behaviour support practitioner, it is my job to make the life of the client and those around them more fulfilling and enjoyable, and I keep that as my core focus through every interaction.

In which Melbourne suburbs do you provide Positive Behaviour Support near Knox?

Below is a range of suburbs in Melbourne’s East in which I support NDIS participants with Positive Behaviour Support. I am also comfortable with travelling to locations outside of these areas, so please feel free to get in touch if you would like to discuss Positive Behaviour Support but do not live in an area listed.

Positive Behaviour Support in Melbourne’s East:

City of Knox:

• Bayswater
• Boronia
• Ferntree Gully
• Knoxfield
• Wantirna
• Wantirna South

​Shire of Yarra Ranges:

• Bayswater North
• Kilsyth
• Kilsyth South
• Montrose
• Mooroolbark
• Upper Ferntree Gully​

Maroondah City:

• Croydon
• Croydon Hills
• Croydon North
• Ringwood East​

Whitehorse City:

• Vermont
• Vermont South

How to get started with Positive Behaviour Support in Knox, Victoria

How can NDIS participants in Knox get started with Positive Behaviour Support?

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 PBS referral, or a member of your support team can make a referral on your behalf.

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

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About Ability Consultants

Ability Consultants is a Registered NDIS Provider in Melbourne. We support NDIS participants in NSW, QLD, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.

We primarily provide Positive Behaviour Support however we also deliver psychology support in parts of Australia, including psychology assessments and therapy.

Positive Behaviour Support in Knox, Victoria: Frequently Asked Questions

I haven’t heard of Positive Behaviour Support before, what is it?

Positive Behaviour Support transforms a person’s quality of life by building new support strategies, skills and behaviours to meet their needs and goals. Find out more in our article, “What is Positive Behaviour Support?”.

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

Knowing which funding you can use in your NDIS plan may feel complicated at times, but we can help. We have a few articles where we outline which NDIS funds you can use for behaviour support and what to do if you don’t have the right funding.

What does Positive Behaviour Support actually look like?

At Ability Consultants, once you’re allocated a behaviour support practitioner, they will work with you closely to understand your needs, goals and challenges that you might be experiencing. Here is an article where we give examples of what behaviour support can look like, as well as information about wait times, reporting, and some of the key principles of Positive Behaviour Support.

Where is your office in Melbourne and do I need to travel there for Positive Behaviour Support?

We know that travel throughout Melbourne can be challenging at times, so we come to you. Your behaviour support practitioner will travel to visit you at a place convenient to you, such as home, school, day program, workplace, and/or other places which are important to you.

Can you help with Regulated Restrictive Practices in Melbourne?

Yes. If you think you, a family member or someone you support is experiencing Regulated Restrictive Practices(RRP), it’s important that you seek support to ensure that any RPs in place are the least restrictive possible and used only as a last resort. As a Registered NDIS Provider of Positive Behaviour Support, we can help you. Please feel welcome to make a referral for Positive Behaviour Support anytime.

Where can I find more information about Positive Behaviour Support in Knox, Victoria?

Please feel welcome to contact our team by email or by giving us a call on 1300 694 625.