Families across Newcastle and the Hunter are waiting months to years for specialist behaviour support, leaving many unsure where to turn as behaviours escalate.
While the NDIS remains a hot-topic issue nationally, Plus Behaviour Support general manager Stacy Slavin said locals were dealing with very real, day-to-day challenges.
“Families are often really lost when they first reach out,” she explained.
“They’re looking for help not only with behaviours that can be dangerous and concerning, but also with navigating the system itself.”
In response, Plus Behaviour Support has opened its home base at Warabrook and is committed to a no-waitlist model for Positive Behaviour Support, aiming to intervene before families reach crisis point.
“We remove the grey area,” Ms Slavin said.
“People know exactly what they’re going to get and when.
“When someone calls us, they’re often already at their lowest point, so getting support in place quickly is critical.”
Ms Slavin said wait times elsewhere could range from several months to as long as 18-to-24 months just to receive a behaviour support or crisis response plan.
“Without specialist assistance, behaviours can escalate,” she told the Newcastle Weekly.
“That might look like self-harm, aggression or property destruction.
“Once people are removed from school or day programs because behaviours are considered too risky, they lose routine and connection… and things snowball.”
Plus Behaviour Support specialises in Positive Behaviour Support for NDIS participants aged eight and older, delivering trauma-informed, person-centred care flexibly rather than in traditional clinical settings.
Based at Warabrook and sharing the space with Avenue Newcastle, the service allows practitioners to observe and support participants in real-world environments.
“That’s exactly how we want to see people,” Ms Slavin said.
“We want to meet them where they’re at, in ordinary settings, because that’s where behaviour makes sense.”
She said lasting change came from understanding the underlying cause of behaviour rather than simply managing symptoms.
“You can always put a Band-Aid on the problem,” Ms Slavin added.
“But, if you get to the root cause and support a person, you’re far more likely to see permanent change.”
Ms Slavin encouraged families currently stuck on waitlists to reach out for an initial consultation.
“There’s a real need in Newcastle,” she said.
“People are waiting far too long… and we want families to know there is help available.”
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