Frequently asked questions
Common questions about behaviour support and educational assessments. If your question isn’t answered here, get in touch — we’re happy to talk it through.
Behaviour support
How can a Behaviour Support Practitioner help?
A Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) practitioner can help by:
- Helping the individual learn their strengths and needs
- Making a plan to help with behaviours and skills
- Showing families and carers how to use the plan
- Checking if the plan is working and making changes if needed
- Helping the individual take part in home, school, work and community life
They make sure support is safe, positive, and built for that individual.
What is a Behaviour Support Plan?
A Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Plan is a personalised document that helps an individual, their family, and support team manage behaviours of concern in a safe and positive way.
A PBS Plan usually includes:
- Understanding behaviours — why certain behaviours happen and what triggers them
- Strategies and interventions — practical steps to reduce behaviours of concern and teach new skills
- Goals and outcomes — clear objectives for skill development, independence and quality of life
- Support for carers and staff — guidance on consistent strategies for home, school or community settings, and training in those strategies
- Monitoring and review — regular checks to see if strategies are working, and updates as needed
The plan is person-centred, strengths-based, and tailored to the individual’s needs and goals. It is based on a Functional Behaviour Assessment, where underlying concerns, triggers and responses are considered.
Does Positive Behaviour Support help children with autism?
Yes. Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) can help children with autism.
PBS works by:
- Finding out why behaviours happen
- Teaching new skills to replace behaviours of concern
- Helping children with communication and social skills
- Making routines and environments easier and calmer
- Supporting families, teachers and carers to use the same strategies
Every child’s plan is different. The support is made to fit their needs and goals.
Educational assessments
Do I need a referral for an educational assessment?
No referral is required to access an educational assessment at NeuroSense. You can contact us directly to book an initial consultation.
However, if your child’s GP, paediatrician, or school has recommended assessment, bringing any relevant reports or letters to your initial consultation is helpful and allows us to tailor the assessment accordingly.
Can an educational assessment diagnose dyslexia?
Yes. A comprehensive educational assessment is the standard method for diagnosing dyslexia (formally known as Specific Learning Disorder with Impairment in Reading).
Our assessment uses tools including the WIAT-III to measure reading accuracy, fluency and comprehension, along with cognitive testing conducted by an educational psychologist — such as the WISC-V — providing a complete picture of your child’s reading profile.
A diagnosis allows your child to access formal accommodations at school and targeted intervention.
What age should my child be for an educational assessment?
Educational assessments can be conducted from around age 6 onwards, once children have received some formal literacy and numeracy instruction at school. However, the optimal age depends on your specific concerns.
Early primary school (ages 6–8) — helps identify difficulties before children fall significantly behind.
Upper primary and early high school (ages 10–14) — common when learning demands increase.
We can also assess teenagers and young adults preparing for university or vocational training.
Can educational assessments help with NDIS applications?
Yes. Educational assessment reports can support NDIS applications when learning difficulties significantly impact your child’s daily functioning and support needs. The report provides diagnostic information and describes the functional impacts required for NDIS eligibility consideration.
However, educational assessment alone may not be sufficient — the NDIS often requires evidence of multiple assessments and ongoing disability.
What happens after I receive the assessment report?
After receiving your report, you can implement the recommendations at home and share the findings with your child’s school to access accommodations.
If the report identifies learning difficulties, you might also engage tutoring services specialising in those difficulties.