I can’t guarantee change, but I can guarantee I’ll be there with you, helping.

“But you’ll fix it all, right?” – says a mother looking at me, exhausted.

Oh no. It’s those words again that I dread.

I’m going to have to break the news to her.

And I think it’s something we all need to remember in, at least, the work I do.

Behaviour Support Practitioners, like myself, play a role in helping individuals navigate challenges and improve their quality of life. However, it’s important to recognise that we cannot "fix" behaviours. Nor should we ever advertise or communicate in any way to participants or those around them that we ‘will’ solve challenges and make change. We can try. Damn, we can try… But, there is a pressure mounting that I want to address. And I don't think I'm the only one feeling it.

More and more I’m seeing claims from companies about “See how quickly you can reach your NDIS goals” or “Let us show you how we can help you form connections with others, fast”. This is unethical, and wrong. Never as a Counsellor would I claim that I can “Cure your anxiety around having to see your mother in law at Christmas - fast”. (You know I have to make a jokey joke). But seriously. We need to set expectations with all our clients and be honest – it will be a long road, but we’ll get there together.

Quite simply, we need to slow down and recognise that human behaviour is influenced by a unique interplay of genetics, environment, experiences, and personal choices. Each individual is a “rich tapestry” (as my mother would say, hi mum) of past experiences, cultural backgrounds, and personal histories. Behaviour support practitioners can guide and support, but they cannot rewrite someone’s past or fundamentally change inherent traits or genetics that may so frame their behaviour.

Additionally, societal and systemic factors play another significant role in shaping behaviours. Issues such as access to resources, family and community support can significantly impact an individual’s ability to progress towards their goals. Practitioners can advocate and provide support, but the change requires collective effort and time.

With the recent changes with NDIS, participants and their loved ones/caregivers/Allied Health Team want even more ‘value for money’ from their services – and rightfully so. But, respectfully there’s a limit to what we can do that needs to be addressed with those we work with.

I don’t have the answers just because I’m registered to work with NDIS participants. I’m not special because I work with NDIS participants. I just have my Psychology degree, a Masters, a bunch of training, I read my little ass off late into the night about strategies and evidence based practices… and I will help as hard as I can. But that’s the limit of my non-existent magic powers. I’m here to support and try. That’s my goal. Let’s bring this into 2025 and let our participants know that there are no ‘guarantees’ with behaviour change or support but we can guarantee that we will be there with them along the way.

As always, said with love.