No Wait List Behaviour Support

Waiting lists are one of the quiet harms of the disability sector. A person can be referred for behaviour support, then wait months for it to begin: months in which behaviours of concern continue, families run on empty, and restrictive practices may stay in place longer than anyone wants.

At PBSG, reducing waiting is a genuine priority. We work hard to hold capacity so that people can start sooner rather than later. We want to be honest, though: availability is always subject to our current capacity. We won't make a blanket guarantee. What we will do is tell you the truth, quickly, about what's realistic for you.

Why long waitlists do real harm

When support is delayed, nothing about the situation pauses to wait with it. A child may keep struggling at school. A household may keep absorbing stress that's hard to sustain. Risks that prompted the referral don't go away just because there's a queue.

Time also matters clinically. The sooner a behaviour support practitioner can understand what's happening and put safe, evidence-informed strategies in place, the sooner the people around a participant can respond with more confidence. Delay rarely makes a situation easier to support.

How we try to reduce waiting

We can't change how busy the sector is, but we can run our own service in a way that keeps people moving rather than stuck. A few things help us do that.

We respond quickly: we aim to get back to you within about one business day.
We talk honestly about realistic timeframes from the very first conversation.
Where there's an urgent need, an interim behaviour support plan can often be put in place sooner than a full comprehensive plan.
We combine in-person and remote support, which can help us reach people without long delays.
We manage our intake so we're not promising more than we can deliver.

Honest about capacity

We'd rather under-promise and be straight with you than advertise instant availability we can't back up. Our capacity genuinely changes from week to week, and the right thing to do is tell you where things stand when you ask.

So when you get in touch, we'll let you know honestly what's possible right now, whether that's starting soon, or being clear about a realistic timeframe. 'Subject to current capacity' isn't a get-out clause for us; it's us respecting you enough to be truthful.

If you're already waiting elsewhere

If you've been referred somewhere and you're stuck without a clear start date, you're allowed to ask other providers what they can offer. It's your funding and your time, and there's nothing wrong with checking your options.

Reach out and we'll tell you plainly whether we have capacity to help and how soon we think support could begin. If we can't take it on right now, we'll be honest about that too, and where we can, try to point you somewhere useful.

Frequently asked questions

Do you really have no waiting list?

Our focus is on holding capacity and reducing waiting so people can start sooner. We can't offer a blanket guarantee (availability is always subject to current capacity), but we will tell you honestly and quickly what's realistic for your situation.

How soon could support actually start?

It depends on current capacity and the participant's needs. Where there's an urgent need, an interim plan can often be put in place sooner than a comprehensive one. The best way to find out is to ask us. We aim to respond within about one business day.

Can I switch from a provider where I'm stuck on a waitlist?

Yes. It's your NDIS funding, and you're free to ask other providers about their availability. Get in touch and we'll let you know honestly whether we have capacity to help and what a realistic start might look like.

What happens if you don't have capacity when I contact you?

We'll be upfront about it rather than leaving you hanging. If we can't take a referral on straight away, we'll say so honestly and, where we can, try to point you towards another option that may be able to help sooner.