Working with Families

Behaviour Support

The goal of Behaviour Support Service is to improve a person’s quality of life. We recognise that challenging behavior can be a barrier to enjoying life and that we can overcome this barrier. By understanding the person better we design proactive behavioural strategies that are intended to prevent challenging behavior from occurring, and other reactive strategies to ensure safety. 

Sunnyfield's Behaviour Support Service consists of the Northern Beaches – Behaviour Intervention Service (NS-BIS) and behaviour support services to people who are currently supported by Sunnyfield. NS-BIS service are intended for children, young people, and their families, and the goal of service delivery is to enhance the capacity of families to respond to challenging behaviour or behaviour of concern. Both services use a positive support approach and emphasise improved quality of life as the outcome of service delivery. 

If you would like more information about Sunnyfield’s Behaviour Support Service please contact us: Behaviour.support@sunnyfield.org.au

Download our Behaviour Support Service brochure here.

Speech Pathology

Speech Pathology practice at Sunnyfield is grounded in the social model of disability. This means that we view a person’s ability to participate in society as a dynamic interaction between the person and their community. Working within a social model allows us to take a person-centred approach when providing services and support. It also enables us to design individualised Speech Pathology interventions and to work consultatively and collaboratively with families, staff and other agencies so that we can maximise our support and optimise our care. 

Core Services

Communication: People who have difficulty using speech or writing to communicate may use other “alternative” or “augmentative” forms of communication. These may include using vocalisations, gesture, sign, pictures, objects and speech generating devices. Regardless of the form, it is important to remember that communication is a basic human right for everyone! 

Swallowing: Swallowing difficulties (or “dysphagia”) may present as problems with sucking, drinking, eating, saliva control and airway protection. Nutrition and swallowing difficulties impact on quality of life. They can have serious consequences and lead to life-threatening events such as choking and pneumonia, as well as increasing the risk for associated health conditions (eg; dehydration, malnutrition, type II diabetes, osteoporosis). 

Physiotherapy

Sunnyfield has an in-house part-time physiotherapy program. The program is currently primarily targeted at the people we support who live in Carinya and Hostel. 

Physiotherapy is concerned with movement, balance and coordination, posture, gait and functional mobility. Through management and intervention, the aim is to promote the development of gross motor skills and minimise the effects of physical impairment so as to progress a person’s function and independence. 

Exercise Activities

Sunnyfield has an exercise activity program for the People We Support. Specific services include fitness training, hydrotherapy, passive stretching and strength training.

Our training programs are also fun! We have made some great links with the community. For example, Energize Health Club run a fitness training session specifically for the People We Support.