Welcome to Branch Support Services

Our Programs

EARLY INTERVENTION

We can support your child to prepare for school and through the transition into school. Our work focuses on developmental milestones, functional life skills and working towards independence.

Our programs target children aged 4, 5 and 6 who require support relating to a diagnosed disability or developmental milestones. 1:1 and small group sessions are facilitated by experienced special education teachers in:

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• School Readiness

• Fine Motor Skills

• Routines and Self-care

• Play and Social Skills

• Talk Time

• Emotional Regulation

• Other areas as needed.

SOCIAL SKILLS

Social skills training can impact on lives in enriching and fulfilling ways. Our programs identify areas of need and develop these by building on existing strengths.

We facilitate social skills training in 1:1, 1:2 and small group sessions, supporting participants towards independence in:

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• Understanding social cues

• Participating in conversations

• Expressive and receptive body language

• Social conventions such as turn-taking 

• Other areas as needed

Our group sessions are an opportunity to make new friends, have fun and learn new skills!

UNDERSTANDING RELATIONSHIPS

We facilitate 1:1 and group programs with a focus on understanding and communicating our feelings, wants and needs in different types of relationships. Discussions, Q&As, role modelling, role-plays, multimedia, games and more, ensure learning is highly engaging and responsive to participant needs.

Over the course of the program, some topics we may explore include:

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• Knowing my feelings and what they mean

• How to know if someone wants to be my friend

• How to know if someone likes me romantically

• How to tell someone if I don’t’ feel comfortable

• How to say no

• How to respond to no

• The importance of feeling safe

• Body language and verbal language

• Personal and social boundaries

• Social conversation

• Understanding what others are communicating

• How to ask someone on a date

• What respectful relationships look like

• How to end relationships in safe ways

• Public versus private behaviour

• Planning a date

• Safe expression of sexual feelings

• Internet dating and safety

• Other topics as they arise

FUNCTIONAL LIVING SKILLS

We use The Assessment of Functional Living Skills Guide to guide the focus areas of our functional living skills programs. These can be facilitated 1:1 and in small groups, depending on the needs of participants. Our programs include education and skills-based training in basic skills, home skills, community participation skills and independent living skills.

BEHAVIOUR AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION

We support participants to develop the skills they need to live their best life. Every behaviour has a function, and responses need to be understood holistically. We support participants to understand their behaviour(s), recognise triggers and stressors, work on their emotional regulation, and practice replacement behaviours.

EMPLOYMENT SKILLS

We support participants by preparing them for employment in practical ways. These include:

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• Skills audits

• Resume development

• Cover letter development

• Writing and submitting job applications

• Coaching and mentoring

• Interview skills training

• Debriefing and refining skills to continually improve

• Basic workplace training including teamwork, WHS and completing forms

TRANSITION PROGRAMS

We support participants during periods of transition. Changes can be overwhelming and can impacts on an individual's ability to organise their thoughts, plan responses, regulate emotions and adapt.

Individual programs may include, but are not limited to:

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• Learning new routines   

• Developing individualised resources (e.g. timetables, social stories, calm cards)

• Travel training

• Developing and practicing personal strategies

• Mindset training

Our work is highly responsive to individual needs.

SOCIAL EVENTS

We host small gatherings for young adults with intellectual disability to build social skills capacity in a safe and supportive environment. Some of the skills training typically integrated may include:

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• Negotiating and making group decisions

• ​Preparing or ordering food

• Decorating a room

• Setting a table

• Social conversation

• Telling and understanding jokes

• Reading social cues

• Respecting personal boundaries

• Using technology

• Tidying up

• Hygiene practices

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These gatherings may include dinner nights, movie nights, game clubs and more. They are highly engaging and teach important life skills at the same time.

HUB MEMBERSHIPS

Our base is a vibrant hub that offers a range of engaging spaces, resources and hang-out zones all designed to teach and practice a range of personal, social and life skills in a supportive environment. 

Hub membership comes with full supervision, coaching and some structured sessions delivered by qualified and experienced special education teachers. 

Memberships are sold in ten-week blocks (aligned with school terms) and are open to individuals from age 10. Participants are able to choose the times they wish to attend and bookings are required to secure these. 

•  1 hour per week for 10 weeks is $200 (or $20 per hour).

• 2 hours per week for 10 weeks is $360 (or $18 per hour)

• 3 hours per week for 10 weeks is $480 (or $16 per hour)

• 4 hours per week for 10 weeks is $560 (or $14 per hour)

• 5 hours per week for 10 weeks is $600 (or $12 per hour) 

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If membership is not for you, our hub can be accessed for an hourly rate of $30 (Wed-Fri), $40 (Sat) and $50 (Sun), with full supervision, skills coaching and some structured sessions run by qualified special education teachers. Bookings essential.

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