Family Navigator
Practical, short-term support for when you know something needs to change, but disability, anxiety, system complexity or family pressures are making it hard to move forward. A Family Navigator helps you prioritise, plan and follow through, without taking over your decisions. In South Perth and online across Australia.
You know something needs attention, but working out what to do first has become part of the problem. You might be seeking support for yourself, organising services for your child or helping a family member move forward.
There are several concerns, services or decisions involved, and you need help identifying the most useful first step.
You are supporting your child, a young person or another family member, but the calls, appointments, forms and follow-up are becoming difficult to manage alone.
You need to understand what support is available, which services fit the situation and how to approach them.
You know what needs to happen, but disability, anxiety, overwhelm or changing circumstances make it difficult to plan, start or follow through.
A change involving health, education, work, living arrangements or family life requires decisions, preparation and contact with several services.
You are trying to meet essential needs, respond to a difficult family situation or keep daily life steady, but finding the right support feels like another task to carry.
You and your Family Navigator agree on the immediate goal before support begins. The work stays practical, focused and time-limited, whether you are accessing the service privately or using eligible NDIS funding.
Identify what needs attention first, break larger concerns into manageable actions and agree on a realistic starting point.
Explore available services, understand what they offer and decide which ones to contact. Your Family Navigator can help you prepare questions, organise information and take the next step.
Gather relevant information, prepare what you want to communicate and plan how to participate more confidently. Support can include attending approved appointments with you when this forms part of the agreed goal.
Help parents and family members organise practical support around a child, young person or adult without expecting one person to hold every part of the process alone.
Create practical steps around changes in health, study, work, living arrangements, family circumstances or daily life, then work through those steps together.
Develop routines, planning strategies and communication skills that help you continue taking action after the short-term support ends.
The Family Navigator works alongside you. They do not take over your decisions or provide ongoing case management. If counselling or therapy turns out to be the better fit, whether for you or another family member, your Family Navigator will help match the right counsellor to that person and their need.
If you are unsure, tell us what is happening. We can help you determine whether Family Navigator support fits or whether another pathway would be more appropriate.
Complete the enquiry form and explain what is happening, what has become difficult and what you would like to change. A parent or support person can enquire where appropriate. We will review the information with you and confirm whether Family Navigator support fits, or point you to a counsellor if that's a better match, before anything is booked.
During the initial planning appointment, normally 90 minutes, you and your Family Navigator identify one or two practical goals, clarify what is getting in the way and decide which actions to take first. The appointment can take place in person, by telehealth or at an approved location.
You work through the agreed steps during regular practical-support sessions, normally weekly over approximately six weeks. This can include organising information, preparing for conversations or appointments, approaching suitable services and following up agreed actions. The Family Navigator does not take over the process. They help you create movement, strengthen your confidence and leave with clearer next steps.
No. Family Navigator support is a non-clinical, practical role. It is not counselling, therapy, social work or clinical mental health treatment. It focuses on helping you plan, decide and follow through on practical goals.
That's alright, you do not need to know in advance. Tell us what's happening and we will point you to Family Navigator support, a counsellor, or another service, whichever fits best.
No referral is required. Get in touch and we will confirm together whether this service is the right fit before anything is booked.
Support is short-term and goal-based, normally up to six weeks, with one scheduled contact each week. If you need more time, we will review your progress together before extending support.
Self-managed and plan-managed participants can use eligible NDIS funding, subject to your plan and the support delivered. Discovery Family Therapy is not a registered NDIS provider, so NDIA-managed funding cannot be used for this service.
Fees vary depending on the type of support delivered. The same fee schedule applies whether you are paying privately or using eligible NDIS funding, and your exact fee is confirmed before your first appointment.
No. Privately billed clients can access Family Navigator support in exactly the same way as self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants, using the same fee schedule. You do not need to be a current NDIS participant to book.
No, home visits are not offered. Support is provided at our South Perth clinic, by telehealth, or at approved external locations such as health, education or employment appointments within about a 30-minute drive of South Perth.
If you need crisis support, ongoing case management, clinical assessment, counselling or legal or financial advice, we will help you find the right service. This might include another Discovery Family Therapy practitioner or an external provider.
Share a little about what's going on and what you'd like support with. We will confirm together whether this is the right service for you, or point you to one that is. Submitting this form does not confirm an appointment.
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