Feeling safe, supported and confident can have a powerful impact on everyday life. For people with disability, behaviour support is about understanding individual needs, building skills and creating environments where positive change is possible.
Effective behaviour support can reduce the impact of challenging behaviours while helping people and those around them to respond in safe, respectful and informed ways.
What is behaviour support?
Behaviour support aims to improve quality of life by looking at the reasons behind complex or challenging behaviour.
It focuses on identifying triggers, building skills such as communication and emotional regulation and helping families and carers with tools, strategies and training.
The overall goal is to support a person’s independence, relationships and wellbeing in safe, inclusive environments.
Behaviour support and the NDIS.
Under the new PACE system, behaviour support has its own category within the Capacity Building budget. This dedicated category means funding is specifically set aside for behaviour support services.
If your NDIS Plan is not yet in the PACE system (sometimes referred to as a legacy plan), behaviour support funding may sit under a different budget category – usually Improved Relationships.
Learn more in our article: NDIS Improved Relationships budget explained.
Some key principles apply, no matter what type of NDIS Plan you have:
- Behaviour support funding is a stated support. This means it must be used for behaviour support only and cannot be moved to other categories.
- You must use NDIS registered providers. Behaviour support must be either plan managed or agency managed.
- Behaviour support cannot be claimed from the Improved Daily Living budget.
Additional rules for PACE Plans.
If you have a PACE Plan, your behaviour support provider must be listed under ‘my providers’ in your plan before you can use NDIS funds for services.
What does a behaviour support practitioner do?
Behaviour support practitioners are NDIS-registered professionals with experience in psychology, allied health or specialist behaviour support.
They are responsible for completing assessments, developing a behaviour support plan and working with you and your support team to implement and monitor the plan over time.
You should only engage a behaviour support practitioner once behaviour support funding is approved and included in your NDIS Plan.
The behaviour support process.
- A need for behaviour support is identified by someone such as a support coordinator, allied health provider or through reports from family, school or other support networks
- Evidence (such as incident reports or assessments) is submitted to the NDIS
- If approved, the NDIS may fund a behaviour support assessment with a registered behaviour support practitioner
- The practitioner works with you to complete the assessment and develop a behaviour support plan.
Behaviour support plans.
A behaviour support plan provides practical guidance for your supports and outlines how best to work towards your goals. It can include:
- Day-to-day strategies and routines
- Positive approaches to managing behaviours
- Skill-building goals
- Training for families, carers or support workers.
There are two types of plans:
- Interim plan: Developed quickly when there is an immediate risk. Focuses on short-term safety and support
- Comprehensive plan: Developed over a longer period following a Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA). Includes long-term, person-centred strategies.
Plans are usually reviewed annually, or sooner if your needs change.
What to expect when behaviour support is in place.
When behaviour support is working well, people may experience:
- A safer, more settled daily routine
- Reduced challenging behaviours
- Greater independence and participation
- Improved communication and emotional regulation
- Support teams that feel equipped, confident and connected.
Behaviour support is not about fixing a person. It’s about understanding what works for you and building a foundation for growth, safety and inclusion.
Want to know more about behaviour support?
Our Crew can help you understand how behaviour support works in your NDIS Plan, check your budgets or get started with plan management.
Call us on 1300 05 78 78, email us at [email protected] or sign up to Leap in! plan management today.
