In short: A behaviour support practitioner works with a person, their family and their support team to understand why behaviours of concern happen, then writes a behaviour support plan that sets out practical, respectful strategies everyone can use. The process usually moves through referral, assessment, plan writing, training and regular review. Our practitioners provide this support to NDIS participants across Melbourne.
If you are new to the approach itself, start with our plain-English guide to positive behaviour support (PBS). This article focuses on the practical side: what a practitioner actually does, what the plan contains, and what your family can expect at each step.
What does a behaviour support practitioner do?
A behaviour support practitioner is a professional who has been assessed as suitable to deliver behaviour support under the NDIS. Their job is not to "fix" the person. It is to understand what a behaviour is communicating or achieving for that person, and to help the people around them respond in ways that aim to reduce distress and support a good quality of life.
Day to day, a practitioner usually:
- Gathers information from the person, family, carers, teachers and other therapists
- Observes the person in the places where behaviours happen, such as home, school or a day program
- Works out the function of a behaviour, meaning the need it meets or the situation it helps the person escape
- Writes the behaviour support plan, in plain language that the people using it can follow
- Trains and coaches family members, support workers and staff to use the strategies consistently
- Monitors and reviews the plan, adjusting it as skills grow and circumstances change
Practitioners often work alongside other allied health professionals. A speech pathologist may help with communication, an occupational therapist with sensory needs or daily routines, and a psychologist with emotional wellbeing. In our team, behaviour support is delivered by positive behaviour support practitioners who work alongside our other allied health clinicians.
When might someone need a behaviour support plan?
A behaviour support plan can help when behaviours affect a person's safety, relationships, learning or ability to take part in daily life. Families often reach out when:
- Behaviours of concern are happening more often, or in new places
- A child is struggling at school, kindergarten or childcare
- Support workers or family members are unsure how to respond safely
- A person is moving house, starting a new program or going through another big change
- Restrictive practices are being used or considered, for example locking a cupboard or using medication to manage behaviour
Restrictive practices have specific rules under the NDIS. Where they are used for an NDIS participant, they need to be included in a behaviour support plan written by a suitably qualified practitioner, and the aim is always to reduce and, where possible, stop using them over time. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission oversees these rules.
What happens during the assessment?
Assessment is the starting point for the plan, so it is worth understanding what is involved. It is often called a functional behaviour assessment, because it focuses on the function, or purpose, of the behaviour.
A practitioner will usually:
- Talk with you about the person's history, strengths, interests, health, communication and daily routines
- Ask about the behaviour: what it looks like, when and where it happens, what usually leads up to it and what tends to follow it
- Observe in context, sometimes over several visits and in different settings
- Review existing reports from therapists, teachers, doctors or previous providers, with your consent
- Look at the bigger picture, such as pain, sleep, sensory needs, changes in routine or unmet communication needs
Families sometimes find this stage slower than expected. Taking the time to understand the person properly helps the later strategies fit their life, rather than relying on guesswork.
What is in a behaviour support plan?
A behaviour support plan is a written document that brings the assessment findings together into strategies people can use. Plans differ from person to person, but they usually include:
- A picture of the person: their strengths, preferences, communication style and what matters to them
- A description of the behaviours of concern and what the assessment found about why they happen
- Proactive strategies: changes to the environment, routines and communication that make behaviours less likely
- Skill-building goals: teaching new ways to communicate needs, cope with stress or manage change
- Responsive strategies: calm, safe steps for people to follow when a behaviour does happen
- Any restrictive practices, with the reasons for them and a plan to reduce their use
- Who does what, and how the plan will be monitored and reviewed
The NDIS Commission sets rules about behaviour support plans, including what they must contain and how they are developed and reviewed. Your practitioner will explain which requirements apply to your situation, and the NDIS Commission website has current information.
What can families expect once the plan is written?
A plan only helps if it is used. The period after the plan is written is where much of the real work happens.
You can usually expect:
- Training for the people who use the plan, including family members, support workers, teachers and day program staff
- Plain-language versions or visual summaries where they help, so everyone can follow the plan on a busy day
- Check-ins and records, such as simple notes of when behaviours happen, so everyone can see whether the strategies are helping or need adjusting
- Reviews and updates, because needs change as people grow, move or start something new
- Your voice in the process: families and the person themselves are partners, not just recipients
It is reasonable to ask questions at any point. If a strategy does not fit your home or feels wrong for the person, tell the practitioner. A plan should work for real life, not just look good on paper.
How is behaviour support funded?
For NDIS participants, behaviour support is commonly funded from the Capacity Building budget, often under a category called Improved Relationships, although plans can present this differently. How it appears in your plan depends on your circumstances and goals. Your planner, local area coordinator or support coordinator can confirm what your plan includes and how much support it covers.
If behaviour support is not in your plan and you think it is needed, raise it with your support coordinator or at your next plan reassessment, and bring any reports that describe the impact of the behaviours on daily life.
How can you find a behaviour support practitioner in Melbourne?
When you are comparing practitioners, it can help to ask:
- Are you able to deliver behaviour support under the NDIS, and what experience do you have with needs like ours?
- How do you involve the person and the family in the assessment and plan?
- Where can you work with us: at home, at school, in the community?
- How will you train the people who will use the plan?
- How often will the plan be reviewed, and how will we know if it is working?
Reliance Care and Support provides positive behaviour support across Melbourne, working from our Truganina base at 341C Forsyth Road and visiting homes, schools, kindergartens and childcare settings. You can check your eligibility, make a referral, or contact our team on (03) 9958 6699 to talk it through. Support is also available in several languages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a behaviour support practitioner do?
A behaviour support practitioner assesses why behaviours of concern happen, writes a behaviour support plan with practical strategies, and trains families and support workers to use it. They also monitor progress and review the plan over time, working with the person and the people around them.
What is the difference between positive behaviour support and a behaviour support plan?
Positive behaviour support is the overall approach: understanding the reason behind behaviour and building skills and supportive environments. A behaviour support plan is the written document a practitioner develops using that approach, setting out the specific strategies for one person.
How long does it take to get a behaviour support plan?
It depends on the person's needs, how complex the situation is and how much information needs to be gathered. A thorough assessment takes time because it involves conversations and observations across settings. Your practitioner can give you a clearer idea once they understand your situation.
Do I need a behaviour support plan if restrictive practices are used?
Under NDIS rules, restrictive practices used with an NDIS participant need to be included in a behaviour support plan written by a suitably qualified practitioner, with the aim of reducing their use over time. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission oversees these requirements.
Can a behaviour support practitioner visit us at home or school?
Often, yes. Observing behaviour where it happens is an important part of assessment. Our practitioners can visit homes, schools, kindergartens and childcare settings, as well as seeing people at our Truganina clinic.
Is behaviour support funded by the NDIS?
Yes, when it is reasonable and necessary and relates to the participant's disability and goals. It is commonly funded under Capacity Building, often in the Improved Relationships category, but plans differ. Your planner or support coordinator can confirm how your plan covers it.
Trusted sources for further reading
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission — Positive behaviour support
- NDIS Commission — Behaviour support and restrictive practices
- NDIS Commission — Behaviour support resources
- NDIS — Plan budget and rules
This article is general information only and does not replace individual professional advice. For advice about your situation, please speak with a qualified behaviour support practitioner, your support coordinator or the NDIS.
