Written by: Therapy Near Me Editorial Team
Clinically reviewed by: qualified members of the Therapy Near Me clinical team
Last updated: 25/07/2025
This article is intended as general information only and does not replace personalised medical or mental health advice. Learn more about our Editorial Policy.
Behaviour support under the NDIS is a special therapeutic service designed to understand and reduce behaviours of concern—actions that can cause harm or restrict a person’s access to meaningful life activities. This article delves into what behaviour support entails, who it benefits, how it’s delivered, and why it matters for mental health and quality of life.
Keywords: NDIS behaviour support, positive behaviour support NDIS, behaviour support plan NDIS, restrictive practices guidelines, NDIS behaviour assessment, psychosocial disability support, functional behaviour assessment, NDIS PBS practitioner, therapeutic behaviour strategies, behaviour support mental health
1. Defining Behaviour Support
The NDIS describes behaviour support as therapeutic assistance provided by qualified practitioners to understand why certain behaviours occur and to help participants and their support networks improve quality of life, reduce challenging behaviours, and build capacity (NDIS, 2025a). This often involves Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) strategies tailored to an individual’s needs (NDIS, 2025a; Together Care, 2025).
Behaviour support practitioners use evidence-informed practice aligned with NDIS legislation, including the Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support Rules (NDIS Commission, 2025).
2. Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA)
The first step in behaviour support is a Functional Behaviour Assessment. Practitioners gather information from participants, families, carers, and professionals to identify:
- Antecedents (what triggers the behaviour)
- Behavioural events (type, frequency, severity)
- Consequences (what reinforces the behaviour)(Insight PBS, 2025; NDIS Commission, 2025)
The FBA is essential for developing tailored strategies that respect individual context including culture, abilities, goals, and environmental factors (Insight PBS, 2025).
3. Behaviour Support Plans
There are two types of plans:
a) Interim Behaviour Support Plan
A short-term plan used when urgent strategies or regulated restrictive practices are needed, typically within one month of crisis (NDIS Commission, 2025).
b) Comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan
Developed within six months of assessment. This plan includes:
- PBS strategies (teaching new skills, modifying environments, support team training)
- Triggers, prevention strategies, and safety responses
- Guidelines on regulated restrictive practices, if absolutely necessary, with a goal to reduce or eliminate them over time (NDIS Commission, 2025; Insight PBS, 2025).
4. Regulated Restrictive Practices
NDIS policy emphasises avoiding restrictive practices unless absolutely necessary and legally authorised. These include:
- Physical, mechanical, chemical, environmental restraints, and seclusion
- Use is heavily regulated, must be included in plans only after PBS options are exhausted
- Practitioners must monitor, report, and review outcomes to ensure rights are respected (NDIS Commission, 2025; Together Care, 2025)
The 2024 audit found over 80% of behaviour plans lacked consultation; NDIS is using AI-assisted training to address this and improve quality (Guardian, 2024).
5. Who Needs Behaviour Support?
This support benefits individuals of all ages who engage in behaviours that:
- Harm themselves or others (e.g., self-injury, aggression)
- Limit participation in social, educational, or community life
- Represent increased risk due to sensory sensitivities or mental health needs(Insight PBS, 2025; Together Care, 2025)
Individuals with autism, intellectual disability, psychosocial disability, or acquired brain injury can greatly benefit from tailored behaviour support (Together Care, 2025).
6. Implementation & Outcomes
Behaviour support is delivered by registered, suitably qualified practitioners. They collaborate with the participant’s support network—including families, carers, and mainstream service providers (Insight PBS, 2025; NDIS Commission, 2025).
Regular monitoring, review, and adaptation of plans ensure strategies remain effective and respectful of participant dignity and rights (NDIS Commission, 2025).
7. Mental Health and Wellbeing Benefits
Well-designed behaviour support plans offer substantial mental health benefits:
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Enhance safety and trust
- Improve engagement in therapy, education, or employment
- Support long-term independence and skill building(Early Intervention Evidence Report, 2016)
Behaviour support is recognized as a critical component of psychosocial disability recovery and recovery-oriented care under the NDIS (Mind Australia review, 2013; NDIS Commission, 2025).
References
Early Intervention Evidence Report (2016) Effective, evidence‑based psychosocial interventions suitable for early intervention in the NDIS. University of Melbourne.
Guardian (2024) ‘Experts hope AI tool can cut use of restraints and seclusion on NDIS participants’. The Guardian, 4 May.
Insight PBS (2025) ‘Behaviour Support – The Definitive NDIS Guide’, Insight PBS, 9 April. Available at: https…
Keocare (2025) Countdown to Change: Behaviour Support in 2025. Keocare.
Mind Australia (2013) Mental health and the NDIS: A literature review. University of Melbourne.
NDIS (2025a) Our Guideline: Behaviour support. NDIS.
NDIS Commission (2025) Behaviour support and restrictive practices rules. NDIS Quality & Safeguards Commission.
Together Care (2025) ‘What is Behaviour Support under the NDIS?’, Together Care Australia, 30 June.
