What is Positive Behaviour Support?
If you’ve been asking, “What is Positive Behaviour Support?”, you’re not alone. Many people first hear about Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) through the NDIS, a school, or a healthcare professional.
Positive Behaviour Support is an evidence-based approach that helps people improve their quality of life. It focuses on understanding the reasons behind behaviour and creating practical strategies that support a person’s needs.
Rather than simply reacting to behaviours of concern, PBS looks at the whole person. This includes their strengths, goals, relationships, communication style, and environment. The aim is to help people build skills, increase independence, and participate more fully in everyday life.
For many NDIS participants, behaviour support services help them reach personal goals. They also support positive outcomes at home, school, work, and in the community.
Understanding the Purpose of PBS
Behaviour is a form of communication. Sometimes a person may use behaviour to express frustration, discomfort, stress, confusion, or an unmet need.
PBS helps identify what may be causing a behaviour and explores ways to support the person more effectively. Instead of focusing only on the behaviour itself, this approach looks at the factors that may be influencing it.
The goal is not to change who someone is. The goal is to understand their needs and provide support that improves their wellbeing and everyday experiences.
This person-centred approach is widely used because it promotes dignity, choice, inclusion, and long-term success.
How a Behaviour Support Practitioner Can Help
A Behaviour Support Practitioner works closely with participants, families, carers, teachers, support workers, and other professionals.
Their role is to understand the person’s circumstances and develop strategies that support positive outcomes.
This may involve:
- Assessing behaviours of concern
- Identifying triggers and contributing factors
- Completing a functional behaviour assessment
- Developing a behaviour support plan
- Teaching new skills and coping strategies
- Providing guidance to families and support teams
- Reviewing progress and adjusting strategies over time
Every plan is tailored to the individual. What works for one person may not work for another.
How Behaviour Support Strategies Work
Effective support starts with understanding why a behaviour is happening.
A practitioner may look at daily routines, communication needs, sensory preferences, social interactions, and environmental factors. This helps build a clear picture of what the person may be experiencing.
Once these factors are understood, practical strategies can be introduced. These strategies often focus on:
Building New Skills
For many NDIS participants, behaviour support services help them reach personal goals. They also support positive outcomes at home, school, work, and in the community.
Developing these skills can increase confidence and reduce frustration.
Creating Supportive Environments
Small changes to a person’s environment can have a big impact.
This may include adjusting routines, improving communication methods, reducing sensory stressors, or providing additional supports in certain situations.
Encouraging Positive Outcomes
The focus is always on helping people achieve meaningful goals and participate more fully in everyday life.
Who Can Benefit From Behaviour Support Services?
Behaviour support services can benefit people of all ages and abilities.
Children and Young People
Support may help with:
- Emotional regulation
- Social skills
- School participation
- Communication challenges
- Daily routines
Adults
Support may assist with:
- Independent living
- Building relationships
- Community participation
- Managing emotions
- Achieving personal goals
People Living With Disability
PBS is commonly used to support people living with:
- Autism
- Intellectual disability
- Psychosocial disability
- Neurological conditions
- Developmental delays
Support is always based on the person’s individual needs, strengths, and goals.
Behaviour Support and the NDIS
The NDIS recognises the value of behaviour support in helping participants improve their quality of life and achieve greater independence.
When funded through the NDIS, support is provided by qualified Behaviour Support Practitioners.
They follow national guidelines and best-practice frameworks.
A key focus of the NDIS is reducing and eliminating restrictive practices wherever possible. Behaviour support strategies help achieve this by promoting positive alternatives that respect the rights, dignity, and safety of the participant.
By building skills and addressing underlying needs, participants are better supported to reach their goals and participate in their communities.
What’s Included in a Behaviour Support Plan?
A behaviour support plan is a practical document. It outlines strategies and recommendations for the participant and their support network.
The plan may include:
- The person’s strengths and goals
- Information about behaviours of concern
- Possible triggers and contributing factors
- Communication strategies
- Recommendations for support workers and carers
- Skill-building activities
- Safety planning
- Review and monitoring processes
The purpose of the plan is to ensure everyone involved is working towards the same goals using consistent approaches.
Benefits for Individuals and Families
There are many benefits to receiving behaviour support.
These may include:
- Improved communication
- Increased independence
- Better emotional regulation
- Greater community participation
- Stronger relationships
- Reduced behaviours of concern
- Improved confidence and self-esteem
- Enhanced quality of life
Families and carers often benefit as well, as they gain a better understanding of the person’s needs and learn strategies that can be used in everyday situations.
Accessing Behaviour Support Through the NDIS
If you are an NDIS participant, behaviour support may be included in your plan when it is considered reasonable and necessary.
A Behaviour Support Practitioner can work with you, your family, and your support team. They can develop practical strategies that match your goals.
Support can often be provided in the home, at school, in the workplace, or within the community, ensuring recommendations are relevant to real-life situations.
Supporting Long-Term Positive Outcomes
So, what is Positive Behaviour Support? It is a person-centred approach that helps people understand and overcome challenges while building the skills needed to live a more independent and fulfilling life.
By focusing on strengths, communication, and practical support strategies, PBS helps individuals achieve meaningful goals and improve their quality of life.
With the right support in place, people can develop confidence, increase participation in their community, and create positive outcomes that last well into the future.
