If your child or family member has behaviours of concern (meltdowns, self-injury, aggression, refusal) you’ve probably been told that Positive Behaviour Support is the answer. But what that actually means, what happens in practice, and what your family is expected to do along the way rarely gets explained clearly.
Positive Behaviour Support, or PBS, is one of the most commonly funded NDIS Capacity Building supports and one of the most misunderstood. Families on the NSW North Coast frequently tell us they waited months for a plan that never arrived, or received a document too complex to implement without specialist help.
At Chapman Support Services, we’re a registered NDIS provider based in Coffs Harbour delivering PBS-aligned behaviour support across the North Coast. Our director has lived experience of disability, and our team has worked alongside families supporting participants with complex physical disabilities, epilepsy, autism, and communication differences. We know what a good PBS process looks like, and what warning signs to watch for when it isn’t working.
This guide explains what Positive Behaviour Support actually is, how it’s funded in an NDIS plan, what the step-by-step process looks like, and what families can do to get the most from it.
What Is Positive Behaviour Support?
Positive Behaviour Support is an evidence-based approach that starts with a simple premise: every behaviour has a purpose. When a person engages in behaviour that is harmful or disruptive, they are communicating something: an unmet need, discomfort, frustration, or a lack of another way to express themselves.
PBS does not try to stop behaviour through punishment or restriction. It works by understanding the function of the behaviour, addressing what’s driving it, and teaching the person new skills to meet their needs in safer, more effective ways. Alongside this, PBS modifies environments and routines to make challenging situations less likely to occur in the first place.
Under the NDIS, PBS must be delivered in line with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission’s behaviour support requirements. It must be evidence-based, person-centred, and aimed at improving the participant’s quality of life, not just reducing incidents for the convenience of support workers or organisations.
How PBS Is Funded in Your NDIS Plan
PBS funding sits under the Capacity Building budget, specifically the Improved Relationships support category. If your loved one’s plan doesn’t currently include this funding, a plan review can be requested, but you’ll need evidence from a health professional explaining why PBS is needed.
Common evidence includes: documented behaviours of concern that are affecting safety or community participation, a current restrictive practice that needs to be managed and reduced, or a clinical recommendation from a psychologist, paediatrician, or allied health professional.
One important distinction: behaviour support practitioners must be individually registered with the NDIS Commission, regardless of whether the organisation they work for is registered. If restrictive practices are involved, the implementing service provider must also be registered. Always check both before engaging.
What the PBS Process Looks Like, Step by Step
Step 1: Referral and initial consultation. You don’t need a formal referral to contact a behaviour support provider. Most families come through a support coordinator or allied health team, but you can approach a registered provider directly. An initial conversation clarifies whether PBS is appropriate, without any obligation.
Step 2: Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA). The behaviour support practitioner observes the participant, interviews family members and support workers, and reviews any existing reports. The FBA identifies the triggers, functions, and patterns of behaviours of concern. This is the most important step in the process. A plan built on a poor assessment will not work.
Step 3: Interim Behaviour Support Plan. Before the comprehensive plan is ready, an interim plan is developed to give families and support workers immediate strategies. If restrictive practices are in use, these must be documented and submitted to the NDIS Commission through this interim plan.
Step 4: Comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan. The full plan must be completed within six months of engagement. It includes proactive strategies, environmental adjustments, skill-building activities, and a clear guide for all support team members. If restrictive practices remain necessary, they must be authorised through the appropriate NSW state process.
Step 5: Implementation, monitoring, and review. Writing a plan is not the end. It’s the beginning. The team works with families and support workers to implement strategies consistently. The practitioner monitors outcomes and refines the plan as behaviours change and goals evolve.
What Families Are Expected to Do and What Support You Should Receive
Families are not passive recipients of a PBS plan. You are essential contributors, because you know your family member better than any practitioner ever will. A quality behaviour support provider will actively involve you in the assessment, co-design the plan with you, and make sure the strategies are practical within your home environment.
What you should expect from your practitioner: regular communication in plain language, a plan you can actually read and implement, training for you and any support workers on the strategies, and a clear escalation process if behaviours deteriorate or a safety incident occurs.
A common frustration we hear from Coffs Harbour families: receiving a lengthy, jargon-heavy document with no accompanying training. A plan that sits in a drawer is not PBS. It’s paperwork. Push for implementation support, not just a written plan.
Scenario Comparison: Is PBS Likely to Help in Your Situation?
Use this table to understand whether PBS is likely to be appropriate and what the process might look like for different family circumstances.
| Family Situation | Is PBS Likely Appropriate? | First Step | Key Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child with autism has daily meltdowns at school transitions | Yes, high priority | Request FBA through support coordinator | School must be involved in plan implementation |
| Adult with intellectual disability is self-injuring under stress | Yes, urgent | Contact registered PBS provider directly | Interim plan needed immediately; restrictive practices may apply |
| Participant has occasional outbursts but no safety risk | Possibly, depends on frequency and impact | Consult allied health professional for evidence | May not meet NDIS funding criteria without documented impact |
| Family wants to reduce current restrictive practice | Yes, this is a core PBS goal | Ensure current practice is in an interim BSP | Provider must be registered; practices must be authorised in NSW |
| Support worker reports escalating behaviour at day program | Yes, environment review needed | FBA should include day program observation | All settings must be covered in the comprehensive plan |
| Participant has communication differences limiting self-expression | Yes, communication support is core PBS work | Request AAC or communication assessment alongside PBS | Link with speech pathology for joint approach |
What We’ve Learned Supporting Families Across the NSW North Coast
Families who get the most from PBS share two things: they stayed involved throughout the process rather than handing it over to the practitioner, and they found a provider willing to do the real implementation work, not just write and submit a plan.
In regional areas like Coffs Harbour, the distance between a written plan and consistent support worker implementation is often where progress breaks down. We prioritise training every person in the participant’s immediate support network, not just delivering documents.
If your family member has behaviours of concern and you’re unsure whether PBS is right for your situation, a short conversation with a registered practitioner costs nothing and clarifies everything.
Talk to Our Team About Positive Behaviour Support
Talk to our team about Positive Behaviour Support services at Chapman Support. We support families across Coffs Harbour and the NSW North Coast with PBS-aligned, person-centred behaviour support. Call 0431 617 197 or visit chapmansupport.com.au to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Behaviour Support Plan and a Positive Behaviour Support plan? These terms are often used interchangeably. Under the NDIS, a Behaviour Support Plan (BSP) is the formal document. It may be interim or comprehensive. Positive Behaviour Support is the approach or framework that guides how the plan is written and implemented. A PBS plan is a BSP developed using positive, person-centred, evidence-based principles rather than punitive or restrictive measures.
Who can write a Positive Behaviour Support plan under the NDIS? Only practitioners who are individually registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission as Behaviour Support Practitioners can develop NDIS-funded BSPs. Registration is individual. The organisation they work for does not need to be registered unless restrictive practices are being implemented. Always verify a practitioner’s registration before engaging.
How long does it take to get a Positive Behaviour Support plan? An interim plan should be developed quickly, often within the first few weeks of engagement, particularly if restrictive practices are in place. A comprehensive plan must be completed within six months of engagement beginning. The timeline depends on practitioner caseload, assessment complexity, and how quickly school, support, and family teams can be consulted. Ask about expected timelines before signing an agreement.
What are restrictive practices and does my family member need them? Restrictive practices are strategies that limit a person’s freedom of movement or access, such as physical restraint, environmental restriction, or medication used to control behaviour. They are a last resort, must be authorised through NSW state processes, and must be included in a formally submitted BSP. The goal of PBS is always to reduce and ultimately eliminate restrictive practices over time.
My family member’s plan doesn’t include PBS funding. What can we do? You can request a plan review and present evidence from an allied health professional or treating clinician documenting the behaviours of concern and their impact on safety and daily participation. A support coordinator can help you prepare this evidence. In urgent situations, particularly where safety is at risk, ask your LAC or support coordinator about expedited review options.
Does Positive Behaviour Support work for adults, or is it mainly for children? PBS is effective across all ages and disability types. It is commonly associated with children with autism, but it is equally applicable and equally NDIS-funded for adults with intellectual disability, acquired brain injury, psychosocial disability, or complex physical conditions. At Chapman Support, we work with participants across the lifespan, adapting strategies to the individual’s age, goals, and living situation.
About Chapman Support Services Chapman Support Services is a locally owned, registered NDIS provider based in Coffs Harbour on the NSW North Coast, on the ancestral lands of the Gumbaynggirr people. The team specialises in complex physical disabilities, epilepsy, positive behaviour support, Auslan-accessible services, shared living, and high-intensity daily personal activities. Our director has lived experience of disability and is a fluent Auslan user. Visit chapmansupport.com.au or call 0431 617 197.