When it comes to improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities or complex needs, the role of a behaviour support practitioner is invaluable. These professionals are skilled in understanding challenging behaviours and creating strategies to reduce them—helping people live safer, more independent, and more fulfilling lives.
In this blog, we’ll explore who behaviour support practitioners are, what they do, how they help individuals under the NDIS, and why their role is crucial for long-term wellbeing.
What Is a Behaviour Support Practitioner?
A behaviour support practitioner is a qualified expert dedicated to designing and applying behaviour support strategies for individuals struggling with behaviours of concern. These behaviours may include aggression, self-injury, withdrawal, or other actions that impact a person’s safety or the safety of others. The goal of their work is not to suppress behaviour but to understand its root cause and address it through positive, person-centred interventions.
Practitioners often come from diverse backgrounds, including psychology, social work, education, and occupational therapy. To be recognised as an NDIS behaviour support practitioner, they must meet specific competency standards set by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
Positive Behavioural Support Philosophy
At the heart of their work is the positive behavioural support (PBS) framework. This approach is evidence-based and focuses on improving the individual’s environment and quality of life. Rather than using punitive or restrictive methods, a positive behaviour support practitioner works to understand why behaviours occur and how they can be replaced with positive alternatives.
Positive behavioural support involves:
- Understanding the function behind behaviours of concern
- Teaching new skills that serve the same purpose as the challenging behaviour
- Making changes to the environment to reduce triggers
- Supporting families and carers with strategies to maintain improvements
This model is holistic, long-term, and empowers the person, their family, and their support network.
The Role of a Behaviour Support Practitioner
The work of a behaviour support practitioner is both strategic and deeply personal. They don’t just offer one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, they take the time to understand the individual’s background, goals, and environment.
Here’s what they typically do:
1. Conduct Functional Behaviour Assessments (FBA)
This is the first step where the practitioner observes, interviews, and reviews relevant data to understand the underlying reasons for a specific behaviour. They explore triggers, environmental influences, and the possible communication intent behind the actions.
2. Develop Behaviour Support Plans (BSP)
Based on the assessment, the practitioner creates a Behaviour Support Plan tailored to the individual. This plan outlines proactive strategies, skill-building exercises, and ways to respond to behaviours safely and respectfully.
There are two types of plans:
- Interim Behaviour Support Plan: Developed to provide short-term strategies when urgent behavioural interventions are required.
- Comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan: A long-term, detailed strategy developed after a thorough assessment.
3. Monitor and Review
Behaviour support is not a one-time task. The practitioner regularly reviews the effectiveness of the strategies and modifies the plan as needed. Progress is tracked over time to ensure that the person is genuinely benefitting.
4. Train Support Networks
For a plan to work, everyone in the person’s support circle—family, carers, and support workers—must be on the same page. The practitioner trains these individuals on how to implement the plan with consistency and compassion.
5. Eliminate Restrictive Practices
Under the NDIS, practitioners are legally obligated to minimise and work towards eliminating restrictive practices over time. These include any intervention that limits a person’s rights or freedom (e.g., physical restraint or locked environments). A certified NDIS behaviour support practitioner must document and justify any restrictive practice and work towards its safe removal.
How Do Behaviour Support Practitioners Help?
The impact of a behaviour support practitioner is profound and wide-ranging. For individuals, the benefits often include improved relationships, greater independence, enhanced communication skills, and reduced anxiety or stress. For families and support providers, the benefits come in the form of confidence, reduced burnout, and a better understanding of how to support someone with complex needs.
Here’s how their support transforms lives:
- Promotes inclusion and community participation.
- Builds capacity in individuals to self-regulate.
- Reduces the risk of harm to self and others.
- Enhances mental health and emotional wellbeing.
- Supports long-term stability in home and care environments.
Behaviour Support in the NDIS Framework
The NDIS behaviour support practitioner plays a crucial role in delivering positive behavioural support as part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The NDIS funds behaviour support under “Improved Relationships” for participants who have behaviours of concern that affect their daily life.
All behaviour support plans involving restrictive practices must be lodged with the NDIS Commission and regularly reviewed to ensure ethical, person-centred care.
The practitioner must also:
- Uphold the NDIS Code of Conduct
- Collaborate with other allied health and support workers
- Ensure the participant’s voice is heard at every stage of the process
Qualities of a Good Behaviour Support Practitioner
Not all practitioners are the same, and the quality of their work depends on a mix of technical skills and interpersonal qualities. A great behaviour support practitioner is:
| Empathetic & patient | They listen, observe, and build trust over time. |
| Evidence-informed | Their strategies are backed by research and best practices. |
| Culturally aware | They respect individual backgrounds, beliefs, and communication styles. |
| Collaborative | They involve families, support workers, and educators in every step. |
| Committed to growth | They evaluate progress and refine plans for the best outcomes. |
If you’re seeking support for yourself or someone you care for, engaging a certified positive behaviour support practitioner through the NDIS could be a life-changing decision. And for expert Level 2 Behaviour Support services, look no further than Home of Choice & Care!
Contact Home of Choice & Care for Behaviour Support Today!
At Home of Choice & Care, we provide person-centred, evidence-based Level 2 Behaviour Support. Our experienced practitioners work collaboratively with you, your families, and support networks to understand behaviours of concern and develop effective, positive strategies.
Need expert help with behaviour support? Contact Home of Choice & Care today and discover how easy it is to access respectful, NDIS-registered support tailored to you!
