Behaviour support
Behaviour support is about creating individualised strategies for people with disability that are responsive to the person’s needs, in a way that reduces and eliminates the need for the use of regulated restrictive practices.
Behaviour support focuses on evidence-based strategies and person-centred supports that address the needs of the person with disability and the underlying causes of behaviours of concern, while safeguarding the dignity and quality of life of people with disability who require specialist behaviour support.
Both specialist behaviour support providers (who engage NDIS behaviour support practitioners), and providers who use regulated restrictive practices (implementing providers), must meet the requirements outlined in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018.
The role of the Senior Practitioner
The Senior Practitioner leads the NDIS Commission’s behaviour support function. It is the role and responsibility of the Senior Practitioner to:
- Oversee NDIS behaviour support practitioners and implementing providers who use behaviour support strategies and regulated restrictive practices
- Provide best practice advice to practitioners, providers, participants, families, and carers
- Receive and review provider monthly reports on the use of regulated restrictive practices
- Follow up on reportable incidents that suggest there are unmet behaviour support needs
Notification of behaviour support practitioners
Transitional arrangements under section 29 of NDIS (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018 have now ended.
Any individual wishing to be considered suitable as an NDIS behaviour support practitioner can now apply in the Applications Portal and must be considered suitable before they can deliver behaviour support under the NDIS.
A fact sheet about the changes is available. On 7 July 2022, Jeffrey Chan, Senior Practitioner wrote to specialist behaviour support providers about the new application process.
NDIS behaviour support practitioners applying to be considered suitable should review the Positive Behaviour Support Capability Framework (2019), the Self-Assessment Resource Guide for the PBS Capability Framework (2020), and the NDIS (NDIS Behaviour Support Practitioner Application) Guidelines 2020 to when completing practitioner suitability assessment and application process.
New applications will be prioritised as the s29 form and provisionally suitable outcome are no longer provided. Existing provisionally suitable behaviour support practitioners who have submitted their application remain provisionally suitable until they receive an outcome from their application. Read more about behaviour support practitioner suitability assessments.
Frequently asked questions
Our frequently asked questions page answers the most common questions about behaviour support practitioner suitability assessments.
How to contact us about behaviour support
National Behaviour Support: behavioursupport@ndiscommission.gov.au
NDIS Behaviour Support Practitioners: ndispractitioners@ndiscommission.gov.au
States and territories:
- NSW: nswbehavioursupport@ndiscommission.gov.au
- QLD: qldbehavioursupport@ndiscommission.gov.au
- ACT: actbehavioursupport@ndiscommission.gov.au
- VIC: vicbehavioursupport@ndiscommission.gov.au
- TAS: tasbehavioursupport@ndiscommission.gov.au
- SA: sabehavioursupport@ndiscommission.gov.au
- WA: wabehavioursupport@ndiscommission.gov.au
- NT: ntbehavioursupport@ndiscommission.gov.au
The Positive Behaviour Support Capability Framework
The Positive Behaviour Support Capability Framework focuses on the knowledge and skills that underpin contemporary evidence-based practice. It reflects the diversity of and variation in the sector’s capability in delivering behaviour support and provides a pathway for recognition and professional progression for behaviour support practitioners.
Currently, behaviour support practitioners whose names were provided to the NDIS Commissioner under the s29 form are considered ‘provisionally suitable’ as NDIS behaviour support practitioners until a practitioner suitability assessment is completed against the PBS Capability Framework. The ‘provisional suitability’ process is changing as the national implementation program for the Positive Behaviour Support Capability Framework starts in January 2021.
In the interim, the s29 form will continue to be available. The ‘provisionally suitable’ practitioners will be contacted by the NDIS Commission as to when they are required to complete the suitability assessment process.
Read more about the Positive Behaviour Support Capability Framework.
Information for behaviour support practitioners and specialist behaviour support providers about how the practitioner suitability assessment will be implemented is available.
Which restrictive practices are regulated and what providers are required to do
A restrictive practice means any practice or intervention that has the effect of restricting the rights or freedom of movement of a person with disability. Under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018 certain restrictive practices are subject to regulation. A restrictive practice is a regulated restrictive practice if it is or involves seclusion, chemical restraint, mechanical restraint, physical restraint and environmental restraint.
The Regulated Restrictive Practices Guide was developed for registered NDIS providers and NDIS behaviour support practitioners supporting NDIS participants. It may also be of interest to anyone who supports a person with disability. The guide supports a contemporary positive behaviour support framework.
The guide explains what a restrictive practice is, and sets out information on the five types of regulated restrictive practices. It also highlights possible impacts of, and important considerations for, the use of regulated restrictive practices. It will assist registered NDIS providers and NDIS behaviour practitioners to meet their obligations under the NDIS Act 2013 and relevant Rules.
The Regulated Restrictive Practices with Children and Young People with Disability: Practice Guide focuses on the use of regulated restrictive practices with NDIS participants aged under 18 years. It aims to promote the rights of children and young people with a disability, identify special considerations and relevant safeguards, highlight the obligations of NDIS providers and provide advice consistent with contemporary evidence and a positive behaviour support framework. The guide was developed for registered NDIS providers and NDIS behaviour support practitioners. It may also be of interest to participants, their families, and others supporting children and young people with disability.
Surveillance Technology Practice Guide
The Surveillance Technology Practice Guide aims to clarify what is considered ‘surveillance technology’ and assist in identifying circumstances where surveillance technology could be used as part of a regulated restrictive practice. The guide highlights the ethical, human rights, privacy and practice issues with the use of surveillance technology. It outline best practice considerations and safeguards when using surveillance technology with people with disability. This guide was developed for registered NDIS providers including specialist behaviour support providers but may also be of interest to anyone who supports a person with disability.
Safe Transportation Practice Guide
The purpose of the Safe Transportation Practice Guide is to:
- promote the rights and inherent dignity of people with disability,
- assist in identifying the use of regulated restrictive practice when transporting people with disability,
- highlight the special considerations and safeguards relevant to the use of transportation for people with disability,
- provide practice advice consistent with a positive behaviour support framework, contemporary evidence informed practice and the intent to reduce and eliminate the use of restrictive practices, and
- assist registered NDIS providers and NDIS behaviour support practitioners to meet their obligations under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (NDIS Act 2013) and relevant Rules.
Registration requirements for the use of regulated restrictive practices
The Registration requirements for the use of regulated restrictive practices guide is a flow chart that assists participants and their families to identify the types of supports that only a registered NDIS provider can deliver. It also identifies the options available when an unregistered provider is currently involved and using a regulated restrictive practice. An accessible version of the flow chart is included in the appendix.
Compendium of Resources for Positive Behaviour Support
This compendium of resources provides behaviour support practitioners with a comprehensive list of assessment tools that can be used for the purposes of behaviour support assessment, planning, intervention, monitoring and review. It also includes a list of national and international Internet Resources that cover a range of areas of practice in relation to behaviour support.
Practices that present high risk of harm to NDIS participants: Position Statement
The Practices that present high risk of harm to NDIS participants position statement outlines practices that place participants at high risk of harm and are associated with adverse and catastrophic outcomes for participants, such as long-term psychological or physical injury and death. The practices fall within two categories: specific forms of physical restraint and punitive approaches. NDIS providers (registered and unregistered) must not use these practices. Use of these practices must cease immediately, and should be replaced with proactive and evidence-informed alternatives based on risk assessment. Use of these practices by NDIS providers constitutes a serious breach of the NDIS Code of Conduct. The NDIS Commissioner will take strong action against any provider and individuals that engage in these practices.
Quality of Behaviour Support Plans (BSPs) – results of a national audit
The quality of comprehensive BSPs lodged over a 14 month period were audited by the NDIS Commission using the Behaviour Support Plan Quality Evaluation II Tool and the NDIS Companion Tool. The BSPs were assessed and rated across several domains. The BSP Quality paper provides the results of this audit including the domains that were adequately and inadequately addressed and highlights the need for improvement to increase the quality of BSPs.
Interim and Comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan Checklists
The Behaviour Support Plan Checklists outline good practice and the conditions of registration that apply to specialist behaviour support providers when developing behaviour support plans. They aim to help practitioners and providers to check the quality of behaviour support plans and ensure compliance with requirements. Use of the checklists is optional. They do not need to be submitted to the NDIS Commission.