Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is a caring and practical approach focused on understanding and reducing behaviours of concern while improving quality of life.
Outcomes Connect Australia supports children aged 7+, teenagers and adults who experience behaviours of concern that may be challenging, disruptive or harmful and that impact their wellbeing and the people around them. These behaviours often relate to unmet needs, communication difficulties, environmental stressors or underlying conditions.
Our name stemmed from our genuine belief: that better outcomes are delivered through true connection. Our goal is to deliver this consistently across Australia, so that everyone gets the support they need.
How our Positive Behaviour Support practitioners can help
We start by understanding the why behind behaviour. Our Positive Behaviour Support Practitioners work closely with participants, families and support teams to identify triggers, needs and goals.
From there, we develop practical, evidence-informed behaviour support plans that focus on building skills, increasing independence and improving everyday quality of life. We provide clear strategies and consistent guidance across home, school (learn why positive behaviour for learning matters in school) and community settings, supporting everyone involved to achieve lasting, positive change.
What to expect from Positive Behaviour Support
Once a participant is referred to Outcomes Connect, we begin by engaging with them, their family and their support network to understand their goals, needs and environment.
Alongside implementing practical strategies, behaviour support practitioners are also responsible for documenting their work and meeting the reporting requirements set by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
The key stages of Positive Behaviour Support
Interim Behaviour Support Plan
1 month
Functional Behaviour Assessment
6 months
Comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan
6 months
Ongoing Implementation and Support
As needed
Progress Report
6- 12 weeks
before the participant’s NDIS plan review
Interim Behaviour Support Plan
Timeframe: Submitted within 1 month of service starting
If restrictive practices are in place, an Interim Behaviour Support Plan is required to ensure there is a short-term, legally compliant plan while the full assessment and planning are completed.
This plan outlines:
Basic understanding of behaviour
Immediate risk mitigation strategies
Steps to begin skill development and build positive routines
Functional Behaviour Assessment
Timeframe: Completed within 6 months of service starting
A detailed Functional Behaviour Assessment is conducted to understand the reasons behind the participant’s behaviours of concern.
This includes:
Observations and data collection
Interviews with the participant and key supports
Identifying triggers, patterns, and the function of behaviour
The findings form the foundation of the Behaviour Support Plan.
Comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan
Timeframe: Finalised within 6 months of service starting
This is a detailed, individualised plan based on the Functional Behaviour Assessment.
This includes:
Proactive and reactive strategies Skill-building approaches
Supports required across settings (home, school, community)
Plans for reducing restrictive practices, if applicable
Roles and responsibilities of the support network
Ongoing Implementation & Support
The PBS practitioner works with the participant and their support team to put the plan into action.
This includes:
Training carers, educators, and support workers
Providing visual supports or routines Coaching to ensure consistent, confident implementation
Regular check-ins and monitoring
Progress Report
Timeframe: Typically due 6–12 weeks before the participant’s NDIS plan review
This report includes:
Participant progress against PBS goals
Outcomes of strategies used
Recommendations for ongoing support
Any updates or modifications to the plan
Choosing the right Positive Behaviour Support provider matters
At Outcomes Connect, quality, safety and real-life impact guide everything we do. Our practitioners are committed to delivering ethical, practical and evidence-informed support that aligns with NDIS standards and puts participants first. You can find out more about our commitment to clinical excellence and what sets us apart here.
But most importantly, our practitioners live and work in your community. This means the support we provide is built off personal connections – with our participants, their families and their support teams.
PBS is a person-centred approach that looks at why someone may show behaviours of concern, such as aggression, self-harm, withdrawal or difficulty communicating their needs.
Rather than simply trying to reduce these behaviours, PBS focuses on improving the person’s overall quality of life. It does this by identifying the underlying causes of the behaviour and developing strategies that promote positive, meaningful alternatives.
PBS aims to create supportive environments, teach new skills and tailor strategies to each person’s strengths, preferences and goals. It involves working closely with the individual, their family and their wider support network to ensure consistency and lasting change.
What are behaviours of concern?
Behaviours of concern are actions that might put a person or those around them at risk. These behaviours often come from unmet needs, like struggles with communication, sensory issues, pain, emotional distress or stress from the environment. They are not just ‘bad behaviours’, they are signs that support is needed. These behaviours can disrupt daily life, limit social activities or affect the quality of life for both the individual and their support network. Some examples of behaviours of concern include:
Physical aggression or self-harm
Verbal outbursts or threats
Damage to property
Withdrawal or refusal to engage
Risky or unsafe actions in public.
PBS seeks to understand why these behaviours happen and offers safe, respectful and personalised strategies to help the individual feel more supported, empowered and in control.
Who can benefit from Positive Behaviour Support?
PBS is designed for anyone experiencing behaviours of concern that impact their quality of life. It’s especially helpful for people with disability, developmental delay or complex support needs, including individuals with autism.
Families and support teams also benefit from PBS, gaining practical strategies, confidence and a shared understanding of how to provide consistent, effective support.
What is a Behaviour Support Practitioner?
A Behaviour Support Practitioner is a skilled professional who works with people experiencing behaviours of concern to improve safety, wellbeing and quality of life.
A Behaviour Support Practitioner assesses behaviours of concern, identifies triggers and contributing factors and develops Positive Behaviour Support Plans. They collaborate with participants, families and support teams to implement practical strategies, reduce restrictive practices, monitor progress and ensure supports remain effective, and quality of life is improved.
Families and support teams also benefit from PBS, gaining practical strategies, confidence and a shared understanding of how to provide consistent, effective support.
How can I become a Behaviour Support Practitioner?
Becoming a Behaviour Support Practitioner typically requires experience in disability or behaviour support and meeting the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission requirements. Most practitioners complete specialised behaviour support practitioner training, along with ongoing supervision and professional development. At Outcomes Connect Australia, we invest heavily in our people because quality support for participants starts with quality support for practitioners. Our practitioners have access to experienced clinical leaders, structured supervision, ongoing professional development and a team of other practitioners who are generous with their knowledge. We also deliver the School of PBS through the University of Melbourne, which strengthens how we develop our practitioners by embedding structured, credentialed learning into our PBS development pathway.
What skills and strategies does Positive Behaviour Support provide?
PBS equips individuals and their support networks with practical skills and proactive strategies to improve communication, reduce behaviours of concern and enhance quality of life. Here’s how:
Functional Communication Skills PBS helps individuals express their needs, wants and emotions in effective and socially appropriate ways.
Emotional Regulation By understanding what triggers certain behaviours, PBS supports individuals to manage stress, anxiety, frustration or sensory overwhelm in calmer, more independent ways.
Social and Daily Living Skills PBS builds everyday skills that promote confidence and independence, like making choices, following routines, problem-solving and interacting with others.
Consistent Support Strategies for Families and Carers PBS offers training and guidance to carers, families and support networks to support consistent, confident implementation of behaviour support strategies.
Proactive Behaviour Strategies Rather than reacting to behaviours after they occur, PBS focuses on prevention. This includes adjusting environments, teaching alternative skills and addressing everyday triggers.
What is meant by evidence-based practice?
In Positive Behaviour Support, evidence-based practice means using proven approaches that combine current knowledge, practitioner experience and the individual’s goals and preferences.
Practitioners focus on:
What’s known to be effective through years of practical use and shared learning.
Professional insight and judgement to apply strategies in safe, meaningful ways.
The person’s own experiences, values, and input from those who know them best.
This approach helps ensure that support is not only effective but also relevant, respectful and tailored to each person’s unique needs.
What are restrictive practices?
Restrictive practices are actions taken to limit someone’s rights, movement or freedom, usually as a last option to prevent harm to themselves or others. These practices may be used in disability support when certain behaviours pose a serious safety risk.
Examples of restrictive practices may include:
Physical restraint – holding or blocking someone to stop their movement.
Mechanical restraint – using a device to limit movement, like straps or belts.
Chemical restraint – using medication to manage behaviour, not to treat a health issue.
Seclusion – keeping a person alone in a room or space they can’t leave.
Environmental restraint – limiting access to parts of an environment, like locked cupboards.
Restrictive practices are strictly regulated under the NDIS and should only be used when necessary, for the shortest time possible and as part of a documented Behaviour Support Plan. The aim is always to reduce and eventually eliminate these practices by understanding the reasons behind certain behaviours and offering safer alternatives.
Am I eligible for NDIS funding?
To qualify for NDIS funding, you need to meet some specific criteria from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). The best step is to fill out the NDIS Access Request Form or talk to your healthcare provider for assistance. You can also check the NDIS website or call NDIS directly on 1800 800 110.
