What Is a Behaviour Support Plan? A Family Guide
What an NDIS behaviour support plan is: interim vs comprehensive plans, what's inside a good one, how it's made with you, and how it's reviewed.
A behaviour support plan is a practical document that helps everyone around a person respond in the same calm, respectful way to behaviours of concern — and, above all, change daily life so those situations happen less. Written by a behaviour support practitioner and built around understanding rather than control, it's the centrepiece of Positive Behaviour Support. This guide explains what's in a…
What a behaviour support plan is
Interim and comprehensive plans
What's inside a good plan
How the plan is made, with you not to you
Restrictive practices in the plan
Putting the plan into action
Reviewing and improving the plan
Frequently asked questions
What is a behaviour support plan?
It's a practical document written by an NDIS behaviour support practitioner that helps everyone around a person respond calmly and consistently to behaviours of concern, and, more importantly, changes daily life so those situations happen less often. It's built on understanding why behaviour…
What's the difference between an interim and a comprehensive plan?
An interim plan is put in place quickly to keep everyone safe while the practitioner gathers information, especially if a restrictive practice is being used. A comprehensive plan follows after a full functional behaviour assessment, with deeper strategies to improve quality of life and reduce…
Who writes a behaviour support plan and how is it funded?
An NDIS behaviour support practitioner writes it, funded from your Capacity Building budget under Improved Relationships. The day-to-day work of putting the plan into practice, the worker time, comes from your Core budget. Both are needed for the plan to actually work.
Does a behaviour support plan mean restrictive practices will be used?
Not necessarily. If any restrictive practice is used, it must be recorded in the plan, properly authorised, used only as a last resort, and paired with a clear goal to reduce and eventually eliminate it. A good plan focuses on prevention and better quality of life, not restriction.
How often should the plan be reviewed?
A behaviour support plan is a living document, reviewed regularly as the person, their situation and what's working change. If it isn't reducing behaviours of concern, or the strategies aren't fitting daily life, that's a sign it needs revisiting with the practitioner.
Related guides
- How the NDIS Funds Epilepsy & Seizure Support
- Restrictive Practices & Your Rights on the NDIS: A Participant & Family Guide
- Positive Behaviour Support on the NDIS: A Participant & Family Guide
- Reducing & Eliminating Restrictive Practices on the NDIS: A Family Guide
- Regulated Restrictive Practices on the NDIS: What They Are & How They're Authorised
- Seizure Management Plans & Emergency Medication (Midazolam) on the NDIS