NDIS Positive Behaviour Support Ballarat: Does my family member need behaviour support?

If you are supporting a loved one on the NDIS and have noticed increasing behaviours of concern, you may be wondering whether Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) could help.

Many NDIS participants experience changes over time, including increased distress, difficulty managing emotions, or behaviours that impact safety, relationships and participation in daily life. Understanding when to seek behaviour support, and how to access funding, is an important step in getting the right supports in place.

What are behaviours of concern under the NDIS?

Under the NDIS, behaviours of concern are actions that may place the participant or others at risk, or reduce their ability to engage in everyday activities. These can include aggression, self-injury, property damage, absconding, withdrawal, or significant emotional dysregulation.

Behaviours of concern are often a form of communication. They may be linked to unmet needs, sensory sensitivities, communication difficulties, trauma, anxiety, or environmental factors. Identifying the underlying cause is critical to reducing behaviours and improving outcomes.

Signs your family member may benefit from Positive Behaviour Support

You may want to explore NDIS behaviour support services if you notice:

• Increasing frequency or intensity of behaviours of concern
• Difficulty managing behaviours at home or in the community
• Safety risks for the participant, family members or support workers
• Reduced engagement in daily activities, routines or community participation
• High levels of stress for family or supports

Early intervention is key. Accessing Positive Behaviour Support early can reduce escalation, improve stability and minimise the need for restrictive practices.

How NDIS Positive Behaviour Support helps

A Positive Behaviour Support practitioner will complete a detailed behaviour assessment to understand why behaviours are occurring. This involves working closely with the participant, their family, support workers and other therapists.

The outcome is a Behaviour Support Plan that focuses on:

• Proactive strategies to reduce triggers
• Skill development, including communication and emotional regulation
• Environmental adjustments to improve safety and predictability
• Clear guidance for family members and supports

NDIS behaviour support is designed to improve quality of life, increase independence and support meaningful participation in home and community settings.

How to access behaviour support funding through the NDIS

Behaviour support is typically funded under the NDIS Improved Relationships category. However, many participants do not initially have this funding included in their plan.

If your current NDIS plan does not include behaviour support funding, there are still options.

Using Improved Daily Living (IDL) funding to access a behaviour assessment

In some cases, Improved Daily Living (Capacity Building) funding can be used flexibly to complete an initial behaviour assessment. This allows families to gather the clinical evidence needed to support a request for ongoing behaviour support funding.

Steps to take:

• Speak with your support coordinator or plan manager about using Improved Daily Living funding for an initial assessment
• Engage an NDIS behaviour support practitioner to complete a comprehensive assessment
• Ensure behaviours of concern, risks and functional impact are clearly documented
• Use the assessment report to support a plan review or reassessment request
• Request funding under Improved Relationships for ongoing Positive Behaviour Support

This approach can be an effective way to access behaviour support even when it is not currently funded.

Working with your NDIS support team

Positive Behaviour Support works best when delivered as part of a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach. This may include Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology and other allied health supports.

Working together ensures that underlying needs are addressed, strategies are consistent, and outcomes are sustainable over time.

NDIS behaviour support in Ballarat

If you are looking for NDIS Positive Behaviour Support in Ballarat or surrounding areas, seeking advice early can help you understand your options and next steps.

Positive Behaviour Support is not just about managing behaviours. It is about understanding the person, reducing barriers and creating the right supports to improve independence, safety and quality of life.

If you are unsure whether your family member would benefit from behaviour support, speaking with an experienced practitioner can help guide the process and ensure the right supports are in place for the next stage of their NDIS plan.

At Rivergum Allied Therapies we have a diverse team of experience Behaviour Support Pratitioners. You can get in contact with us by phone at (03) 4310 2686, email at info@rivergumalliedtherapies.com.au or submit a referral form via our website (https://rivergumalliedtherapies.com.au/) or the following link https://rivergumat.splose.com/public-form/a2ff9c68-ad6f-4940-8774-6a9fbb969b7c .