If you’re a parent, carer, or support worker, you’ve likely come across the term Positive Behaviour Support (PBS). Maybe you’ve heard about it through the NDIS, at school meetings, or from an allied health team.
But what exactly is PBS? And how do you know when it’s the right time to explore it for a child or client in your care?
The answer isn’t always straightforward—and that’s okay. In this article, we’ll explain PBS, what signs to look for, and how it can support children and adults in leading safer, more independent, and more connected lives. PBS aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals and those around them by providing practical support and addressing challenging behaviours through a structured framework.
First, What Is Positive Behaviour Support?
At its core, Positive Behaviour Support is a person-centred, proactive approach to understanding and supporting behaviour. It’s not just about “managing” behaviour that’s seen as challenging. Instead, PBS focuses on:
- Understanding why behaviours occur
- Teaching new skills and communication methods
- Creating supportive environments
- Improving the overall quality of life
PBS is an evidence-based approach that empowers caregivers to create comprehensive support plans based on proven strategies to enhance emotional regulation and behavioural management.
In practice, that means identifying triggers, working out what a person is trying to communicate through their behaviour, and developing a tailored support plan that helps meet their needs safely and respectfully.
PBS is often funded through the NDIS and delivered by trained Behaviour Support Practitioners, like the team at Bloom Healthcare.
Understanding Challenging Behaviour
Challenging behaviour is a complex behaviour that occurs when an individual’s needs are not being met, and various factors, including biological, psychological, and social aspects, can influence it. Understanding the underlying causes of challenging behaviour is crucial in developing effective behaviour support plans. Challenging behaviour can be internalised, such as being withdrawn or non-compliant, or externalised, such as aggressive or destructive behaviour. Addressing challenging behaviour in a proactive and person-centred approach is essential, focusing on the individual’s strengths and needs. By understanding the reasons behind challenging behaviour, we can develop strategies to support individuals in developing new skills and reducing the occurrence of challenging behaviour.
How Do You Know When PBS Might Be Helpful?
The need for PBS can manifest differently depending on a person’s age, communication style, support needs, or diagnosis. What follows is a list of practical signs, red flags, and everyday scenarios where PBS may be beneficial.
Assessments are critical in identifying the need for PBS and advocating for appropriate care.
We’ve written this with parents and support workers in mind—because when something feels “off,” you’re often the first to notice.
1. You’re Seeing Frequent Meltdowns or Escalated Emotions
All kids have big feelings, but if your child or client is frequently overwhelmed to the point of physical outbursts, shutdowns, or emotional distress, it might be a sign that they’re struggling to regulate.
PBS helps by identifying the cause of the meltdown—maybe sensory overload, a change in routine, or difficulty transitioning, which are common challenges for individuals with autism spectrum disorder—and implementing strategies to support the person before things escalate.
Real-life example: A child becomes aggressive after lunchtime at school. PBS identifies that the lunchroom is too loud and develops a sensory-friendly break plan that prevents escalation.
2. There’s Behaviour That’s Unsafe to Themselves or Others
If a person is regularly putting themselves or others at risk—through hitting, biting, self-harm, running off, or destroying property—these aren’t “bad” behaviours. They’re signs of unmet needs or distress.
A PBS plan doesn’t punish these behaviours. Instead, it supports the person in understanding that all behaviour serves a purpose and helps them communicate in safer ways, build coping strategies, and reduce the triggers that lead to unsafe behaviour.
You might also see PBS used in residential care, special education, or group homes where staff need consistent, trauma-informed approaches.
3. Communication Barriers Are Leading to Frustration
For individuals with limited or non-verbal communication, PBS can be transformative.
Imagine expressing hunger, discomfort, or confusion without the words to say it. That frustration often manifests as “behaviour.”
PBS can incorporate Augmented and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools, visuals, or simple routines to give the person a voice and reduce the frustration and distress of being misunderstood. A speech pathologist can be instrumental in developing Augmented and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools to give the person a voice and reduce frustration.
Tip for support workers: If you notice behaviour spikes during transitions or decision-making points, it may be time to explore communication-focused PBS.
4. You Feel Like You’re Always Reacting, Not Preventing
PBS offers a way forward if you’re constantly putting out fires, trying to “manage” behaviour on the fly, or dreading what will happen when something unexpected pops up.
Positive Behaviour Support is proactive by design. Instead of waiting for a behaviour to happen and responding reactively, PBS helps teams understand triggers and patterns, and create routines, supports, and environments that reduce stress and increase success.
Scenario: A teenager with ADHD becomes disruptive in the classroom every afternoon. PBS reveals they need a movement break earlier in the day—problem minimised before it begins.
5. You Want to Phase Out Restrictive Practices
If a person is currently being physically restrained, isolated, or otherwise subject to restrictive interventions—even occasionally—it’s time to explore a PBS plan.
In fact, under the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, any use of restrictive practice must be part of a behaviour support plan written by a qualified practitioner. More importantly, PBS aims to reduce and eventually eliminate restrictive practices, promoting self-advocacy, choice, and control for the individual.
It’s not just a regulatory requirement—it’s a commitment to dignity, rights, and person-centred care.
6. There’s a Goal That Behaviour Is Getting in the Way Of
Sometimes, the need for PBS isn’t dramatic. It could be that a child wants to attend a birthday party or a young adult hopes to volunteer, but anxiety, rigidity, or social discomfort gets in the way.
PBS can support everyday goals like:
- Attending school regularly
- Participating in therapy
- Using public transport
- Engaging in mealtime routines
- Building relationships with peers
These “behaviours” are often not problems—they’re signals that the proper supports have yet to be implemented to encourage positive behaviours.
Developing a Behaviour Support Plan
A behaviour support plan is a comprehensive plan that outlines the strategies and interventions needed to support an individual with challenging behaviour. The plan is developed in collaboration with the individual, their family, and caregivers, and it is tailored to the individual’s specific needs and goals. The plan should include a thorough assessment of the individual’s behaviour, identification of the underlying causes of the behaviour, and the development of strategies to address these causes. The plan should also include a crisis intervention plan, which outlines the steps to be taken in a crisis. Behaviour Support practitioners, such as Psychologists and Speech Pathologists, can provide guidance and support in developing a behaviour support plan. The plan should be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure its effectiveness in supporting the individual.
Measuring the Success of Behaviour Support
Measuring the success of behaviour support is crucial in determining the effectiveness of the behaviour support plan. The success of behaviour support can be measured by tracking the reduction in challenging behaviour, improvement in social and communication skills, and increase in the individual’s quality of life. Data collection and analysis are essential in measuring the success of behaviour support, and it can be done through various methods, such as observation, surveys, and interviews. The data collected should be used to inform the behaviour support plan and make any necessary adjustments. By measuring the success of behaviour support, we can ensure that the individual receives the most effective support possible and make any changes required to the plan.
How Bloom Healthcare Supports PBS
At Bloom Healthcare, our PBS practitioners collaborate with individuals, families, carers, and support teams to develop practical, strengths-based, and truly person-centred behaviour support plans.
Our approach is grounded in applied research, ensuring that our strategies are based on systematic reviews and studies that evaluate the effectiveness of Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) and interventions.
We take the time to understand each person’s unique communication , sensory profile, interests, and goals, because there is no “standard” behaviour support plan. We also offer multidisciplinary collaboration, working closely with psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists to ensure the support is holistic and tailored to each person’s needs.
Our PBS services are fully registered with the NDIS, and our practitioners are experienced in supporting children and adults in home, school, and community settings.
You can learn more about our PBS services here: https://bloom-healthcare.com.au/pbs.
Working with Families and Caregivers
Working with families and caregivers is essential in providing adequate behaviour support. Families and caregivers play a critical role in supporting individuals with challenging behaviour, and they should be involved in developing and implementing the behaviour support plan. Behaviour support practitioners should provide guidance and training to families and caregivers on how to support the individual, and they should be encouraged to communicate openly and honestly about the individual’s needs and progress. By working collaboratively with families and caregivers, we can ensure that the individual receives consistent and practical support and that the behaviour support plan is tailored to the individual’s specific needs and goals. The NDIS Commission provides fact sheets and resources for NDIS participants and their families, which can help them understand the importance of behaviour support and how to access specialist behaviour support services.
When in Doubt, Ask
You don’t need to wait for a crisis to seek help. If your gut is telling you something’s not quite right—or you feel like a child or client isn’t coping as well as they could—trust that instinct. PBS is not about labelling people or pointing out flaws. It’s about giving people the tools, supports, and strategies to live better lives, on their terms.
Whether you’re a parent watching your child struggle, or a support worker seeing daily stress wear someone down, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.
For further information, contact the Bloom Healthcare team or visit our website for additional resources and support.
