As I unfortunately cannot provide in-person services for the remainder of 2025, please join my waitlist for in-person services beginning in January 2026. I service Melbourne and Regional Victoria, and specialise in working with participants and families from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Below, I have provided information about positive behaviour support, restrictive practices, and linked NDIS resources for participants.

Positive Behaviour Support

What is Positive Behaviour Support?

According to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Commission, positive behaviour support is an evidence, value, and rights based approach. It focuses on improving a person’s quality of life, understanding the reasons behind behaviour, and creating ways to meet a person’s needs. This includes strategies such as teaching a person new skills, making changes to their environment, and providing guidance to their support team. Positive behaviour support is implemented through the development of a positive behaviour support plan. Please click here for the NDIS Easy Read fact sheet about positive behaviour support.

What is a Positive Behaviour Support Plan?

According to the NDIS Commission, a behaviour support plan (BSP) meets a person’s needs, while respecting their dignity, and aims to improve their quality of life. A BSP provides strategies to address concerning behaviours based on a functional assessment of behaviours, triggers, setting events, and the functions of behaviours.

We begin to understand behaviours by looking at Antecdents (anything that happens before a behaviour) and Consequences (anything that happens after a behaviour).

Infographic illustrating the ABC model of behavior: Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence with descriptions for each.

Image source: https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/

Positive behaviour support plans are developed based on assessment and formulation of the functions of behaviours.

Diagram titled 'Four Functions of Behavior' showing Sensory, Escape, Attention, and Tangibles as categories. Each category includes descriptions about behaviors related to sensory input, avoidance, social interaction, and access to items or activities. Created by ADayInOurShoes.com.

Another major role of positive behaviour support is to reduce restrictive practices.

What are Restrictive Practices?

According to the NDIS Commission, a restrictive practice is any practice or intervention that limits a person’s human rights or freedom of movement.  

This is sometimes used to keep a person with disability or others safe.  

However, restrictive practices do not:

  • result in lasting positive change

  • meet the person’s needs or improve their quality of life

  • address the reasons for the behaviour and can sometimes make the behaviour worse. 

Types of Restrictive Practices

The NDIS Commission regulates five types of restrictive practices.  

  1. Seclusion: When the person is in a room or a space alone and is not allowed to leave. Or when the person is in a room or a space alone and thinks they cannot leave.  

  2. Chemical restraint: When the person is given medicine to stop or reduce their behaviour.

  3. Mechanical restraint: When a device or equipment is used to stop or reduce a person’s behaviour. It can make it hard for them to move or access a certain part of their body.  

  4. Physical restraint: When someone holds the person or a part of their body so they cannot move freely. They hold the person to stop or reduce their behaviour.  

  5. Environmental restraint: When the person is stopped from having or doing certain things. Or when the person is stopped from accessing certain places in their home or community.

Examples of Restrictive Practices

Person sitting on a bed, facing a screen on the wall showing another person.

Environmental Restraints

Locked doors.
Food and drink access.
Community access.
Seclusion.

Illustration of a person taking a pill

Chemical Restraints

Psychotropic medication.
PRN.

Illustration of a face profile speaking towards an ear with a speech bubble

Psychological Restraints

Coercion.
Control.
Punishment.
Disempowerment .
Neglect.
Exploitation.

Illustration of a person in a red shirt wearing a seatbelt in a car seat.

Mechanical Restraints

Wheelchair straps and locks.
Harness.
Bedrails.

Illustration of three healthcare professionals in green scrubs performing a healthcare procedure.

Physical Restraints

Manual holds.
Bear tackling.

Illustration of two people sitting at a table, having a conversation. The person on the left is wearing a red shirt and gesturing with their hand. The person on the right has a ponytail and is wearing a blue shirt.

Subtle Restraints

Blanket rules.
Set meal-times.
Rules or policies that restrict a person’s liberty and other rights, without individual risk assessments to justify their application.

NDIS Resources for Participants