If you are supporting a person living with disability who is experiencing behaviours of concern, you may already know that help is needed, but getting the right funding into an NDIS plan can feel confusing and stressful.
Many families tell us they understand their child or loved one needs behaviour support, yet their current NDIS plan does not include the right funding to access it.
This guide shows you how to get NDIS funding for behaviour support, also known as Positive Behaviour Support (PBS).
It walks you through when behaviour support is used, where the funding sits in an NDIS plan, what evidence is needed, and how to confidently request it during planning meetings or reviews.
Whether you are a participant, parent, carer, or support coordinator, this article will help you understand the process and take the next steps with confidence.
What Is NDIS Behaviour Support and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)?
NDIS behaviour support is an evidence-based approach that helps people living with disability who experience behaviours of concern that affect safety, relationships, emotional wellbeing, or participation in everyday life.
These behaviours are often linked to unmet needs, communication difficulties, environmental stress, trauma, or challenges with emotional regulation.
They are not simply “problem behaviour” or something a person is choosing without reason.
Rather than trying to control, punish, or suppress behaviour, Positive Behaviour Support Planning NDIS aims to address the underlying causes.
This may include looking at communication needs, sensory factors, routines, relationships, environment, and the supports around the person.
The goal of NDIS behaviour support is to reduce risk, strengthen everyday supports, and help the person build skills so they can feel safer, more understood, and more included in home, school, work, and community settings.
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) can also help families, carers, and support workers by giving them clear and practical strategies that are respectful, consistent, and realistic to use in daily life.
NDIS Behaviour Support May Include
- A behaviour support assessment to understand triggers, patterns, risks, and support needs
- Development of an individualised Behaviour Support Plan based on the person’s strengths, needs, and goals
- Training and guidance for families, carers, and support workers to use strategies safely and consistently
- Ongoing review and adjustment of supports as the person’s needs or circumstances change
Positive Behaviour Support NDIS is person-centred, rights-based, and trauma-informed.
It is designed to support dignity, choice, and participation while reducing the need for restrictive responses wherever possible.
At its core, NDIS behaviour support is about improving wellbeing, strengthening relationships, and helping people living with disability participate more fully in everyday life with the right support around them.
When Might You Need NDIS Behaviour Support Funding?
Many families are unsure whether their situation is “serious enough” to justify NDIS funding for behaviour support.
In reality, NDIS behaviour support is not only for extreme situations. It is about safety, wellbeing, reducing distress, and making everyday life more manageable for the person and the people supporting them.
You may need Positive Behaviour Support funding NDIS if behaviours of concern are affecting the person’s safety, relationships, emotional regulation, or ability to participate in daily life.
You might need NDIS funding for challenging behaviour if behaviours of concern are:
- Creating safety risks for the person or others
- Leading to physical aggression, self-injury, or property damage
- Causing significant distress or emotional dysregulation
- Resulting in frequent conflict at home, school, or in the community
- Limiting participation in education, work, or social activities
- Placing ongoing strain on family members, carers, or other informal supports
For many families asking, do I need behaviour support, the answer often becomes clearer when behaviours are happening regularly, are hard to manage safely, or are affecting the person’s quality of life and participation.
NDIS behaviour support is commonly used by autistic people, people with intellectual disability, psychosocial disability, acquired brain injury, and other people living with disabilities.
However, eligibility for Positive Behaviour Support NDIS is not based on diagnosis alone.
The NDIA looks at functional impact, risk, support needs, and whether the right support could improve safety and everyday outcomes.
Seeking PBS funding in an NDIS plan is a proactive step that can help reduce distress, strengthen supports, and improve quality of life for the person and those around them.
If you are not sure how behaviour support funding works, learn more about where behaviour support sits in an NDIS plan and when Positive Behaviour Support is used.
Where Does Behaviour Support Funding Sit in an NDIS Plan?
Understanding where behaviour support funding sits in an NDIS plan is important when you are trying to request it, check whether it has been approved correctly, or work out which NDIS funds can I use for PBS.
NDIS behaviour support funding sits under specific NDIS budget categories, and asking for it under the wrong area can lead to delays, confusion, or a plan that does not include the support you actually need.
In most cases, Positive Behaviour Support funding under the NDIS is funded under Capacity Building – Improved Relationships.
In some newer plans, this may appear more clearly as Behaviour Support, but it still sits within the Capacity Building behaviour support budget.
This category is designed to support people living with disability who experience behaviours of concern that affect safety, relationships, emotional wellbeing, and participation in everyday life.
It allows access to Positive Behaviour Support NDIS services that are focused on reducing risk, building skills, and improving quality of life.
What Behaviour Support Funding Is Used For
Funding under Behaviour Support / Improved Relationships is usually intended to cover:
- Behaviour support assessments to understand behaviours, triggers, risks, and support needs
- Development of an individualised Behaviour Support Plan
- Review and updating of Behaviour Support Plans as needs change
- Training and coaching for families, carers, and support workers in behaviour support strategies
- Ongoing Positive Behaviour Support intervention delivered by a qualified practitioner
However, ongoing Positive Behaviour Support funding NDIS is usually expected to sit under the dedicated Behaviour Support / Improved Relationships category.
That is why it is important to check the exact wording, budget category, and line items in the plan.
If the funding is missing, unclear, or listed under the wrong area, it may need to be clarified during a plan review or follow-up with the NDIA.
How Behaviour Support Funding Fits Within an NDIS Plan
The table below provides a simple overview of where behaviour support funding usually sits and how different NDIS budgets may be used.
|
NDIS Budget Category |
Can It Be Used for Behaviour Support? |
Typical Use |
|
Capacity Building – Improved Relationships (Behaviour Support) |
Yes |
Behaviour support assessments, Behaviour Support Plans, training, and ongoing PBS intervention |
|
Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living |
Sometimes (limited) |
Initial assessment or recommendation report to support a request for behaviour support funding |
|
Core Supports |
Sometimes (very limited) |
Short-term assessment or documentation support, if reasonable and necessary |
|
Core Supports (Ongoing PBS) |
No |
Core supports are generally not suitable for ongoing Positive Behaviour Support |
Using Other Budgets for Initial Assessments
In some situations, a limited amount of Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living or Core Supports may be used to fund an initial assessment or recommendation report.
This is often done when a participant does not yet have dedicated Behaviour Support funding but needs evidence to support a future request.
However, these budgets are not intended for ongoing Positive Behaviour Support.
Using them for ongoing PBS can quickly reduce funding needed for other essential supports and may not align with NDIS guidelines.
Step-by-Step: How to Get NDIS Funding for Behaviour Support
If behaviour support is not currently included in an NDIS plan, the process of getting it added can feel daunting.
Breaking it down into clear steps can make it more manageable and help you prepare with confidence.
Step 1: Clarify the Behaviour Support Need
Start by clearly identifying the behaviours of concern and how they affect everyday life.
Focus on safety, emotional wellbeing, relationships, and participation rather than labels or diagnoses.
Consider how often behaviours occur, what situations increase risk or distress, and how much support is required to manage them.
This step helps frame behaviour support as a necessary support, not an optional extra.
Step 2: Link the Need to Participant Goals
NDIS funding decisions are strongly linked to goals.
Behaviour support is more likely to be funded when goals clearly relate to safety, emotional regulation, communication, or improving relationships.
Goals do not need to be complex. Simple, meaningful statements about feeling safer, calmer, or better supported can strongly support a behaviour funding request.
Step 3: Gather Supporting Evidence
Collect any available evidence that shows the impact of behaviours of concern over time.
This may include reports from psychologists or therapists, school feedback, support worker notes, or behaviour logs.
Evidence does not need to be perfect, but it should show patterns, risks, and the level of support required.
Linking evidence back to goals and daily functioning strengthens the request.
Step 4: Request Behaviour Support Funding
During a planning meeting, plan review, or change of circumstances request, clearly ask for Behaviour Support funding under Capacity Building – Improved Relationships.
Use clear language and explain how behaviour support will help meet the participant’s goals and improve safety and participation.
Being specific about the type of support needed can reduce confusion.
Step 5: Check the New Plan Carefully
Once a new or updated plan is issued, review it carefully.
Confirm that Behaviour Support or Improved Relationships funding is clearly listed, that the budget appears adequate, and that line items align with behaviour support services.
If funding is missing, unclear, or insufficient, follow up early with the NDIA, your support coordinator, or plan manager to seek clarification or correction.
Writing NDIS Goals That Support Behaviour Funding
When you are learning how to get NDIS funding for behaviour support, one of the most important things to understand is that NDIS funding decisions must be clearly linked to a participant’s goals.
If you are requesting Positive Behaviour Support funding NDIS, the wording of those goals can play a major role in showing why the support is reasonable and necessary.
NDIS goals for behaviour support are strongest when they explain how behaviours of concern are affecting safety, relationships, communication, emotional regulation, and participation in everyday life.
This helps show why PBS funding in an NDIS plan is needed and how it will support meaningful outcomes over time.
Goals do not need to say “behaviour support” word for word, but they should clearly reflect the areas where NDIS behaviour support will help.
The aim is to connect the person’s challenges and support needs to outcomes that matter in daily life.
Effective behaviour support goals NDIS focus on wellbeing, quality of life, safety, and participation, rather than simply trying to “stop” behaviour.
Strong goals describe what the person wants to feel, do, or achieve with the right supports in place.
Examples of NDIS Goals That Support Behaviour Funding
These examples can help when writing NDIS goals for behaviour support:
- “I want to feel safer and calmer at home and in the community.”
- “I want to improve my emotional regulation so I can cope better with everyday situations.”
- “I want to build positive relationships with my family, carers, and support workers.”
- “I want support to communicate my needs and reduce distress during daily activities.”
- “I want to feel more confident and supported to participate in school or community settings.”
When thinking about how to get behaviour support funding, it helps to write goals in plain language and use the participant’s own words wherever possible.
This makes the request feel more personal, more accurate, and more clearly connected to lived experience.
Well-written Improved Relationships goals can help show that Positive Behaviour Support NDIS is not an optional extra.
It is a practical support that can improve safety, reduce distress, strengthen relationships, and increase independence and participation over time.
In simple terms, strong behaviour support goals NDIS help planners understand why NDIS funding for behaviour support is needed and how it will support better long-term outcomes for the participant and the people around them.
Furthermore, for families looking for more targeted support, explore our guide to positive behaviour therapy for ODD and challenging behaviours to learn how therapy can support emotional regulation, behaviour, and daily functioning.
Evidence You Need for NDIS Behaviour Support Funding
When requesting behaviour support funding, the NDIA relies on evidence to understand why Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is reasonable and necessary.
Evidence does not need to be complex or perfect, but it does need to clearly show how behaviours of concern affect safety, participation, and daily life.
Strong evidence for NDIS behaviour support focuses on impact and support needs over time, rather than simply listing behaviours.
The aim is to help planners understand why behaviour support is required and how it will help the participant work towards their goals.
Types of Evidence That Support PBS Funding
The following types of information are commonly used to support a request for behaviour support funding:
- Professional reports, such as those from psychologists, behaviour support practitioners, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, paediatricians, or other allied health professionals. These reports should describe behaviours of concern, possible triggers, functional impact, and risks to safety or participation.
- Behaviour support assessments, where available, outlining observed behaviours, patterns, and recommendations for ongoing Positive Behaviour Support under the NDIS.
- Incident records, behaviour logs, or support worker notes that show how often behaviours occur, what situations increase distress, and how much support is required. Patterns over time are more helpful than isolated incidents.
- School reports or early childhood documentation that highlight challenges with emotional regulation, relationships, communication, or participation in learning environments.
- Existing interim strategies or behaviour plans, along with an explanation of why these supports are no longer sufficient or why more specialised behaviour support is needed.
Linking Evidence to Goals and Outcomes
Evidence is strongest when it clearly links behaviours of concern to participant goals and outcomes such as safety, emotional regulation, improved relationships, and community participation.
Rather than focusing on behaviour alone, describe how the behaviour limits everyday life and what level of support is required to reduce risk and distress.
Families and carers do not need to wait until they have perfect paperwork to start the process.
Even basic reports and consistent notes can form a strong foundation for requesting NDIS behaviour support funding, especially when they clearly demonstrate need over time.
Planning Meetings, Reviews and Change of Circumstances: When to Ask for Behaviour Support Funding
Knowing when to ask for behaviour support funding is just as important as knowing how to get NDIS funding for behaviour support.
Even when a participant clearly needs help, the timing of the request can affect how easily Positive Behaviour Support funding NDIS is understood and added to the plan.
NDIS behaviour support funding can be requested or increased at several key points in the NDIS process, depending on where the participant is in their plan and whether their needs or risks have changed over time.
Initial Access or First NDIS Plan
For people who are not yet on the NDIS, NDIS behaviour support can be raised during the initial access application or first planning meeting.
This is an important opportunity to explain how behaviours of concern affect safety, relationships, emotional regulation, and everyday functioning.
If you are trying to get PBS funding in an NDIS plan from the beginning, it helps to describe the support needs clearly and link them to goals around safety, communication, participation, and wellbeing.
This can help planners understand why Positive Behaviour Support NDIS is needed from the outset.
Scheduled NDIS Plan Reviews
A scheduled NDIS plan review for behaviour support is one of the most common times to request new or increased funding.
If behaviours of concern have continued, become more frequent, or now require more structured support, this should be raised early in the review conversation.
Clear language can make a big difference. If behaviour support is needed, say so directly rather than assuming the planner will infer it.
When asking for NDIS funding for behaviour support at a plan review, it helps to:
- Bring relevant reports, behaviour logs, school notes, or therapist recommendations
- Refer back to NDIS goals for behaviour support
- Explain how the current plan is not meeting the participant’s needs
- Ask directly for Behaviour Support / Improved Relationships funding
Change of Circumstances Requests
A change of circumstances for behaviour support may be appropriate when behaviours or safety risks have escalated significantly, and waiting until the next scheduled review would place the participant or others at risk.
This may include:
- Increased risk of harm to self or others
- More severe distress or emotional dysregulation
- Breakdown of family, carer, school, or provider supports
- Sudden changes in living arrangements, routines, or support needs
In these situations, updated evidence for NDIS behaviour support is especially important.
A clear summary of what has changed can help show why requesting NDIS behaviour support now is reasonable and necessary.
Practical Tips for Planning Conversations
If you are preparing to ask a planner for PBS, these simple steps can strengthen your request:
- Write a short summary of the main behaviour concerns and how they affect daily life
- Bring supporting evidence, examples, and recent reports
- Mention behaviour-related goals early in the conversation
- Ask directly for Positive Behaviour Support funding NDIS
- Bring a support coordinator, advocate, or trusted person if helpful
Approaching planning meetings, reviews, or a change of circumstances request with preparation can make it easier to explain why NDIS behaviour support funding is needed.
It can also help show how the right support may improve safety, wellbeing, and participation over time.
