When someone you support begins showing behaviours that feel unsafe, distressing or hard to understand, it can leave everyone feeling unsure.
Families may wonder what they did wrong. Support workers may feel uncertain about how to respond. Schools or providers may focus on managing the behaviour in the moment.
Behaviours of concern are often a sign that something needs to be understood.
Positive Behaviour Support, often called PBS, helps families, carers and support teams look beyond the behaviour and understand what the person may be communicating through their actions.
Under the NDIS, PBS focuses on improving quality of life, understanding why a person acts in a certain way and helping others better support the person’s needs.
What Are Behaviours of Concern?
Behaviours of concern are actions that may place the person or others at risk, affect wellbeing or make daily participation harder.
Examples may include:
• Physical aggression
• Self-injury
• Property damage
• Verbal outbursts
• Absconding or running away
• Unsafe repetitive behaviours
• Withdrawal linked to distress
• Refusal that affects health, safety or daily routines
The term “behaviours of concern” is used because it focuses on the behaviour and its impact. It avoids labelling the person.
A person is not “difficult” or “bad”. They may be overwhelmed, unheard, anxious, in pain, frustrated or unable to express a need safely.
Why Do Behaviours of Concern Happen?
Behaviours of concern usually have a reason.
Sometimes the reason is clear. Other times, it takes careful assessment and listening to understand what is happening.
Common factors may include:
• Communication difficulties
• Sensory overload
• Pain or discomfort
• Anxiety or trauma responses
• Changes in routine
• Fatigue or poor sleep
• Social stress
• Environmental triggers
• Too many demands
• Lack of choice or control
For example, a child may throw objects when they do not understand a task. An adult may walk away from a support setting because the environment feels too loud. A participant may yell when they cannot explain pain or discomfort.
PBS behaviours of concern support starts by asking, “What is this behaviour telling us?”
Why Language Matters
Many people still use the term “challenging behaviour”. It is widely understood, but it can sometimes place the focus on the person as the problem.
“Behaviours of concern” is more respectful and common within Australian NDIS behaviour support language.
It helps support teams focus on:
• The person’s needs
• The environment
• Communication
• Safety
• Quality of life
• Support strategies
This shift in language matters because it changes how people respond.
How Positive Behaviour Support Helps
Positive Behaviour Support is a person-centred, evidence-informed approach to understanding behaviours of concern.
PBS does not focus on punishment or control.
It aims to:
• Understand why behaviours happen
• Reduce distress
• Improve communication
• Build new skills
• Support safer routines
• Improve quality of life
• Reduce and eliminate restrictive practices where possible
The NDIS Commission describes PBS as helping people with disability live a better life, with strategies documented in a behaviour support plan.
What Is a Behaviour Support Assessment?
Before creating strategies, a behaviour support practitioner gathers information.
This may include:
• Conversations with the participant
• Input from families and carers
• Support worker feedback
• School or provider information
• Incident records
• Allied health reports
• Observations across daily settings
• Functional behaviour assessment
A functional behaviour assessment looks at what happens before, during and after a behaviour. This helps identify patterns and possible reasons behind the behaviour.
The assessment should consider the whole person, not just the behaviour.
What Is a Behaviour Support Plan?
A behaviour support plan outlines practical strategies to support the participant and their team.
A plan may include:
• Participant strengths and goals
• Behaviours of concern
• Known triggers
• Early warning signs
• Communication strategies
• Environmental changes
• Skill-building goals
• Preventative strategies
• Safe response strategies
• Team roles and responsibilities
• Review arrangements
• Restrictive practice reduction strategies, where relevant
A strong behaviour support plan should be clear enough for families, support workers and providers to use in real life.
What Does Challenging Behaviour Support Look Like in Practice?
Challenging behaviour support should feel practical and respectful.
For example, if a participant becomes distressed during morning routines, PBS may explore:
• Is the routine too rushed?
• Does the person understand what is happening next?
• Is there enough choice?
• Are sensory needs being considered?
• Are support workers using consistent language?
• Is the person tired, hungry or anxious?
Strategies may include:
• A visual routine
• More transition time
• Fewer verbal instructions
• A preferred calming activity
• Clear choices
• Consistent support worker responses
• A review of sleep, pain or health concerns
Small changes often make support feel safer and more predictable.
The Role of Families and Support Teams
PBS works best when people work together.
A PBS support team may include:
• The participant
• Parents or carers
• Support coordinators
• Support workers
• Teachers
• Supported accommodation staff
• Psychologists
• Occupational therapists
• Speech pathologists
• Developmental Educators
• Medical professionals
Families often understand the person’s history, preferences and early signs of distress. Support workers understand daily routines. Allied health providers bring assessment and therapy knowledge.
Together, the team can create more consistent support.
Restrictive Practices and Behaviours of Concern
Some behaviours of concern may lead support teams to use restrictive practices.
Restrictive practices are actions that restrict a person’s rights or freedom of movement. They are regulated under the NDIS and must follow strict requirements.
The NDIS Commission states that when restrictive practices are used, they must sit within a Positive Behaviour Support framework, with safeguards and a focus on reducing and eliminating their use.
PBS should always look for safer, less restrictive ways to support the person.
When Should You Seek Behaviour Support?
It may be time to seek PBS support when:
• Behaviour affects safety
• Daily routines feel difficult to manage
• The person shows regular distress
• Support teams feel unsure what to do
• School, work or community participation is affected
• Restrictive practices are being used
• Families feel overwhelmed
• Current strategies are not working
Early support can help teams respond more calmly and consistently.
Myth vs Fact About Behaviours of Concern
Myth: Behaviours of concern happen for no reason
Fact: Behaviour often communicates a need, feeling, trigger or unmet support requirement.
Myth: PBS is about stopping behaviour
Fact: PBS focuses on understanding behaviour, improving quality of life and supporting new skills.
Myth: Families are blamed during PBS
Fact: Ethical PBS works with families respectfully and recognises how complex behaviour can be.
Myth: A behaviour support plan is only needed during crisis
Fact: Behaviour support plans can support prevention, consistency and safer daily routines.
How Arise Allied Health Supports Behaviours of Concern
Arise Allied Health provides person-centred and evidence-based Positive Behaviour Support for NDIS participants across Australia.
Support may include:
• Behaviour support assessments
• Functional behaviour assessments
• Interim behaviour support plans
• Comprehensive behaviour support plans
• PBS implementation support
• Team training and coaching
• Psychology services
• Developmental Education
• Therapeutic supports
• Telehealth services
• NDIS allied health support
Our approach focuses on understanding the person, their environment and their support network. We work alongside participants, families, carers, support coordinators and providers to develop practical strategies that support safety, dignity and everyday participation.
Final Thoughts
Behaviours of concern can feel overwhelming, but they often tell an important story.
They may show that a person is distressed, unsupported, overwhelmed or unable to communicate a need safely.
Positive Behaviour Support helps families and teams understand what is happening and respond in ways that protect dignity, build skills and improve quality of life.
If behaviours of concern are affecting daily life, speaking with a qualified behaviour support practitioner can help identify the next steps and create a support plan that reflects the person’s needs, strengths and goals.