Behaviour support works best when everyone understands the person, not only the behaviour.
A participant may respond well at home, then struggle at school. They may feel calm with one support worker, then become distressed when routines change. Families may notice triggers that providers do not see. Staff may notice patterns during community access. Allied health providers may identify communication, sensory, emotional or developmental needs.
This is why collaborative positive behaviour support matters.
Positive Behaviour Support, often called PBS, works best when families, carers, support workers, educators and allied health providers share information and work towards the same goals.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission describes Positive Behaviour Support as focused on improving quality of life and reducing and eliminating restrictive practices where possible.
What Is Collaborative Positive Behaviour Support?
Collaborative positive behaviour support brings the participant and their support network together.
This may include:
• The participant
• Parents and carers
• Guardians or nominees
• Support coordinators
• Support workers
• School staff
• Supported accommodation teams
• Psychologists
• Occupational therapists
• Speech pathologists
• Developmental Educators
• Behaviour support practitioners
• Medical and other allied health professionals
The aim is to understand what is happening across daily life and develop strategies that feel practical, respectful and consistent.
Why One Person Cannot Hold the Whole Picture
Behaviours of concern often look different across settings.
For example:
• A child may become distressed during school transitions but feel settled at home
• An adult may communicate well with familiar staff but struggle with new workers
• A participant may experience behaviours of concern when routines change
• A person may show increased distress when pain, fatigue or sensory overload is present
No single professional sees everything.
Families often understand history, preferences and early signs of distress. Support workers see daily routines. Educators understand learning environments. Allied health providers bring clinical knowledge and assessment skills.
When this information comes together, the PBS plan becomes more useful.
What Does a PBS Support Team Do?
A PBS support team works together to understand behaviour and support safer daily routines.
A strong team helps with:
• Sharing information about triggers and patterns
• Identifying strengths and goals
• Supporting consistent routines
• Using the same communication strategies
• Tracking what works and what does not
• Supporting skill development
• Reducing restrictive practices
• Reviewing the PBS plan when needs change
The NDIS Commission notes that behaviour support strategies are documented in a behaviour support plan, which may sometimes include restrictive practices.
Why Families Play a Key Role
Families and carers often provide essential insight.
They may know:
• What helps the person feel safe
• What situations increase distress
• What communication style works best
• What routines matter most
• What past strategies helped or caused harm
• What goals feel meaningful to the person
PBS should never blame families. It should support them.
Families also help ensure strategies fit real life. A plan that looks good on paper but does not work at home will not help the participant long term.
Why Support Workers and Staff Matter
Support workers, school staff and supported accommodation teams often spend the most time with the participant during daily routines.
Their role matters because they help implement the plan.
They may support:
• Morning routines
• Personal care
• Community access
• Mealtimes
• School transitions
• Social activities
• Emotional regulation strategies
• Communication tools
If staff do not understand the PBS plan, strategies become inconsistent.
This is why training, clear communication and practical resources matter.
How Allied Health Providers Strengthen PBS
Allied health behaviour support often works best when professionals share their expertise.
For example:
• A psychologist may support emotional wellbeing, anxiety, trauma or coping strategies
• A speech pathologist may support communication needs
• An occupational therapist may identify sensory or environmental factors
• A Developmental Educator may support daily living skills and independence
• A behaviour support practitioner may lead assessment, planning and implementation
Holistic positive behaviour support looks at the whole person, including communication, relationships, health, daily environments and goals.
What Happens When Teams Do Not Work Together?
When teams work separately, participants may receive mixed messages.
This may lead to:
• Inconsistent routines
• Confusion for the participant
• Increased distress
• Repeated incidents
• Staff uncertainty
• Poor plan implementation
• Limited progress towards goals
For example, one worker may use visual supports while another relies only on verbal instructions. One setting may offer sensory breaks while another pushes through distress. These differences may increase frustration for the participant.
Consistency does not mean every setting must look the same. It means everyone understands the person and uses agreed strategies in a flexible, respectful way.
Real-Life Example
Imagine a teenager who becomes distressed before leaving home for school.
The family notices the distress starts during breakfast. School staff see the student arrive upset and withdrawn. A support worker notices the student struggles when the morning routine changes. The psychologist identifies anxiety around transitions. The behaviour support practitioner reviews the pattern and works with the team.
Together, the NDIS behaviour support team may introduce:
• A visual morning routine
• A predictable departure time
• A calm transition activity
• Clear communication prompts
• School arrival support
• Regular review with the family and school
This approach supports the whole routine, not only the behaviour.
What Makes Collaboration Work?
Good collaboration needs structure.
Helpful habits include:
• Clear consent and privacy arrangements
• Regular communication
• Shared goals
• Practical meeting notes
• Simple strategies everyone understands
• Respect for the participant’s voice
• Review of data and feedback
• Flexibility when needs change
The participant should remain central throughout the process.
Questions Families and Support Coordinators Should Ask
Before starting PBS, ask:
• Who should be part of the PBS support team?
• How will information be shared?
• How will the participant be involved?
• Who will train support staff?
• How will we know if strategies are working?
• When will the plan be reviewed?
• How will restrictive practices be reduced if they are used?
These questions help everyone start with shared expectations.
Myth vs Fact About Collaborative PBS
Myth: PBS is only the practitioner’s responsibility
Fact: The practitioner guides the process, but daily support teams help bring strategies into practice.
Myth: Families should only provide background information
Fact: Families often provide vital insight and should be included respectfully.
Myth: Allied health providers should work separately
Fact: Collaboration often helps create clearer and more practical support.
Myth: A PBS plan solves everything once written
Fact: Plans need implementation, training, review and teamwork.
How Arise Allied Health Supports Collaborative PBS
Arise Allied Health provides person-centred and evidence-based Positive Behaviour Support for NDIS participants across Australia.
Support may include:
• Positive Behaviour Support services
• Functional behaviour assessments
• Interim and comprehensive behaviour support plans
• Behaviour support implementation
• Team training and coaching
• Psychology services
• Assessments
• Developmental Education
• Therapeutic supports
• Telehealth services
Arise Allied Health works alongside participants, families, carers, support coordinators and providers to create practical strategies that reflect the person’s needs, goals and daily life.
Final Thoughts
Collaborative positive behaviour support works because behaviour happens in real life, not in isolation.
Families, staff and allied health providers each bring important knowledge. When everyone works together, support becomes clearer, more consistent and more respectful.
The goal of PBS is not to control behaviour. The goal is to understand the person, improve quality of life and support safer, more meaningful participation.
If you are supporting an NDIS participant with behaviours of concern, speaking with a qualified PBS practitioner may help bring the right people together and create a stronger support plan.