What is a positive behaviour support plan?

A positive behaviour support plan (also called a behaviour support plan or BSP) is a clinical document written by a registered behaviour support practitioner. It turns the findings of a Functional Behaviour Assessment into practical, personalised strategies for supporting an NDIS participant with behaviours of concern. It is a living document, reviewed and updated as the person’s needs change, and is written to be used by the people who support them every day.

If a behaviour support plan has been recommended for someone you support, you might be wondering what it actually is, what goes in it, and who writes it. This guide explains all of that simply, including the difference between an interim plan and a comprehensive plan, and how plans are funded under the NDIS.

Understanding a behaviour support plan

At its core, a behaviour support plan is the bridge between understanding a behaviour and doing something about it.

The understanding comes from a Functional Behaviour Assessment, which works out why a behaviour is happening; the plan is where that understanding becomes a clear set of actions the people around the participant can actually follow.

A plan is not a rigid set of rules. It is a living document, designed to be reviewed and updated as the participant’s needs, environment, or circumstances change. It is developed in collaboration with the participant and their support network, and it draws directly on the Functional Behaviour Assessment that precedes it. Above all, it is written to be understood and used by the people who support the participant day to day; a plan that sits in a drawer helps no one.

In practice, that means a good plan is written in language the support team can actually follow, with strategies specific enough to act on. The people implementing it, like family, support workers, and school staff, are trained in how to use it, and their observations feed back into each review. A behaviour support plan is best thought of as the shared reference point for everyone supporting the person, not a document only the practitioner understands.

“Behaviour management plan” vs “behaviour support plan”

You may see the term “behaviour management plan” used in older documents or by other services. It refers to broadly the same idea, but it’s outdated language. The shift from “management” to “support” reflects a genuine change in approach away from controlling or managing behaviour, and toward understanding it and supporting the person to meet their needs in better ways.

The current, NDIS-aligned term is positive behaviour support plan (or simply behaviour support plan). If you’ve been given something described as a behaviour management plan, it’s worth checking it was written by a registered behaviour support practitioner and meets current NDIS requirements.

What does a behaviour support plan contain?

The sections of a plan work together to do one thing: take what the assessment found and turn it into clear, consistent action. A comprehensive behaviour support plan usually includes the following:

• Participant profile. Background about the person, including relevant diagnosis, communication preferences, sensory sensitivities, strengths, and what matters to and for them.
• Summary of behaviours of concern. A clear description of each behaviour being addressed, including how often it happens, how intense it is, how long it lasts, and the risk it poses.
• Functional behaviour assessment summary. The key findings from the assessment, such as the identified function of each behaviour and the factors that trigger or maintain it.
• Proactive strategies. Strategies to prevent the behaviour, addressing its triggers and setting conditions for environmental changes, routine adjustments, communication supports, and changes to how demands are presented.
• Reactive strategies. How to respond safely and consistently when the behaviour does occur, focused on de-escalation, safety, and not inadvertently reinforcing the behaviour.
• Teaching goals. The skills the participant is being taught as alternatives to the behaviour — functional communication and other replacement behaviours that serve the same need.
• Regulated restrictive practices (if applicable). Where a plan includes any restricted intervention, it must be fully documented with authorisation details, rationale, the conditions for use, and a clear reduction plan. In Western Australia, regulated restrictive practices must be authorised under the relevant legislation before they are used.
• Review schedule. A behaviour support plan must be reviewed at least annually. The review and progress-reporting cycle is set out in the plan itself.

Interim and comprehensive plans

There are two main types of behaviour support plan, and the difference comes down to timing and depth.

Interim behaviour support plan

An interim behaviour support plan is a shorter document put in place quickly while the full Functional Behaviour Assessment is still underway. It gives the support team practical strategies to use right away, and can typically be produced within one to two weeks. It matters most where behaviours are urgent, escalating, or presenting immediate risk, as the participant shouldn’t have to wait for the full assessment to get support.

Comprehensive behaviour support plan

A comprehensive behaviour support plan is the detailed, evidence-based document developed once the assessment is complete. It contains all the sections described above and is designed to guide support over a twelve-month period, subject to regular review. Where an interim plan is about acting quickly, the comprehensive plan is about getting it right for the long term.

Who writes a behaviour support plan?

A behaviour support plan must be written by a practitioner registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission as a behaviour support practitioner. It cannot be written by support workers, carers, or unregistered practitioners as this is a regulated clinical document.

That said, the practitioner doesn’t write it in isolation. The plan is developed in collaboration with the participant and their support network. Where possible, the participant is directly involved in identifying their own goals and preferences, and families and support workers contribute what they know about behaviour patterns, routines, and what has been tried before.

Before a plan is finalised, the practitioner usually shares a draft with the participant and family to review, and their input is incorporated before the plan is submitted to the NDIS Commission. If you’d like to understand more about the clinician behind the plan, see our guide to what a behaviour support practitioner is.

How is a behaviour support plan funded through the NDIS?

Behaviour support plan development is funded through the Capacity Building, Improved Relationships support category of an NDIS plan. This covers the Functional Behaviour Assessment, the interim plan, the comprehensive plan, and ongoing progress reports.

If a participant’s NDIS plan doesn’t include Improved Relationships funding, a registered practitioner can write a Letter of Recommendation to support a plan review request. There’s more detail on our NDIS funding for PBS page.