The disability and mental health care service industry is changing to ensure more person-centred and outcome-focused services and supports are provided, particularly to NDIS Participants. One of the most significant roles within this industry is that of a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Practitioner. PBS Practitioners are instrumental in enhancing the quality of life of Participants with difficult behaviours.
Through the application of evidence-based approaches and person-centred interventions, PBS Practitioners reduce troubling behaviours and enable individuals to become more independent. With the growing demand for behaviour supports in the disability industry, becoming a PBS Practitioner can be a fulfilling profession.
What is a Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner?
A PBS Practitioner is an expert who develops and applies strategies to assist people with disability who might exhibit behaviour of concern. Under the NDIS, PBS Practitioners work towards enhancing the emotional health, communication, and social engagement of NDIS Participants, through individually crafted Behaviour Support Plans.
PBS Practitioners’ methods are evidence-based, person-centred, and human rights-based. The ultimate aim is not only to decrease behaviours of concern but to treat the root causes, including unmet needs, trauma, or environmental factors, and promote long-term positive behavioural and lifestyle changes.
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How To Become A Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner
Becoming a PBS Practitioner is through education, training, and certification by the NDIS Commission. Here’s step-by-step:
1. Education and training
All PBS Practitioners must be properly qualified. Most have a qualification in psychology, social work, occupational therapy, speech pathology, or applied behaviour analysis. A Bachelor’s or Master’s qualification in a related discipline is usually necessary.
2. Apply for Suitability Assessment
Prospective practitioners need to apply to the NDIS Commission for a Suitability Assessment, which decides at what level they can practice based on experience and qualifications.
3. Gain Relevant Experience
Practical skills in mental health services, disability support, or behavioural interventions are paramount to delivering effective behaviour supports in the NDIS. Practitioners often begin working in support roles and eventually develop skills to create and implement Behaviour Support Plans.
4. Know the NDIS Framework
Knowledge of NDIS legislation, Restrictive Practices, and Functional Assessment frameworks is necessary to effectively provide Positive Behaviour Supports. Practitioners have to work under these frameworks to maintain compliance and person-centred support.
Once certified, PBS Practitioners may practice independently or in Registered NDIS Provider organisations, frequently working together with Allied Health Practitioners to deliver the best outcomes for NDIS Participants.
Skills and Qualifications Required in order to be a Behaviour Support Practitioner
To be successful as a PBS Practitioner, you require a blend of formal qualifications, clinical experience, and interpersonal abilities.
Formal Qualifications
An undergraduate degree in Psychology, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Special Education, or a similar field is required to work as a PSB. Postgraduate education in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) or Positive Behaviour Support may be beneficial.
Suitability Assessment
You will need to complete a Suitability Assessment by the NDIS Commission, which classifies practitioners as Core, Proficient, or Advanced, depending on training and experience.
Key Skills
- Behavioural Analysis: Capacity for behaviour of concern assessment, cause identification, and intervention.
- Plan Development: Ability to develop Functional Behaviour Assessments (FBAs) and Behaviour Support Plans (BSPs) that are effective, practical, and ethical.
- Communication: Ability to communicate with clients, families, support staff, and agencies in a respectful and inclusive manner.
- Empathy & Emotional Intelligence: A sensitive response to client needs, trauma background, and communication constraints.
- Problem Solving & Critical Thinking: Ability to modify strategies and react to shifting behavioural patterns.
- Knowledge of Restrictive Practices: Familiarity with legal and ethical standards relating to the use of any type of restrictive intervention.
PBS Practitioners also need to continue professional learning to stay current with industry expectations, evidence-based best practice, and NDIS policy updates.
What Do Positive Behaviour Support Practitioners Do?
NDIS Behaviour Support Providers deliver focused, evidence-based strategies to assist individuals with behaviours of concern in NDIS Participants. Practitioners’ activities are critical in making people’s lives with disabilities, and their families and support groups, safer and more empowering, through the development of Behavioural Support Plans implemented by support workers and others involved with the Participant.
Key Responsibilities are detailed below.
Assessment and Analysis:
Practitioners start with Functional Behaviour Assessments (FBAs). FBAs examine why challenging behaviours occur, including sensory needs, trauma, communication needs not being met, or environmental factors.
Developing Behaviour Support Plans (BSPs):
Utilising findings from the FBA, PBS Practitioners create individualised BSPs that detail proactive strategies, environmental accommodations, skill-building activities, and crisis management procedures.
Training and Coaching:
PBS Practitioners offer training to support workers, families, and disability educators in how to implement the BSP consistently and with respect, so that strategies are attuned to the individual’s goals and values.
Monitoring and Review:
PBS Practitioners track the impact of interventions over time to ensure effectiveness. Plans are checked regularly and changed according to progress, new information, or changes in the Participant’s situation.
Restrictive Practice Review:
If the use of Restrictive Practices (such as restraint or seclusion) is absolutely required for an NDIS Participant, PBS Practitioners need to make sure that these are applied as a last resort, well recorded, and reported to the NDIS Commission for review.
Collaboration and Advocacy:
Most importantly, PBS Practitioners collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, including speech therapists, psychologists, case managers, to support the Participant’s rights and needs.
Finally, PBS Practitioners seek to increase capacity, decrease reliance on external sources of support, and improve the quality of the individual’s life by giving them more effective tools to control their environment and emotions.
Jobs, Career Opportunities and Salary of a Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner
The need for PBS Practitioners is increasing in Australia, following the growth of the NDIS and greater emphasis on quality care in the mental health and disability support industry.
Career prospects include with:
- NDIS-Registered Providers
- Private allied health clinics
- Hospitals and rehabilitation centres
- Education settings
- Government and community agencies
- PBS Practitioners may also work as freelancers or establish their own consulting service, subject to NDIS compliance requirements.
Salary Expectations
- New PBS Practitioners can expect salaries ranging from $70,000 to $85,000 per annum.
- Skilled or Senior Practitioners can earn between $90,000 and $110,000 or more, based on their experience and job duties.
- Independent consultants can make hourly rates from $100 to $160/hour, depending on their location and credentials.
There is also potential for advancement into management positions, clinical supervision, or policy development within disability support organisations. The career pathway is varied and provides both job satisfaction and long-term growth opportunities.
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How can Avaana assist with NDIS Registration as a Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner?
Avaana empowers PBS Practitioners by streamlining the process of NDIS Registration, profile development, and outreach to Participants who require behaviour support services. If you are just beginning or need to expand your independent practice, Avaana offers you tools, visibility, and guidance on compliance to help your career grow. Our platform takes care of everything else so that PBS Practitioners can do what they excel at—making a difference.
FAQs
1. What skills are important for a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Practitioner?
To be a successful PBS Practitioner, you need strong behavioural assessment skills, clear and compassionate communication, and the ability to write high-quality behaviour support plans. Key qualities also include empathy, emotional intelligence, and the capacity to remain calm and solution-focused under pressure. A good PBS Practitioner also understands human rights, trauma-informed care, and restrictive practices legislation. Flexibility is important—you’ll need to tailor plans and supports to meet each Participant’s unique needs and changing behaviours.
2. What qualifications do you need to become a PBS Practitioner?
PBS Practitioners are generally required to have a tertiary qualification (Bachelor’s or above) in psychology, social work, occupational therapy, speech pathology, or a related allied health or human services field. Additional postgraduate qualifications in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) or Positive Behaviour Support are highly regarded. To deliver NDIS behaviour support services, you must also undergo a Suitability Assessment by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, which determines whether you’re approved as a Core, Proficient, or Advanced practitioner. The level you are approved for depends on your education, training, and work experience.
3. How much do Positive Behaviour Support Practitioners earn?
In Australia, full-time PBS Practitioners typically earn between $70,000 and $110,000 per year, depending on their qualifications and experience. Those working as independent consultants or subcontractors under their own ABN may charge between $100 and $160 per hour, especially if they have high demand or extensive experience. Rates also vary depending on whether the practitioner is employed within a large NDIS organisation or works independently.
4. Is a career as an NDIS Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner right for you?
This role is ideal if you’re passionate about helping people with disability lead safer, more independent, and meaningful lives. If you’re interested in psychology, behaviour, and reducing restrictive practices through positive, evidence-based strategies, this could be a highly rewarding path. You’ll need patience, emotional resilience, and a genuine commitment to social justice and inclusion. If making a difference in someone’s life motivates you, this career offers both purpose and long-term growth.
