Positive behaviour support and the NDIS: how it's funded

Does the NDIS fund positive behaviour support?

Yes, if you need it because of your disability and it meets the NDIS funding criteria. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) decides what goes in your plan.

The NDIA's behaviour support guideline lists what it can fund:

• behaviour support assessments, including functional behaviour assessments (FBAs)
• interim behaviour support plans
• comprehensive behaviour support plans that aim to reduce and manage behaviours of concern
• training and monitoring for staff who use a behaviour support plan
• positive behaviour support training for a family member, friend or carer

It can't fund behaviour support from unregistered providers, or from practitioners the NDIS Commission hasn't approved. It also can't fund seclusion rooms, or supports that include restrictive practices not allowed in your state or territory.

Which part of an NDIS plan pays for behaviour support?

Capacity building supports. Where it shows up depends on which NDIA computer system made your plan.

Capacity building funding is stated. That means you can't move money into behaviour support from another capacity building category, like Improved Daily Living. If you need more, ask the NDIA to change your plan.

In the NDIS pricing schedule, the main items are called Specialist Behavioural Intervention Support and Behaviour Management Plan Implementation. You may see these names on invoices.

How do I get behaviour support into my NDIS plan?

Tell the NDIA you need it, with evidence of why. You can raise it at a plan meeting or check-in, or ask for a change to your plan if your needs have changed.

1. Gather evidence. This can include incident reports, and reports or support plans from allied health professionals like a speech pathologist or occupational therapist.
2. Talk to the NDIA. Raise it at your plan meeting or check-in, or contact your my NDIS contact, support coordinator or local area coordinator.
3. The NDIA may fund an assessment first. This is a behaviour support assessment with an NDIS behaviour support practitioner, which gives the NDIA evidence for its decision.
4. Get the practitioner's report. It should explain the type and amount of support you need and how it relates to your disability. It should also say how it will help, who should provide it and where.

Family, a guardian, a school or your providers can also let the NDIA know about behaviour support needs. If you disagree with a decision, you can ask for a review within 3 months of getting your plan.

Does it matter if my plan is self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA-managed?

It changes who pays the provider. It doesn't change who you can use, because behaviour support funding can only go to a specialist behaviour support provider registered with the NDIS Commission.

Plans made in the NDIA's newer computer system work a little differently. Your behaviour support provider needs to be recorded as one of your "my providers" for that category, or their claims will be rejected. Self-managed participants don't need to record my providers.

You can ask to change how your plan is managed at any time. You don't have to wait for a new plan.

What should the service agreement cover?

The start date, what the practitioner will deliver, and what they'll charge for. The start date matters because it starts the clock on plan deadlines when restrictive practices are involved.

• The start date. A provider is engaged from the date of the service agreement, or from a later start date written in it.
• What they'll deliver, such as an assessment, an interim plan, a comprehensive plan, training and reviews.
• What they'll charge for besides face-to-face time. The pricing schedule has separate items for non-face-to-face work, travel, cancellations, telehealth and reports the NDIA asks for.
• Time for training, monitoring and reviews, as well as writing the plan.

Where can I get help using behaviour support funding?

Your my NDIS contact, support coordinator or recovery coach can help you find providers and organise your supports around your behaviour support plan. We can also connect you with a registered practitioner.

If you're worried about the quality or safety of a behaviour support service, speak with the provider first. If that doesn't fix it, you can make a complaint to the NDIS Commission.