Many families and support teams reach a point where a person’s behaviour feels hard to understand. Daily routines can become difficult, communication can feel confusing, and everyone involved wants things to feel calmer and easier.
This is where Functional Behaviour Assessments and Behaviour Support Plans offer real guidance and clarity through support from your trusted wellness professionals.
These supports give people a way to understand behaviour at its root. Instead of guessing what someone needs, an assessment helps uncover the purpose behind the behaviour and the best way to respond. When paired with the right plan, families and support teams can build confidence and create supportive environments that help the person thrive.
This guide explains how Functional Behaviour Assessments work, how Behaviour Support Plans are created, and how both tools help people build positive behaviour in daily life.
Functional Behaviour Assessments help identify why a behaviour is happening. Every behaviour meets a need, even when it seems difficult to understand. FBAs guide a behaviour specialist to look closely at what happens before, during, and after a behaviour so they can create a clear picture of what the person is trying to communicate.
An FBA often explores:
• What situations or environments lead to behaviour
• What the person may be trying to gain or avoid
• How others respond and how those responses influence future behaviour
• What skills the person has and what skills could be strengthened
When these areas are understood, everyone feels more confident and prepared to support the person.
Changes in behaviour often come from unmet needs. People may feel tired, overwhelmed, confused, or unsure how to express themselves. When words are difficult, behaviour becomes communication.
Functional Behaviour Assessments matter because they:
• Help families and teams understand the reason behind the behaviour
• Reduce confusion
• Support consistent and respectful responses
• Encourage new skills
• Promote long term wellbeing
Understanding behaviour makes daily life smoother for everyone. It also supports NDIS behaviour support planning, ensuring the person receives the right level of care and meaningful strategies, and Holistic Me is here to help you navigate this process.
Behaviour Support Plans are personalised guides created after the assessment. These plans outline Positive behaviour strategies that help the person feel supported, safe, and confident. The plan also helps families and teams respond consistently, even in challenging moments.
It focus on teaching and supporting skills rather than simply reducing behaviour. They aim to increase independence and communication.
A strong Behaviour Support Plan includes:
• Clear information about strengths and needs
• Behaviour intervention ideas that build skills
• Positive behaviour strategies for daily life
• Steps that support communication
• Ways to reduce environmental triggers
• Safe response guidelines
• Alignment with NDIS behaviour support requirements
These plans grow with the person and are updated as their needs change.
Functional Behaviour Assessments and Behaviour Support Plans work together to create clear, supportive pathways for the person.
Here is how they fit together:
This combined approach helps the person feel understood and supported.
Positive behaviour strategies are supportive steps that help the person feel safe and capable. These strategies focus on understanding needs, teaching skills, and creating environments where the person can succeed.
Helpful examples include:
• Teaching communication skills
• Creating predictable routines
• Offering choices
• Celebrating small improvements
• Using visuals or checklists
• Supporting emotional regulation
• Adjusting environments for comfort
• Breaking tasks into smaller steps
• Practising skills through everyday activities
These strategies should always be personalised to the person’s abilities, communication style, and sensory needs. According to the NDIS behaviour support standards, behaviour support should be safe, person centred, and focused on building meaningful skills.
Families and support workers play an essential role in helping the person build new skills and feel understood. Everyday environments, routines, and interactions all shape behaviour.
Ways families and teams can help:
• Follow Behaviour Support Plans consistently
• Use Positive behaviour strategies across the day
• Ask the behaviour specialist questions whenever needed
• Keep routines predictable
• Offer clear choices
• Celebrate achievements
• Communicate with the wider support team
• Support transitions with guidance
• Encourage skill building through daily tasks
A consistent and patient approach builds confidence for everyone involved.
To connect with a team who understands your goals and provides guidance that supports your daily life, Holistic Me is here to help. Our behaviour specialists work closely with individuals and families to build skills, improve communication, and create plans that feel achievable and personalised.
If you are ready to begin, you can book your behaviour therapy session with Holistic Me to start building clarity, confidence, and positive behaviour. Reach out through specialists in personalised care plans. Start building positive behaviour today.
The goal is to understand why a behaviour is happening so support can match the person’s needs. Holistic Me can guide families through this process.
It provides caring and practical strategies that support the person in daily life. Holistic Me can create personalised plans that support growth and wellbeing.
People of all ages can benefit when behaviour is difficult to understand or manage. Holistic Me can help families explore the right type of support.
Every person is different, and progress often depends on consistent use of Positive behaviour strategies. Holistic Me can offer ongoing guidance to help families feel supported.
Yes, they align with NDIS behaviour support requirements and help ensure the person receives appropriate support. Holistic Me can help families understand every step.
Family involvement is encouraged because they know the person best. Holistic Me can help families feel confident and fully included in the process.
If behaviour becomes more challenging, a review of the plan can help update strategies. Holistic Me can help adjust the plan as the person’s needs change.