If you’ve been searching for positive behaviour support strategies, you’re likely looking for practical, evidence-based ways to better understand and respond to behaviours of concern that children, young people, or adults may engage in.
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is a person-centred approach that focuses on understanding why behaviours happen and building supportive strategies that improve quality of life, reduce the risk of harm, and support safer outcomes for everyone involved.
In addition to supporting the behaviour itself, PBS looks at the whole person including their environment, needs, personal goals, communication style, and daily experiences.
What Is Positive Behaviour Support?
Positive Behaviour Support is an evidence-based approach used by qualified practitioners to support people who display behaviours of concern.
These behaviours may include:
Verbal aggression: the use of words, tone, or language that may intimidate, threaten, upset, or demean another person, such as screaming, swearing, making threats, or using abusive language.
Physical aggression: the use of physical force against another person that may cause harm, injury, or distress, such as hitting, forcefully grabbing, kicking, pushing, or biting.
Property damage: behaviour that causes, or has the potential to cause, damage to property, belongings, equipment, or the surrounding environment, such as breaking objects, throwing items, punching walls, or vandalising property.
Self-harm: behaviour directed towards oneself that may result in physical harm, injury, or pain, such as hitting oneself, headbanging, scratching, or other self-injurious actions.
Withdrawal or avoidance: behaviour involving disengagement from, or refusal to participate in social interactions, activities, personal care, eating, medical care, or other aspects of daily life, which may impact health, wellbeing, and quality of life.
Other behaviours of concern that may be harmful to themselves, others, or their environment.
PBS aims to reduce these behaviours by understanding their underlying causes and building supportive, proactive strategies.
Why Positive Behaviour Support Strategies Matter?
The goal of positive behaviour support strategies is not simply to manage behaviour, but to improve quality of life.
This approach focuses on:
- Building communication skills
- Increasing independence
- Supporting emotional regulation
- Creating predictable and supportive environments
- Strengthening relationships with caregivers and support networks
When implemented consistently, PBS strategies can help individuals feel safer, more understood, and more in control of their environment.
Key Positive Behaviour Support Strategies
Positive Behaviour Support strategies are tailored to the individual, but commonly include the following approaches:
- Understanding Behaviour Triggers
Practitioners identify what happens before a behaviour occurs, such as:
- Sensory overload
- Difficulty communicating needs
- Changes in routine
- Feeling tired, hungry, or bored
Understanding triggers is a key step in developing effective positive behaviour support strategies.
- Teaching Replacement Behaviours
PBS recognises that behaviours of concern often serve a function or communicate an unmet need. The PBS process includes identifying this need and teaching alternative behaviours such as:
- Using communication tools or words
- Asking for help
- Using sensory regulation items or activities
- Taking breaks when overwhelmed
- Environmental Adjustments
Sometimes behaviour is influenced by the environment. Adjustments may include:
- Reducing noise or sensory input
- Creating visual schedules
- Establishing predictable routines and smooth transitions
- Recommending physical environment modifications
- Reinforcing Positive Behaviours
Positive reinforcement helps encourage helpful behaviours by:
- Acknowledging effort and progress
- Rewarding positive choices
- Building confidence and motivation
- Supporting Emotional Regulation
Many PBS plans include strategies to help individuals manage emotions, such as:
- Personalised mindfulness strategies
- Movement breaks
- Sensory tools
- Co-regulation support from caregivers
Who Can Benefit from Positive Behaviour Support Strategies?
PBS can support people across all ages and diagnoses, including:
- Children with developmental delay
- Autistic individuals
- People with intellectual disability or developmental delay
- Individuals with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
- Individuals with neurological conditions
- Individuals with genetic and developmental conditions
- Individuals with mental health or psychosocial conditions
- Anyone experiencing behaviours of concern that impact daily life
What Does a Behaviour Support Practitioner Do?
A Behaviour Support Practitioner works closely with individuals, families, and support teams to:
- Assess behaviour patterns and triggers
- Develop a Positive Behaviour Support Plan
- Recommend practical strategies
- Support skill-building and communication
- Train caregivers and support workers
- Reduce restrictive practices where appropriate
Their role is collaborative, focusing on long-term improvement rather than short-term behaviour control.
How Positive Behaviour Support Works in Everyday Life
PBS is most effective when strategies are used consistently across environments like home, school, and community settings.
For example:
- Using the same visual supports with all providers
- Coordinating smooth transitions between environments
- Maintaining continuity of care to support effective behaviour change
These small changes can make a significant difference over time.
How Allied Health Services Can Support PBS
At organisations like National 360, Behaviour Support Practitioners work as part of a multidisciplinary team including:
This team-based approach ensures positive behaviour support strategies are aligned with communication, sensory, emotional, and developmental needs.
When Should You Seek Positive Behaviour Support?
You may benefit from PBS if:
- Behaviour is impacting daily routines or learning
- There are frequent emotional outbursts or distress
- Safety or participation is affected
- Existing strategies are not working
Early support can help reduce stress and improve long-term outcomes.
How National 360 Can Support You
At National 360, our Behaviour Support Practitioners provide evidence-based, person-centred support to individuals and families across Australia.
We offer services through a range of pathways, including:
- NDIS
- Private and Medicare
- Aged care pathways
No matter your age or stage of life, our team can help you access the right supports to achieve your goals and participate more fully in everyday activities. Our goal is to develop practical, meaningful positive behaviour support strategies that improve independence, communication, safety, and everyday wellbeing.
Start Your Support Journey
If you are looking for effective positive behaviour support strategies or want guidance from a qualified Behaviour Support Practitioner, we’re here to help.
Visit the National 360 Get Started page to learn more or book an appointment.