What a behaviour support plan is for
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission says the main purpose of a behaviour support plan is to improve the person's quality of life, whether or not it includes a restrictive practice. A good plan respects the person's dignity and rights, and treats behaviour as a form of communication.
It is written by an NDIS behaviour support practitioner, someone the Commission has found suitable, working for a registered specialist behaviour support provider. It must be developed in consultation with the person, their family, carers and other supporters, and the providers who will put it into practice.
Interim and comprehensive plans
There are two types of behaviour support plan:
- Interim behaviour support plan: a short document focused on safety. It sets out ways to prevent the behaviour, reduce harm when it happens, and if, when and how any regulated restrictive practice may be used
- Comprehensive behaviour support plan: a detailed plan based on a behaviour support assessment, including a functional behaviour assessment. It covers ways to improve quality of life, changes to the person's surroundings, new skills and coping strategies, how to respond when behaviour occurs, and steps to reduce and eliminate restrictive practices over time
The 1 month and 6 month deadlines
Where a plan includes regulated restrictive practices, the rules require an interim plan within 1 month and a comprehensive plan within 6 months of the specialist behaviour support provider being engaged. Engaged means the date of the service agreement, or a start date written into it.
These deadlines do not legally apply to plans without restrictive practices, but the Commission expects providers to use them as a guide for safe, quality support.
Restrictive practices in a plan
A regulated restrictive practice can only be included if it is written and stated clearly, authorised where the state or territory requires it, used as a last resort to reduce a risk of harm, in proportion to that risk, the least restrictive option and used for the shortest time possible.
Plans that include regulated restrictive practices must be lodged in the NDIS Commission Portal. From 12 October 2026, new and reviewed plans are lodged in the Commission's new portal, which also lets plans implemented only by family be lodged.
Reviews
A comprehensive plan that includes regulated restrictive practices must be reviewed at least every 12 months, or sooner if the person's situation changes. It is good practice to check regularly whether the strategies are working for any plan, and to update it when they are not.
Cost and funding
Developing a plan is specialist behaviour support. The 2026/27 price limit for specialist behavioural intervention support is $252.99 an hour in most of Australia, higher in remote and very remote areas, and the time for assessment, writing, training supporters and reviews is all billed. Ask for a quote with estimated hours.
It is funded from the Behaviour Support category in plans made in the PACE system, or Improved Relationships in older plans. Because the provider must be registered, you need a registered provider however your plan is managed. Intensive and complex behaviour supports are protected from the October 2026 funding reset.
Tips for participants and families
- Ask to be involved from the start, and for the plan to be explained in plain English
- Check the plan describes your goals and what a good day looks like, not just the behaviour
- Make sure everyone who supports you is trained in the strategies
- Ask how and when any restrictive practice will be reduced
- Keep a copy and note the review date