Where it sits in your plan
In older plans, Improved Relationships is support category 11 and holds both social skills supports and specialist behaviour support. In plans made in the NDIA's PACE system the same supports are split across two categories:
- Category 11, Relationships: supports that build social skills for community and social life
- Category 20, Behaviour Support: specialist behaviour support, including assessments and behaviour support plans
Behaviour support
Specialist behaviour support is for behaviours of concern that are significantly harmful or persistent. An NDIS behaviour support practitioner works out why the behaviour happens, through a functional behaviour assessment, and writes a behaviour support plan built on positive behaviour support. The plan focuses on a better quality of life, new skills and changes to the environment.
Practitioners also train family, carers and workers to use the strategies in the plan. The 2026/27 price limit for specialist behavioural intervention support is $252.99 an hour in most of Australia. Behaviour support must be delivered by a registered provider in the specialist positive behaviour support registration group.
What it does not pay for
- Membership fees, outings or activity costs, which are everyday expenses
- A support worker simply going with you to social activities, which comes from Core community participation funding
- Relationship counselling that is the health system's role, such as treatment for a mental health condition under a Mental Health Treatment Plan
The 2026 funding reset
The October 2026 support determinations reduce social, economic and community participation supports by 50% and improved daily living skills supports by 10% when your plan is created, reassessed or renewed. Improved Relationships is not one of those groups by name.
Intensive and complex behaviour supports are specifically protected from the reset, along with supports such as high intensity supports and supports in employment. Your new plan will mark which funding is not affected.
Getting the most from it
- Set goals about connection, such as joining a group or keeping friendships going, so social skills funding has a clear purpose
- Ask providers how they will measure progress, and keep notes of what you can now do
- For behaviour support, make sure the people around you are trained in the plan, as that is where most of the change happens
- Review your behaviour support plan regularly, and ask how any restrictive practices will be reduced over time
For providers
Check which category a participant's plan uses before you claim. Behaviour support items in a PACE plan draw on category 20, while social skills items draw on category 11. Claims fail if the plan has no funding in the matching category.
Social skills supports
Individual social skills development helps you build the skills to take part in social and community life: starting conversations, reading social cues, managing conflict, making and keeping friends, and coping in new situations. It is usually delivered one to one by a skilled support worker, often following a program set by a therapist.
The 2026/27 price limit for individual social skills development is $83.87 an hour in most of Australia, with higher limits in remote and very remote areas.