What Does a Behaviour Support Practitioner Do?

Behaviour support practitioners work with NDIS participants whose behaviours of concern affect their safety, wellbeing, or ability to participate in daily life. The work is specialist and clinical: it requires formal training, NDIS Commission registration, and the ability to navigate complex systems alongside participants, families, support workers, and other professionals.

Core work includes conducting functional behaviour assessments (FBAs) to understand the purpose behind a behaviour, developing positive behaviour support (PBS) plans, and, where a participant’s plan involves regulated restrictive practices, preparing the documentation required under the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission rules.

Day to day, you might be running a review with a participant’s support team in Australia, writing an assessment report, delivering training to frontline workers on de‑escalation strategies, attending a planning meeting with the NDIA, or consulting with a family about a new incident.

The work is not linear. Cases evolve, support contexts change, and good practitioners adjust their approach as they gather evidence about what actually helps.

Who You Would Support

Participants you work with through Carevo providers in and around Australia may have diagnoses including autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, acquired brain injury, psychosocial disability, or a combination of these. Many have experienced trauma, and some are in supported accommodation or transitional settings.

The role is not about managing behaviour from the outside. Positive behaviour support is explicitly person‑centred: it starts with understanding what the person is communicating,



what their life looks like, and what changes in environment or relationships might reduce the need for the behaviour altogether.

What Qualifications You Will Need

Registration with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission as a behaviour support practitioner is mandatory. You must hold a current National Police Check, NDIS Worker Screening Check, Working with Children Check, and skilled indemnity insurance. Professional body membership (AHPRA for psychologists and allied health clinicians, AASW for social workers) is expected by most providers.

Required qualifications

- Tertiary qualification in psychology, social work, occupational therapy, speech pathology, or a related field
- NDIS Commission registration as a behaviour support practitioner (proficient or advanced level preferred)
- Experience conducting functional behaviour assessments (FBAs)
- Proven ability to write NDIS‑compliant behaviour support plans, including restrictive practices documentation where required
- Experience delivering capacity‑building training to support workers and families
- Strong skills in working with people with complex and co‑occurring support needs
- Confident communicator across multidisciplinary teams, tribunals, and NDIA processes
- Valid Australian driver's licence and reliable vehicle

Checks and credentials





Mandatory mandates must be satisfied before you begin work. Typical timelines and costs (may vary by state):

- Police Check – Free to apply; 4‑6 weeks to assess; entry‑level suitability reviewed after 12 months
- NDIS Worker Screening Check – $110 – $160; 4‑8 weeks to process; validity 5 years
- Working with Children Check – $50 – $80; validity 3 years; often issued within days
- Relevant tertiary qualification (psychology, social work, allied health or similar) – university degree, typically 3 – 4 years full‑time; Commonwealth supported places available
- CPR & First Aid – $90 – $160; 1‑day course; validity 3 years (refresh CPR every 12 months)
- Additional short courses and workshops – $500 – $2,500; ongoing support to move up practitioner capability levels

What behaviour support practitioner pay looks like

Behaviour support practitioners are paid under the SCHADS Award social and community services stream, typically at Level 3 to 5; experienced and senior practitioners are often paid above award by individual agreement.

- Weekday $38 to $55 an hour
- Saturday $57 to $80 an hour
- Sunday $76 to $107 an hour
- Public holiday $95 to $133 an hour
- Casual employees receive a 25 % loading on top of these rates. Most behaviour support work is weekday‑based, so weekend penalties seldom apply.

Indicative hourly rates based on the SCHADS Award (MA ), reviewed July 2025. Modern award rates are national and do not vary by state. Pay is set by each provider and can be higher under an enterprise agreement. General information only, not financial advice.

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📌 Behaviour Support Practitioner (Australia)
🏢 MD Homecare
📍 Australia