Positive behaviour support (PBS) helps children who show behaviours of concern by understanding why they happen and building skills and environments that make everyday life easier. This guide explains what behaviour support involves, how it's funded through the NDIS, and how to choose a provider in Adelaide. The page also features a shortlist of local providers to help you start your search.
AnglicareSA offers autism-specific early learning and care in Prospect, SA, including speech pathology, occupational therapy, positive behaviour support, and early intervention/developmental education for children with autism. No specific ages, NDIS registration status, telehealth, or waitlist details were explicitly stated.
NDIS-registered provider in Adelaide offering neurodevelopmental therapy programs, early intervention, and behaviour support plan development for toddlers, students, and adults. Complimentary phone/video consultations offered nationally via telehealth. No specific waitlist or named practitioner titles mentioned.
NDIS-registered Developmental Educator service in Adelaide supporting children, young people and adults with autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, focusing on emotional regulation, behaviour support, social skills and daily living skills; delivered at school and home, not clinic-based.
Registered NDIS provider in Parkside/Salisbury (Adelaide) and Melbourne/Ballarat, offering psychology, counselling, social work, behaviour support (PBS), assessments, and occupational therapy for NDIS participants aged 10+; also accepts Medicare, Workers' Compensation and CTP referrals; reduced wait times noted.
Adelaide-based mobile provider offering individual, family, school and specialised counselling/play therapy plus weekly social and play groups for ages 2-25 (also elder care 65+). NDIS plans accepted. Serves Adelaide and rural SA via mobile/home visits; no waitlist or telehealth mentioned.
Lizard Centre delivers positive behaviour support and behaviour therapy for children and adolescents with autism or developmental delays across Adelaide and other regions. Registered NDIS provider, BACB ACE provider. Focus areas include communication, behaviour management, daily routines, social and school skills.
Australia-wide provider offering psychology, counselling, behaviour support, speech therapy, early intervention and support coordination for children, adolescents, adults and seniors. AHPRA-registered psychologists; supports NDIS plan-managed and self-managed participants. Services via telehealth, in-clinic (incl. Adelaide) and at-home for eligible NDIS participants.
North Adelaide-based Developmental Educator practice offering mobile, clinic and online support for early childhood, primary school children and young adults, focusing on early intervention, behaviour support, emotional regulation, assessments, and parent coaching; no explicit NDIS registration or waitlist details given.
Positive behaviour support is an evidence-informed approach that looks at the whole picture around a child's behaviour, rather than focusing only on the behaviour itself. A behaviour support practitioner works to understand what a child is trying to communicate through their actions — whether that's frustration, sensory overload, anxiety, or an unmet need — and then designs strategies to help.
For children, this usually means a practitioner will:
The goal is always to improve the child's quality of life and reduce the need for restrictive practices.
Every child has tricky moments, but you might consider behaviour support if your child regularly experiences:
Behaviour support is not about "fixing" a child — it's about understanding them and reducing distress for everyone. It's often used alongside other therapies such as occupational therapy, speech pathology or psychology.
Behaviour support can help children of any age, from toddlers through to teenagers. Early intervention is valuable because strategies can be woven into daily routines while habits and skills are still forming. That said, it's never too late — approaches are simply tailored to the child's developmental stage and communication level.
The first session is usually about getting to know your child and family. Expect the practitioner to ask lots of questions about your child's history, strengths, interests, communication, and the behaviours you're concerned about. They may ask about what happens before and after difficult moments to start building a picture of triggers.
Many practitioners will also want to observe your child in a familiar setting — at home, school or childcare — and may ask you to keep a simple diary of behaviours. From there, they'll begin developing an assessment and, over subsequent visits, a written behaviour support plan. Bring any previous reports, diagnoses or school communications to help.
Behaviour support in Australia is generally delivered by allied health professionals or registered behaviour support practitioners. As a general guide, sessions and plan development are commonly charged in the range of $190 to $240 per hour, in line with the NDIS price caps that apply to these supports. Report writing and travel may be billed separately. Prices vary between providers, so always confirm fees in writing before you begin.
Under the NDIS, behaviour support is funded through Capacity Building — Improved Relationships (also called Improved Daily Living in some plans). If restrictive practices are involved, there are additional NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission requirements, and only suitably qualified practitioners can develop these plans.
If you're self-managed or plan-managed, you have more flexibility in choosing providers, including those who aren't NDIS-registered. Agency-managed plans generally require an NDIS-registered provider.
When comparing providers, look at:
This page features providers such as AnglicareSA's ASELCC in Prospect, Lizard Therapy (with locations across metropolitan Adelaide), Better Rehab in Prospect, Everyday Independence at Mile End, Ability Action Australia in Norwood, and The Centre For Positive Behaviour Support in Plympton Park and Hope Valley, among others. Ratings and review numbers can help, but they're only a starting point — a good fit for your family matters most.
Taking the time to ask these questions will help you find a provider who understands your child and works in genuine partnership with your family.
Or read the full behaviour support guide, or browse all Adelaide providers.
Positive behaviour support (PBS) is an evidence-informed approach that focuses on understanding why behaviours of concern happen and building skills, routines and environments that reduce them. It aims to improve a child's quality of life rather than simply stopping a behaviour.
Yes. Behaviour support is typically funded under Capacity Building in an NDIS plan (often Improved Relationships). Agency-managed plans usually require an NDIS-registered provider, while self- and plan-managed families have more flexibility. Check your plan's funding lines with your planner or support coordinator.
As a general guide, behaviour support is commonly charged around $190 to $240 per hour, in line with NDIS price caps for these supports. Assessment, report writing and travel may be billed separately. Prices vary, so always confirm fees in writing before starting.
Behaviour support can help children of any age, from toddlers to teenagers. Early intervention is valuable because strategies can be built into daily routines while skills are still developing, but support is tailored to any developmental stage.
Behaviour support practitioners should be recognised by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Many also hold professional registrations — verify these with AHPRA (for psychologists and other health professionals), Speech Pathology Australia or Occupational Therapy Australia as relevant, and ask about their experience with children.