National implementation of behaviour support practitioner suitability assessments

National implementation of behaviour support practitioner suitability assessments

The national implementation program provides information and guidance for behaviour support practitioners and specialist behaviour support providers on assessment against the PBS Capability Framework and implementation timelines.

What is the national implementation program?

The NDIS Commission is committed to implementing a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Capability Framework (2019) that is consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (2006), in accordance with the function of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner (NDIS Commissioner) under section 181H of the NDIS Act 2013.

The PBS Capability framework reflects contemporary evidenced-based practice in positive behaviour support and recognises the wide variety in and diversity of sector capability. The framework outlines the capabilities required of practitioners who provide behaviour support under the NDIS. A national implementation program has been developed to assess practitioner suitability against the PBS Capability Framework.

The national implementation program will commence in January 2021 using a phased approach for States and Territories. The proposed national implementation schedule is outlined below.

State or Territory

Proposed Start Date

Projected Completion Date

NSW

15 January 2021

16 April 2021

SA

1 February 2021

30 April 2021

QLD

26 July 2021

31 October 2021

VIC

26 July 2021

31 October 2021

ACT, NT, TAS

1 August 2021

31 October 2021

WA

1 September 2021

30 November 2021

What is a behaviour support practitioner suitability assessment?

This is the assessment process that behaviour support practitioners can use to be considered suitable as an NDIS behaviour support practitioner to deliver specialist behaviour support services, including behaviour assessments and development of behaviour support plans under the NDIS. The current process under which practitioners can be considered ‘provisionally suitable’ will over time, be replaced with the practitioner suitability assessment process. This formalises the determination of suitability of practitioners, and supports the implementation of the PBS Capability Framework.

The practitioner suitability assessment involves assessment of a behaviour support practitioner against the PBS Capability Framework and an application to the NDIS Commission for consideration of suitability. Also see the fact sheet on Behaviour Support and Restrictive Practices.

The NDIS Commission has published resources that outline the assessment process and application requirements to seek suitability as an NDIS behaviour support practitioner. See Resources for practitioner suitability assessment and application.

Update on the Practitioner Suitability Assessment Process

On 29.06.2022, the NDIS Commission hosted a webinar for behaviour support practitioners about how to apply to be assessed as suitable and to provide an update on the assessment process.

What can you do to prepare?

  • All existing, new, or potential NDIS behaviour support practitioners should review the PBS Capability Framework and associated resources, and start preparing for the suitability assessment and application process. See Self-assessment Resource Guide and Resources for practitioner suitability assessment and application.
  • Specialist behaviour support providers should also review the PBS Capability Framework and associated resources to assist the NDIS behaviour support practitioners they engage to prepare for this process.
  • Specialist behaviour support providers should ensure that the behaviour support practitioners that they engage have been given an initial determination of ‘provisionally suitable’ as an NDIS behaviour support practitioner. See Notification of behaviour support practitioners and the fact sheet on Behaviour Support and Restrictive Practices
  • NDIS behaviour support practitioners who have been considered ‘provisionally suitable’ and have been issued a practitioner identification number should:
    • Email the NDIS Commission if they need to update their contact details prior to the proposed start date for implementation of assessment of practitioner suitability in the State or Territory where the practitioner primarily works.
    • An email with a subject of “Contact Details Update” should be sent to the National Behaviour Support team at ndispractitioners@ndiscommission.gov.au
  • NDIS behaviour support practitioners who have been considered ‘provisionally suitable’ and existing registered specialist behaviour support providers will be contacted by email when they or the practitioners they engage are required to undertake the suitability assessment. The email will be sent at the start date for the practitioner’s primary State or Territory as outlined in the proposed national implementation schedule.
  • For existing ‘provisionally suitable’ NDIS behaviour support practitioners, the email will contain a web link to an application form and a completion date for submission. Practitioners will have 12 weeks to prepare their assessment and application form and should submit these to the NDIS Commission by the deadline using the web link in their notification email.
  • Applications will be accepted at any time during the specified timeframe for each jurisdiction (please refer to the proposed national implementation schedule).
  • If you do not receive an email to commence the assessment and application process, please refer to Step 2, Step 4, or email the National Behaviour Support team at ndispractitioners@ndiscommission.gov.au
  • See the fact sheet on Behaviour Support and Restrictive Practices.
  • Service providers who are applying for the first time for registration with the NDIS Commission for specialist behaviour support (registration group 0110) should
    • Review the PBS Capability Framework and associated resources.
    • Ensure that their behaviour support practitioners commence the suitability assessment process at the same time as the registration process.
    • Refer to ‘What can you do to prepare?’ steps once the registration process has been completed.
  • Behaviour support practitioners who are new to behaviour support and/or the NDIS, and who would like to find out their suitability as an NDIS behaviour support practitioner, should review the PBS Capability Framework and associated resources.
  • Behaviour support practitioners who are new to behaviour support and/or the NDIS should contact the NDIS Commission’s National Behaviour Support team,
    • If information is required about learning opportunities for gaining core knowledge and skills in the domains in the PBS Capability Framework.
    • If they would like to submit a practitioner suitability application prior to either completing registration with the NDIS Commission (as a sole trader) or being engaged by a registered specialist behaviour support provider.
    • To contact the National Behaviour Support team email ndispractitioners@ndiscommission.gov.au

Resources for practitioner suitability assessment and application

Frequently asked questions

Our frequently asked questions page answers the most common questions about behaviour support practitioner suitability assessments.

Related resources

Fact Sheet - Revoking Provisional Suitability - 2023

This Self-assessment Resource Guide complements the Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Capability Framework. Its broad purpose is to provide guidance to behaviour support practitioners (whether they are registered providers, or employed or otherwise engaged by registered providers) on how to assess their own capabilities against the PBS Capability Framework.

The Guide aims to:

  • build capability in the development of behaviour support
  • encourage progressively higher standards in behaviour support services provided to people with disability.

The Guide also provides a toolkit of resources that behaviour support practitioners can use to:

  • self-assess their capabilities against the PBS Capability Framework
  • develop a Portfolio of Evidence that may be used when applying to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner for a determination of their suitability to undertake activities that, under the NDIS Act, can only be undertaken by an NDIS behaviour support practitioner.

The NDIS Commission will contact behaviour support practitioners when they are required to undertake this process.

The Self-assessment Tool is based on the Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Capability Framework. The PBS Capability Framework provides a description of four levels of practitioners and, for each level, outlines the capabilities for practitioners across seven domains of behaviour support practice (see the Self-assessment Resource Guide for the Positive Behaviour Support Capability Framework for more details).

This guide outlines how to use the Applications Portal to apply to be considered suitable as an NDIS behaviour support practitioner.