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
- Positive Behaviour Support Capability Framework (2019)
- Self-assessment Resource Guide for the PBS Capability Framework (Updated 2020)
- Self-assessment Tools for the PBS Capability Framework,including:
- Self-assessment Tool for the PBS Capability Framework – Core Practitioner
- Self-assessment Tool for the PBS Capability Framework – Proficient Practitioner
- Self-assessment Tool for the PBS Capability Framework – Advanced Practitioner
- Self-assessment Tool for the PBS Capability Framework – Specialist Practitioner
- Endorsement Tool and Consent
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS behaviour support practitioner application) Guidelines 2020
- Applying to be considered suitable as an NDIS behaviour support practitioner
Frequently asked questions
Our frequently asked questions page answers the most common questions about behaviour support practitioner suitability assessments.