Understanding Positive Behaviour Support

A practical, rights-based guide to Positive Behaviour Support for the Australian NDIS context and beyond.
This book shows practitioners how to understand behaviour as communication and translate assessment into ethical, real-world support strategies.

Written for behaviour support practitioners, support workers, and students, it bridges theory and practice using trauma-informed, rights-based PBS approaches that actually work in everyday settings.

What this book covers

• Positive Behaviour Support explained in clear, accessible language
• Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA) and understanding the why of behaviour
• Trauma-informed and neuroaffirming approaches to behaviour support
• Identifying functions of behaviour and selecting meaningful alternatives
• Reducing and eliminating restrictive practices safely and ethically
• Rights-based decision-making aligned with NDIS Quality and Safeguards
• Translating assessment into practical, person-centred support strategies

The content reflects current Australian practice standards while drawing on high-quality international evidence and PBS principles.

Who this book is for

• Behaviour Support Practitioners
• NDIS providers and allied health professionals
• Support workers and team leaders
• Students and early-career practitioners entering PBS work
• Supervisors and service managers seeking consistent, ethical practice

No prior expertise is required. Technical concepts are explained clearly, without unnecessary jargon.

What makes this book different
Unlike traditional ABA or behaviour management texts, this guide:

• Centres human rights, dignity, and quality of life
• Integrates trauma-informed practice throughout
• Focuses on prevention, skill-building, and systems change
• Is written for real practice environments, not just theory
• Aligns directly with NDIS expectations and contemporary PBS language

This is not a checklist or compliance manual. It is a thinking tool designed to support ethical, effective, and sustainable behaviour support.

If you are looking for a clear, practical, and modern guide to Positive Behaviour Support, this book belongs on your shelf.