What is an NDIS behaviour support policy and who needs one?
Any NDIS registered provider that delivers supports where behaviours of concern may arise — including SIL (Supported Independent Living), Specialist Disability Accommodation with on-site support, day programs, and community participation — must maintain a written behaviour support policy. The requirement flows directly from the NDIS Practice Standards and the NDIS (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018. Under the strengthened framework taking effect in 2026, auditors are paying particular attention to whether policies describe how the organisation operationalises positive behaviour support, not just that it exists.
The policy must be accessible to workers, participants, and their families. It is a living document, not a drawer-filler.
What a compliant policy must cover
Before reviewing the filled-in sample below, note that the NDIS Commission expects a behaviour support policy to address all of the following areas:
- Purpose and scope — which services and participant cohorts the policy applies to.
- Definitions — what constitutes a behaviour of concern, a restrictive practice, and a regulated restrictive practice under the Rules.
- Positive behaviour support principles — person-centred, least-restrictive, dignity-of-risk framing.
- Behaviour Support Plans (BSPs) — how they are obtained from a Specialist Behaviour Support provider, stored, reviewed, and communicated to workers.
- Authorisation of restrictive practices — your state or territory's authorisation process and how you track consent and review dates.
- Regulated restrictive practice reporting — obligations to report to the NDIS Commission within the required timeframes.
- Worker training — minimum competency requirements before workers implement any behaviour support strategy.
- Incident integration — how incidents involving behaviours of concern are captured, reported, and fed back into the BSP review cycle.
- Review schedule — at minimum annual review of the policy itself, plus triggered reviews after critical incidents.
Filled-in sample policy excerpt
The following is a realistic, instructional example of how a SIL provider might complete this policy. Adapt all names, dates, and references to your organisation's actual circumstances.
| Policy field | Filled-in example text |
|---|---|
| Policy title | Behaviour Support Policy |
| Document number | POL-BSP-003 |
| Version | 2.1 |
| Approved by | Chief Executive Officer |
| Review date | 1 July 2027 (or following any critical incident involving a restrictive practice) |
| Scope | Applies to all staff, contractors, and volunteers delivering Supported Independent Living (SIL) and community participation supports funded under the NDIS. |
| Purpose | To ensure [Organisation Name] implements positive behaviour support in a manner that upholds participant dignity, minimises and works toward the elimination of restrictive practices, and complies with the NDIS (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018 and the NDIS Practice Standards. |
| Definitions — behaviour of concern | Behaviour by a person with disability that causes harm or risk of harm to the person or others, or that significantly impacts the person's or others' quality of life. Examples include physical aggression, property destruction, self-injurious behaviour, and persistent verbal threats. |
| Definitions — restrictive practice | Any practice or intervention that restricts the rights or freedom of movement of a person with disability, including seclusion, chemical, mechanical, physical, and environmental restraint as defined in the NDIS Rules. |
| Positive behaviour support principles | We adopt a person-centred, trauma-informed approach. All behaviour support strategies must be the least restrictive option available. We treat behaviours of concern as communication and seek to address underlying unmet needs. Restrictive practices are used only as a last resort, are subject to authorisation, and are always accompanied by an active plan to reduce and eliminate their use. |
| Behaviour Support Plans | A current BSP developed by a Specialist Behaviour Support provider registered with the NDIS Commission must be in place before any regulated restrictive practice is implemented. The Support Coordinator (or SIL house manager where no coordinator exists) is responsible for ensuring the BSP is current, stored in the participant's file, and communicated to all workers via a shift handover briefing and an individualised worker induction for each new staff member assigned to the participant. |
| Authorisation of restrictive practices | No regulated restrictive practice may be implemented without written authorisation from the relevant state or territory body (e.g., VCAT in Victoria, NCAT in NSW, or the relevant tribunal/guardian in other jurisdictions). The Practice Manager maintains an Authorisation Register recording participant name, practice type, authorising body, authorisation date, and next review date. The register is audited monthly by the Quality and Compliance Officer. |
| Reporting to the NDIS Commission | Use of a regulated restrictive practice must be reported to the NDIS Commission via the NDIS Commission Portal within the timeframe specified in the Rules. The Practice Manager is the nominated responsible person for all behaviour support reporting. Any report involving an unexpected outcome or a new restrictive practice not previously authorised is escalated to the CEO within 24 hours. |
| Worker training | All workers assigned to a participant with a BSP must complete: (1) the NDIS Commission's online Positive Behaviour Support module; (2) an organisation-delivered induction specific to the participant's BSP before their first shift. Records of completion are held in the HR system. Workers may not implement any restrictive practice until training is verified by the house manager. |
| Incident integration | Every incident involving a behaviour of concern is recorded in the incident management system within 24 hours. Incidents are reviewed at the monthly quality meeting. Three or more incidents of the same type within 60 days trigger an automatic request to the Specialist Behaviour Support provider for a BSP review. |
| Review schedule | This policy is reviewed annually by the Quality and Compliance Officer and approved by the CEO. An out-of-cycle review is triggered by: a critical incident, a change in legislation or NDIS Commission guidance, or an audit finding. |
How to customise this example for your organisation
- Insert your registered provider name and NDIS registration number in the document header. Auditors cross-check policies against the provider register.
- Name your state or territory authorisation body correctly. The authorisation pathway for restrictive practices differs between Victoria, NSW, Queensland, and other jurisdictions. Using the wrong body name is a common non-conformance.
- Link to your incident policy by document number. The behaviour support policy should not duplicate your incident management policy; it should reference it so the two systems are visibly integrated.
- Specify timeframes precisely. Where the Rules prescribe a reporting timeframe, quote it accurately in your policy. Do not use vague language like "as soon as possible" as a substitute for the actual requirement.
- Add participant-specific annexures. Your policy governs the system; each participant's BSP governs the individual. The policy should make this two-tier structure explicit.
- Confirm your Authorisation Register template is embedded or referenced. Auditors often ask to see the register during an unannounced visit; if workers cannot locate it, the organisation risks a non-conformance even if the register exists.
- Version and date every update. The strengthened 2026 framework places greater weight on document control. A policy with no version history is a flag for auditors.
What auditors specifically check
Under the NDIS Practice Standards, an approved quality auditor examining behaviour support will look for:
- Evidence that current, authorised BSPs exist for every participant using a regulated restrictive practice.
- Worker training records that predate the worker's first shift with a participant who has a BSP.
- Reporting records showing timely notification to the NDIS Commission of regulated restrictive practice use.
- A functioning link between your incident system and your BSP review cycle — not just on paper, but demonstrated through recent meeting minutes or incident-triggered review correspondence.
- Participant and family involvement documented in BSP development and review.
If your policy document exists but workers cannot describe its contents, or if training records are missing, auditors will rate the organisation as non-conforming regardless of how well-written the policy text is.
Completing your full compliance documentation suite
A behaviour support policy does not stand alone. It must sit within a broader compliance framework that includes your incident management policy, complaints management policy, worker screening records, and participant rights documentation. Providers preparing for the 2026 registration and audit cycle often find that gaps in one document create cascading non-conformances across others. The 74-document audit-ready SIL compliance kit at ndiscompliant.com.au includes a pre-filled behaviour support policy alongside all companion documents, formatted to the current Practice Standards and ready for your organisation's details to be inserted.
Important: This article provides general guidance about NDIS compliance requirements. It is not legal or professional advice. Requirements may change as the NDIS Commission updates its policies and Practice Standards. Always verify current requirements with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission or a registered NDIS consultant before making compliance decisions.