Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is reshaping the way we deliver disability services across Australia. Instead of relying on outdated methods that focus purely on managing or controlling behaviour, PBS takes a deeper, more compassionate approach. It recognises that all behaviour has meaning and that understanding a person’s needs is the foundation for creating meaningful, lasting change.
At Liberty Behavioural Services, we are committed to delivering support that uplifts, empowers, and respects the whole person. Here’s how Positive Behaviour Support goes far beyond behaviour management and why it is transforming the lives of NDIS participants and their families.
What Is Positive Behaviour Support?
Positive Behaviour Support is grounded in values of dignity, respect, and person-centred care. Rather than focusing on what someone shouldn’t do, PBS seeks to understand why a behaviour is occurring and what unmet needs may be driving it.
Core Principles of PBS
PBS is based on several key principles:
- Understanding individual needs: Every person is unique, and their support must reflect their personal goals, preferences, and circumstances.
- Enhancing quality of life: The aim of PBS is not simply to reduce behaviours of concern, but to promote wellbeing, independence, and meaningful participation.
- Using preventative strategies: PBS focuses on preventing challenges by creating supportive environments and addressing triggers before they escalate.
How PBS Differs from Traditional Behaviour Management
Traditional behaviour management often relied on compliance, control, or punitive responses. While these methods may have provided short-term results, they rarely addressed the underlying reasons for the behaviour and often risked causing further distress.
Positive Behaviour Support takes a completely different approach. It looks beyond the behaviour itself to understand:
- What the person is trying to communicate
- What needs are not being met
- How the environment or routine may be contributing
- What supports can be introduced to improve the person’s overall quality of life
Instead of managing behaviour, PBS aims to support the person. It focuses on long-term well-being, positive outcomes, and respectful interactions.
A Person-Centred Approach to Positive Behaviour Support
Understanding Individual Needs
A central component of PBS is taking the time to understand each person as an individual – their strengths, preferences, history, communication style, and unique way of interacting with the world.
This approach ensures that supports are not generic or one-size-fits-all. Instead, they are carefully tailored to what matters most to the participant, encouraging meaningful engagement and a greater sense of control in their daily life.
Creating Supportive Environments
Supportive environments are essential for PBS. This means more than ensuring basic comfort; it also involves thoughtfully shaping surroundings, routines, communication styles, and expectations to help the person feel safe, respected, and understood.
When someone’s environment supports their wellbeing, they are better able to express themselves, build skills, and experience positive interactions.
How PBS Enhances Quality of Life
Improving Everyday Experiences
PBS helps individuals engage more confidently in daily activities, develop new skills, and take part in social or community settings that bring them joy. With the right strategies, everyday challenges become opportunities for learning, growth, and connection.
Empowering People Through Choice
Choice is a powerful contributor to well-being. PBS actively encourages participants to make decisions about their own lives, whether it’s choosing activities, routines, or preferred ways of receiving support.
By promoting autonomy, PBS helps individuals build confidence and take greater ownership of their goals.
PBS and the NDIS
Working Within the NDIS Framework
Positive Behaviour Support aligns strongly with NDIS standards, which emphasise inclusion, dignity, and person-centred practice. Behaviour support plans developed under the NDIS must prioritise:
- Reducing and eliminating restrictive practices
- Supporting people to build skills
- Promoting safety and well-being
- Respecting individual rights and choices
PBS is not just compliant with NDIS expectations; it reflects their core intent: enabling people to live the life they choose.
Upholding Dignity and Respect
PBS ensures that individuals are recognised for who they are, not defined by their behaviour. Each participant is treated with dignity, and their rights, preferences, and voice remain central throughout the support process.
The Future of Behaviour Support
Positive Behaviour Support represents a shift toward more humane, respectful, and effective behavioural practices. As the disability sector continues to grow and evolve, PBS will remain a leading support model that prioritises understanding, quality of life, and meaningful participation.
By focusing on individual strengths, needs, and aspirations, PBS creates opportunities for people to thrive.
Ready to Explore a More Empowering Approach to Behaviour Support?
If you or someone you care about could benefit from a person-centred, evidence-based approach to behaviour support, our team at Liberty Behavioural Services is here to help. We work alongside participants, families, and support networks to develop strategies that enhance wellbeing, independence, and confidence.
Contact us today to learn how Positive Behaviour Support can create a supportive environment that honours dignity, respect, and personal choice.
