NDIS Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA): What to Expect
An NDIS Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA) helps understand why particular behaviours of concern may occur, what circumstances influence them and how a person can be better supported. It considers what happens around the behaviour, the person’s needs and communication, and the wider context of their everyday life.
Under the NDIS, an FBA is part of a broader behaviour support assessment. It is not simply a questionnaire, a behaviour checklist or a test to determine whether someone is “behaving appropriately”. The assessment aims to build an evidence-informed understanding that can guide respectful, practical support.
A specialist NDIS Functional Behaviour Assessment must be undertaken by an NDIS behaviour support practitioner whom the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has considered suitable, working through a registered specialist behaviour support provider.
Not every NDIS participant requires an FBA. Where a comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan is being developed under the specialist NDIS behaviour support framework, however, a behaviour support assessment including FBA is required.
This guide explains what happens during an FBA, when it may be appropriate, who can conduct it, how consent and participant rights are protected, what an assessment report contains, how it informs a Behaviour Support Plan and what to check before arranging specialist behaviour support.
What is a Functional Behaviour Assessment?
A Functional Behaviour Assessment explores the circumstances and possible functions of behaviours of concern.
In this context, “function” means what a behaviour may achieve or communicate in a particular situation. It does not mean that every behaviour is deliberate, consciously chosen or intended to cause difficulty for someone else.
For example, behaviour may be connected with:
- difficulty communicating a need or preference
- physical pain, illness or discomfort
- sensory experiences or environmental demands
- uncertainty or changes in routine
- fatigue, stress or past experiences
- difficulty accessing something important to the person
- the ways other people respond in a particular situation
These are possible areas to investigate, not conclusions that can be made without assessment.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission defines FBA as a process of understanding the function or purpose of behaviour by examining relevant observations, information and the relationship between events and circumstances.
Its April 2026 Behaviour Support Assessment, including Functional Behaviour Assessment: Practice Guide makes an important point: functional information needs to be understood within the person’s broader life, health, relationships, environment, rights and circumstances.
Why might someone need an FBA?
An assessment may be considered when behaviours of concern affect a person’s safety, wellbeing, participation, relationships or access to meaningful everyday activities, and specialist behaviour support is appropriate.
The purpose is not simply to make a behaviour happen less often.
A useful assessment should help answer questions such as:
- What is happening from the person’s perspective?
- Are important needs being missed or misunderstood?
- What circumstances appear to make the situation easier or harder?
- Could health, communication or environmental factors be contributing?
- What has already been tried, and how has the person responded?
- What changes may improve quality of life, choice and safety?
One participant may already have a Behaviour Support Plan that no longer reflects their circumstances. Another may be entering a new living or support arrangement. Someone else may have concerns raised by a support team and need specialist assessment before an appropriate plan can be developed.
Having autism, intellectual disability, psychosocial disability or another diagnosis does not automatically mean a person needs an FBA. The relevant question is whether specialist assessment is appropriate to the person’s actual circumstances and support needs.
FBA, behaviour support assessment and Positive Behaviour Support: what is the difference?
These terms are connected, but they are not interchangeable.
Behaviour support assessment
This is the broader assessment of the person and their circumstances. It considers wellbeing, rights, communication, physical and mental health, social relationships, environmental conditions, life experiences, strengths and personal goals.
The NDIS Commission describes this as a holistic approach rather than a narrow examination of behaviour alone.
Functional Behaviour Assessment
The FBA forms part of that broader process. It examines the conditions associated with behaviours of concern and develops evidence-informed explanations about the possible functions of those behaviours.
Positive Behaviour Support
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is the wider rights-based approach to developing and reviewing strategies that improve quality of life, strengthen supportive environments, build meaningful skills and reduce the likelihood or impact of behaviours of concern.
The FBA helps inform PBS strategies. It is not a replacement for the complete assessment, planning, implementation and review process.
For a broader introduction, see Aligned Assist’s Positive Behaviour Support Guide.
Who can conduct an NDIS Functional Behaviour Assessment?
Specialist behaviour support assessments under the NDIS are subject to specific regulatory requirements.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission requires:
- a specialist behaviour support provider registered for the relevant specialist behaviour support registration group
- an NDIS behaviour support practitioner whom the Commission has considered suitable
- the practitioner to work within their actual knowledge, skills and experience
- the provider and practitioner to comply with applicable behaviour support legislation, rules and practice requirements
The relevant provider registration group is 0110 Specialist Positive Behaviour Support.
The Commission specifically states that a person who has not yet been considered suitable cannot undertake specialist NDIS behaviour support assessments, including FBAs, or develop Behaviour Support Plans even under supervision.
This distinction matters because being a psychologist, Occupational Therapist, allied health practitioner or experienced support worker does not automatically establish suitability to undertake specialist NDIS behaviour support assessments.
A person may have relevant professional qualifications but still need the Commission’s suitability decision and the required provider arrangement.
You can check the official NDIS behaviour support practitioner search. The public list includes practitioners who have consented to have their details published, so absence from that search is not, by itself, proof that a practitioner is unsuitable.
What happens during a Functional Behaviour Assessment?
An FBA is an individualised process. It may involve several conversations, information gathering, observations and professional analysis rather than one appointment.
The exact methods depend on the participant, the purpose of the assessment and the specialist practitioner’s professional judgement.
1. Understanding the person’s priorities and obtaining appropriate consent
Before beginning, the practitioner should explain the assessment in a way the person can understand.
The conversation may include what the assessment is for, how information could be collected, who may be involved and how the findings will be used.
Appropriate consent or consultation must be addressed according to the person’s circumstances and applicable legal requirements.
The participant’s communication preferences and decision-making support needs should be considered from the beginning.
2. Learning about everyday life
The practitioner needs to understand more than the particular behaviour identified in the referral.
Relevant information may include:
- the person’s strengths, interests and goals
- their preferred ways of communicating
- important relationships and routines
- their home and support environments
- physical and mental health factors
- sleep, pain, fatigue or sensory experiences where relevant
- cultural and personal preferences
- previous experiences of support, including potentially distressing experiences
This helps avoid treating behaviour as something that exists independently of the person’s circumstances.
3. Reviewing existing information
With appropriate authority and consent, the practitioner may review relevant existing reports, support plans, professional observations and information about previous strategies.
The purpose is not to gather every document that exists about the person. Information should be relevant to the assessment question and handled securely.
Existing information may also reveal whether further assessment is necessary and which questions remain unanswered.
4. Gathering information about the behaviour and its context
The practitioner may use interviews, discussions, structured assessment methods, review of existing records or direct observation where appropriate.
Information may be gathered across different environments or situations when doing so helps develop a reliable understanding.
No single questionnaire, interview or observation method is automatically sufficient for every participant.
5. Exploring possible explanations
The practitioner considers patterns and evaluates possible explanations for why behaviour occurs.
For example, does the behaviour tend to occur in a particular environment? Is it connected with a demand, an unmet communication need or another circumstance? Could an underlying health issue require attention from a different professional?
These questions should be investigated carefully rather than answered through assumption.
6. Discussing findings and next steps
The practitioner brings together the available evidence and develops a holistic understanding of the person’s needs and circumstances.
The assessment findings can then inform recommendations and, where appropriate, the development or review of a comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan.
How are behaviours of concern described during assessment?
Assessment language matters.
Descriptions should be specific enough to understand what happened without relying on judgemental labels.
For example, saying someone was “difficult” or “non-compliant” does not explain what occurred, what they were experiencing or why the situation developed.
A practitioner may instead describe an observable event and consider the circumstances surrounding it. This can help distinguish what was seen from the explanation being considered.
Respectful assessment also recognises that behaviour may relate to communication, sensory experiences, health concerns or circumstances outside the person’s control.
The objective is understanding and better support, not assigning blame.
What are antecedents, behaviour and consequences?
Some Functional Behaviour Assessments use observations commonly described as ABC information:
- Antecedent: what happened before the behaviour
- Behaviour: what was observed
- Consequence: what happened afterwards
These observations may help identify patterns.
However, an ABC record alone cannot establish the true cause or function of behaviour. Two events occurring close together does not automatically mean one caused the other.
For that reason, the NDIS Commission’s current practice guidance places functional observations within a wider assessment involving the person’s health, experiences, environment and support relationships.
The interpretation must remain open to new evidence. A person can also experience several different influences at the same time.
A hypothetical example of how an FBA might help
Consider a fictional adult participant who finds a busy evening routine increasingly difficult.
Several people describe the situation as a “behaviour problem”. But they have noticed different things and are not sure why the pattern has developed.
A specialist behaviour support assessment would not begin by assuming the person is deliberately refusing the routine.
Relevant questions might include whether the environment has become noisy, whether the participant is tired, whether a communication preference has been overlooked, whether expectations have changed or whether pain or another health concern needs professional attention.
The practitioner would consider the person’s own perspective and relevant information before reaching any functional hypothesis.
Recommendations might involve changing communication, reviewing the environment or exploring other appropriate supports, depending on the actual findings.
This is only a hypothetical illustration. It is not a real Aligned Assist participant, an assessment conclusion or a promise that particular strategies will produce a specific outcome.
Can participants and families be involved in the assessment?
Yes. Participation and collaboration are important parts of good behaviour support assessment.
The NDIS Commission emphasises the person’s rights, choices and involvement throughout the process.
Depending on the person’s preferences and lawful arrangements, relevant contributors may include:
- the participant
- family members or carers
- support workers
- Support Coordinators
- allied health professionals
- other people who know the participant and their circumstances well
However, knowing someone well does not automatically give another person the right to make decisions for them or access private information.
The practitioner should establish who can provide information, who may receive information and what consent or other legal authority applies.
Participants should be supported to communicate their views using methods appropriate to them. This might involve accessible language, more time, visual information or trusted communication support.
What should an FBA report contain?
The assessment report brings together the practitioner’s findings and explains the reasoning behind recommendations.
The NDIS Commission’s April 2026 practice guide identifies producing a separate behaviour support assessment report as best practice.
The report may include:
- the reason for assessment
- the person’s goals, strengths and relevant circumstances
- the practitioner and specialist provider responsible
- sources of information and assessment methods
- relevant observations and patterns
- important health, communication and environmental considerations
- functional hypotheses about the behaviour
- a broader formulation connecting the findings to the person’s circumstances
- relevant risk and safeguarding considerations
- recommendations for support and further professional input where appropriate
The report should explain findings rather than simply reproduce raw observations without interpretation.
It may also identify questions that remain unanswered or recommend involvement from another qualified professional.
An assessment report is not a medical diagnosis, an NDIS funding approval or authorisation to use restrictive practices.
How does an FBA lead to a Behaviour Support Plan?
The FBA helps explain what may be contributing to behaviours of concern. A comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan (BSP) uses the broader assessment findings to guide practical supports.
Depending on the person’s circumstances, the plan may address:
- changes that can make everyday environments more supportive
- communication and participation opportunities
- skills the person wants or needs support to develop
- proactive approaches to reducing distress or avoidable barriers
- appropriate responses when difficulties occur
- responsibilities of relevant support people and providers
- monitoring, review and adjustment of strategies
A comprehensive BSP should be grounded in the person’s own priorities and the evidence obtained through assessment.
It should not simply attach a set of standard behaviour-management instructions to a diagnosis.
The NDIS Commission requires comprehensive Behaviour Support Plans to be informed by a behaviour support assessment including FBA. See the official guidance on developing Behaviour Support Plans.
Interim and comprehensive Behaviour Support Plans
Interim and comprehensive plans serve different purposes, particularly where regulated restrictive practices are involved.
An interim plan may address immediate safeguarding needs while further assessment and comprehensive planning take place.
Under the NDIS specialist behaviour support rules, where plans contain regulated restrictive practices, the relevant timeframes are:
- Interim Behaviour Support Plan: within one month of the specialist behaviour support provider’s engagement
- Comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan: within six months of engagement
Engagement is determined by the service-agreement date or an agreed commencement date specified in the agreement.
These statutory timeframes do not apply in the same way to plans without regulated restrictive practices, although the Commission indicates they can still provide a useful guide to timely, safe service delivery.
They are not standard FBA assessment durations, report turnaround guarantees or permission to delay urgent safety or healthcare responses.
Does a Functional Behaviour Assessment authorise restrictive practices?
No.
Completing an FBA does not authorise restraint, seclusion or another regulated restrictive practice.
Restrictive practices are subject to specific safeguards, legal requirements and authorisation processes. The NDIS framework is directed towards reducing and eliminating their use.
Where a regulated restrictive practice is considered within a Behaviour Support Plan, the applicable rules require it to be addressed transparently, used only where legally permitted, and subject to relevant safeguards.
In Victoria, authorisation responsibilities also involve the Victorian Senior Practitioner framework and Authorised Program Officers, with additional approval requirements for certain practices.
The existence of a Behaviour Support Plan does not itself replace the required authorisation.
For the current rules, see the NDIS Commission’s specialist behaviour support requirements and Victoria’s restrictive practices authorisation information.
Participants and their representatives should receive accessible information about any proposed restrictive practice and their rights. Restrictive practices should never be treated as an automatic outcome of an FBA.
How long does an NDIS Functional Behaviour Assessment take?
There is no standard number of hours, appointments or weeks that applies to every FBA.
The process may depend on:
- the complexity of the assessment questions
- the participant’s communication and accessibility needs
- existing assessments and available information
- the people and environments relevant to the assessment
- the need for direct observation or further professional consultation
- the practitioner’s availability
- report preparation and discussion of findings
The one-month and six-month behaviour-plan requirements discussed above should not be confused with a universal FBA turnaround.
If timing is important, ask the specialist provider what the proposed assessment involves, what must happen before it can begin and how the findings are expected to be communicated.
Does the NDIS fund Functional Behaviour Assessments?
Specialist behaviour support may be funded when it is an appropriate NDIS support and included in the participant’s plan.
The precise funding wording depends on the plan and the NDIS system in which it was developed.
Behaviour Support in newer NDIS plans
Under the newer NDIS computer system, Behaviour Support is a dedicated stated support category within Capacity Building.
Stated funding has restrictions. Funding allocated to one stated category cannot simply be moved to unrelated supports.
Improved Relationships in older plans
Older NDIS plans may refer to Improved Relationships, which can include behaviour supports and behaviour support plans.
This difference in terminology does not mean a participant automatically has funding for an FBA.
Check the actual plan, available funding, support conditions and relevant claiming arrangements.
If behaviour support is not funded or the circumstances have changed, discuss the need with the participant’s my NDIS contact or Support Coordinator.
For general budget information, see Aligned Assist’s Understanding NDIS Funding guide.
How much does a Functional Behaviour Assessment cost?
There is no single fixed FBA package price that applies to every participant.
Costs can depend on the type and scope of specialist behaviour support being provided, assessment complexity, professional time, information gathering, reporting and other appropriately chargeable activities.
The NDIS Pricing Schedule effective 24 September 2026 sets maximum prices for relevant support items, including specialist behavioural intervention support, where NDIS maximum price limits apply.
These maximums are not the same as a provider’s actual agreed charge, and they do not establish a universal fee for completing an FBA.
Before agreeing to an assessment, ask:
- which NDIS support item will be used
- the provider’s actual hourly rate
- what is included in the proposed assessment
- whether report preparation is charged separately
- what other permitted charges might apply
- how the available behaviour support funding will be monitored
The current rates and claiming conditions can be checked through the official NDIS pricing arrangements.
Is a Functional Behaviour Assessment the same as a Functional Capacity Assessment?
No. Both can examine everyday circumstances, but they address different assessment questions.
| Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA) | Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) |
|---|---|
| Examines behaviours of concern, relevant circumstances and possible functions as part of specialist behaviour support assessment. | Examines how disability affects functional abilities, everyday activities and support needs more broadly. |
| Informs the development or review of a comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan. | Can provide evidence about functional needs and disability-related supports for NDIS planning. |
| Requires a Commission-suitable NDIS behaviour support practitioner within the specialist behaviour support provider framework. | May be undertaken by appropriately qualified professionals relevant to the assessment, including Occupational Therapists and certain other disciplines. |
An FCA does not automatically replace an FBA, and a person does not necessarily need both.
For the separate functional capacity pathway, read Aligned Assist’s NDIS Functional Capacity Assessment guide.
What if a school has already completed an FBA?
Functional Behaviour Assessments are also used within education systems.
A school-based FBA may examine a student’s experience and participation in the learning environment. It can provide useful information to consider as part of broader specialist behaviour support assessment where appropriate consent is in place.
However, a school assessment does not automatically replace the requirements for an NDIS specialist behaviour support assessment.
The NDIS specialist framework has particular practitioner-suitability, provider-registration, behaviour-plan and safeguarding requirements.
If a child already has a school-based assessment, ask the NDIS behaviour support practitioner how the existing information can appropriately contribute to the broader assessment without unnecessary duplication.
How do you know whether an FBA is the next step?
The appropriate next action depends on the person’s circumstances.
| Situation | First practical conversation | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist behaviour support is already funded and an FBA has been recommended. | Speak with the existing specialist provider or an appropriately registered provider. | Practitioner suitability, consent, existing assessment information and funded support. |
| There are behaviour-related concerns but no current behaviour support funding. | Discuss the person’s needs and goals with their my NDIS contact or Support Coordinator. | Whether specialist PBS is appropriate and how any funding request should be considered. |
| A Behaviour Support Plan already exists but circumstances have changed. | Contact the responsible behaviour support practitioner. | Whether review or further assessment is needed. |
| A school has raised concerns about a child. | Discuss school supports and the child’s broader needs with the relevant professionals. | Whether a separate specialist NDIS assessment is appropriate. |
| There is an immediate health or safety emergency. | Seek the appropriate urgent medical or emergency response. | Do not rely on an ordinary FBA referral process for immediate crisis assistance. |
How to choose a specialist behaviour support provider
Choosing an FBA provider involves more than finding someone who advertises “behaviour assessments”.
Important considerations include:
- current specialist behaviour support provider registration
- Commission suitability of the practitioner undertaking the work
- experience relevant to the participant’s circumstances
- communication and accessibility arrangements
- culturally responsive and trauma-informed practice
- how the participant is included in assessment decisions
- how existing information will be used
- how the practitioner approaches competing explanations for behaviour
- how privacy and consent are managed
- what the assessment report will cover
- current fees, capacity and expected process
- how the findings will inform ongoing support
A practitioner should be able to explain why particular assessment methods are appropriate without asking the participant to accept every recommendation without discussion.
Questions to ask before arranging an FBA
- Is your organisation currently registered to deliver specialist behaviour support?
- Has the practitioner who will conduct the assessment been considered suitable by the NDIS Commission?
- What experience does the practitioner have with support needs like mine?
- How will my preferences, communication and consent be respected?
- What existing information can be used?
- Will you consider physical health, environmental and other non-behavioural factors?
- What will the assessment and report include?
- How will the findings be discussed with me?
- What are the expected fees and charging arrangements?
- How will the assessment inform a Behaviour Support Plan if one is needed?
- What happens if I disagree with a finding or recommendation?
Functional Behaviour Assessments in Melbourne
For Melbourne participants, families and Support Coordinators, the right specialist match matters more than a broad claim that a provider operates across Victoria.
It is useful to ask whether the provider can accommodate the participant’s circumstances, communication preferences, relevant support environments and the professionals already involved.
Assessment may require collaboration with family, support workers, healthcare professionals or other people where appropriate consent and authority are established.
Provider registration, practitioner suitability, availability and the proposed assessment format should all be checked before an arrangement is confirmed.
Discussing Functional Behaviour Assessment with Aligned Assist
Aligned Assist is a registered NDIS provider based in Melbourne. Its published Positive Behaviour Support service includes functional behaviour assessments, individualised Behaviour Support Plans and related support.
Because specialist behaviour support has specific regulatory requirements, an initial enquiry should establish whether the proposed assessment is appropriate, whether the required registered specialist provider and suitable practitioner arrangements are in place, and whether current capacity and funding permit the work.
Participants, authorised family members and professional referrers can begin by sharing a small amount of relevant information:
- the participant’s general Melbourne location
- the broad reason for the enquiry
- the participant’s goals or concerns
- whether a Behaviour Support Plan or previous assessment exists
- whether relevant NDIS behaviour support funding is available, if known
- the preferred contact method and who is authorised to coordinate the enquiry
Detailed personal histories, incident records, health documents and other sensitive information should be exchanged only through appropriate private channels when needed.
- Call: 1300 927 248
- Email: info@alignedassist.com.au
- General enquiry: Contact Aligned Assist
- Professional referral: Submit an NDIS referral
Frequently asked questions about NDIS Functional Behaviour Assessments
What is an NDIS Functional Behaviour Assessment?
An FBA is part of a broader specialist behaviour support assessment. It examines the circumstances and possible functions of behaviours of concern so appropriate, evidence-informed support strategies can be developed.
Is an FBA the same as a Behaviour Support Plan?
No. An FBA contributes to understanding the person’s behaviour and circumstances. A comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan uses the wider assessment findings to guide practical support strategies and review.
Who can conduct a specialist NDIS FBA?
A practitioner whom the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has considered suitable, working through a registered specialist behaviour support provider. A practitioner who has not been considered suitable cannot conduct specialist NDIS FBAs even under supervision.
Do I always need an FBA to access Positive Behaviour Support?
Not every person seeking advice about behaviour requires a new FBA. However, specialist NDIS comprehensive Behaviour Support Plans must be informed by a behaviour support assessment including FBA. The appropriate assessment pathway depends on the person’s circumstances.
Can I participate in my Functional Behaviour Assessment?
Yes. Your preferences, goals, communication needs, privacy and rights should be considered throughout the process, with appropriate consent or lawful consultation arrangements.
Does an FBA authorise restrictive practices?
No. An FBA does not authorise restrictive practices. These are subject to separate legal, safeguarding and authorisation requirements where applicable, with an emphasis on reduction and elimination.
Is an FBA funded by the NDIS?
Specialist behaviour support assessment may be funded where the relevant supports are included in the participant’s plan and meet current NDIS requirements. Newer plans may show Behaviour Support, while older plans may refer to Improved Relationships.
How long does a Functional Behaviour Assessment take?
There is no standard duration. Timing depends on the assessment’s complexity, the participant’s needs, information gathering, practitioner availability and reporting requirements. Behaviour Support Plan regulatory timeframes should not be confused with an FBA report guarantee.
Can a school FBA replace an NDIS Functional Behaviour Assessment?
Not automatically. School-based assessment information may be useful, but specialist NDIS behaviour support assessments have separate practitioner-suitability, provider-registration and regulatory requirements.