A good positive behaviour support referral shows that the participant (or their decision-maker) agrees, what funding is in the plan, what risks are present now, whether any restrictive practice is in use, and who supports the person day to day. Use the checklist below, and ask the provider what else its intake needs, because each provider works a little differently.
Prepared by Trevor Keen Founder and Physiotherapist · Reviewed 11 November 2026 |
This guide is for support coordinators and plan managers who refer participants for specialist behaviour support. It draws on what the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission requires of providers and practitioners, then sets out what CHSA asks for.
At a glance
| ✓ | Behaviour support plans must come from a registered specialist behaviour support provider, even when a plan is self-managed or plan-managed.[1] |
| ✓ | Check the plan for behaviour support funding before you refer: Behaviour Support in newer (PACE) plans, or Improved Relationships in older plans.[1][9] |
| ✓ | Tell the provider about any restrictive practice already in use, and whether it is authorised.[2] |
| ✓ | At CHSA, send plan dates, plan-management type, goals and consent through our referral form. We usually reply within 1 to 2 business days. |
| ✓ | This is a checklist, not a form. Each provider's intake is different. |
In this guide
It is a request to a specialist behaviour support provider to work with a participant on behaviours of concern. The provider must engage an NDIS behaviour support practitioner to develop the participant's behaviour support plan.[3] Our positive behaviour support page describes how our team works.
At CHSA, the interim behaviour support plan is due within 1 month of the first appointment and the comprehensive plan within 6 months, as our PBS page sets out. A complete referral helps us book that first appointment sooner.
Here is a checklist built on what the Commission asks of providers. Use it to gather the information once, so the provider does not have to chase it.
Positive behaviour support referral checklist
| Check | Have ready | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Consent and choice | The participant's agreement (or their decision-maker's) to the referral, and permission for the provider to talk to others who support them. | Providers ask for written permission to talk to the people supporting the participant.[1, 4] The provider choice is the person's.[1] |
| 2. Funding line | Plan start and end dates, plan-management type, and whether the plan has Behaviour Support or Improved Relationships funding. | Behaviour support is paid from the Capacity Building budget: Behaviour Support in newer (PACE) plans, or Improved Relationships in older plans.[1][9] If it is missing, ask the early childhood partner, local area coordinator or NDIA planner about a plan review.[1] |
| 3. Risk information now | The behaviours of concern, how often they happen, who has been hurt, recent incidents and the safety measures already in place. | The interim plan describes the behaviours of concern and ways to keep the person and others safe.[4] |
| 4. Earlier assessments and plans | Any previous behaviour support assessments, plans and relevant reports. | Providers must consider previous behaviour support assessments.[3] |
| 5. Current restrictive practices | Any restrictive practice in use, its type, who uses it, and whether it is authorised (with the evidence). | A regulated restrictive practice must be authorised by the state or territory body, and use that is not authorised is a reportable incident.[3, 2] |
| 6. Who is involved | The guardian or decision-maker, family, support workers, the support provider who would use any restrictive practice, school, and other therapists. | The provider must consult the participant, family, guardian and other relevant people, and the provider who may use the practice.[3] |
| 7. Goals | What the person wants to change, and what matters to them. | PBS focuses on quality of life by understanding the reasons behind behaviour.[5] We ask for goals at referral. |
For GPs and referrers
Referring to CHSA
Send the person's NDIS plan dates, plan-management type, goals and consent through our referral form, or call 08 8166 4700. We usually reply within 1 to 2 business days. We accept NDIA-managed, plan-managed and self-managed plans. Support coordinators and providers can refer someone, and so can the person or a family member.
Ready to refer?
Send the plan dates, plan-management type, goals and consent through our referral form, or call us on 08 8166 4700.
Make a referralCall 08 8166 4700Say so in the referral. The Commission regulates five types: seclusion, chemical, mechanical, physical and environmental restraint.[5] A provider that uses a regulated restrictive practice on an ongoing basis must engage a specialist behaviour support provider for a plan.[2] The practice also needs authorisation. In South Australia, authorising decisions are made by authorised program officers and the senior authorising officer in the Restrictive Practices Unit.[6]
Use that is not in a plan, not authorised, or not following the plan is classed as unauthorised, and the implementing provider must report it to the Commission as a reportable incident within 5 business days of becoming aware.[2] Our restrictive practices page explains more. Tell us on the referral form if a restrictive practice is in place, and send any current behaviour support plan. If the situation is urgent, say so on the form: we take urgent referrals when our team has capacity, and we'll tell you if we can't. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 000.
Good to know
A referral is not an emergency response
If a participant's life is at risk, or there is an immediate risk of harm or injury, ring 000.[7]
| 1 | A free first call Our team talks through what is happening and what the person would like to change. |
| 2 | Service agreement and matching We gather plan details and goals, set up a service agreement, and match a behaviour support practitioner. |
| 3 | Getting to know the person An initial consultation of 90 minutes, interim strategies for immediate risks, and a functional behaviour assessment. |
| 4 | The plan and review A comprehensive plan, with coaching for the people who put it into practice, then regular review. See behaviour support plans. |
We offer telehealth for meetings, reviews and training, and visit homes, schools, community settings and supported accommodation between Gawler, Aldinga and Mt Barker. Comprehensive plans that include a regulated restrictive practice must be reviewed when the person's situation changes, and at least every 12 months.[3] Our rates are on the fees page, and hours are set in the service agreement before work starts.
Specialist behaviour support providers must be registered with the NDIS Commission under the registration group 0110 Specialist positive behaviour support.[3] The Commission's practitioner search lists NDIS behaviour support practitioners who have agreed to publish their details, and its provider finder lists specialist providers by area.[8] Our page on behaviour support practitioners explains how practitioners are assessed. CHSA's NDIS provider number is 4050086253.
Check the plan first. Behaviour support is paid from the Capacity Building budget: Behaviour Support in newer (PACE) plans, or Improved Relationships in older plans. If the plan has neither, an early childhood partner, local area coordinator or NDIA planner can help request a plan review.[1]
Yes. We accept NDIA-managed, plan-managed and self-managed plans. The participant must use a registered provider whichever way the plan is managed.[1]
Ring 000. If a participant's life is at risk, or there is an immediate risk of harm or injury, that is the number to call.[7]
Support coordinators, providers, family members and the person themselves can start a referral. The person's choice of provider always comes first, and the referral needs their consent or their decision-maker's.
Refer to our behaviour support team
The first call with our team is free. We talk through what is happening and what the person wants to change, then set up a service agreement and match a behaviour support practitioner.
Make a referralSee our feesRelated reading
Prepared by
Trevor Keen Founder, Conscious Healthcare SA · Physiotherapist (AHPRA PHY0002063374) · Master of Physiotherapy and Bachelor of Psychological Studies, Flinders University |
Trevor is a physiotherapist whose lived experience of disability led him to found CHSA, bringing psychology, assessments, occupational therapy, behaviour support and dietetics under one roof in Adelaide. He has completed a Bachelor of Psychological Studies at Flinders University, is now studying psychology at honours level, and helps write our guides alongside the clinicians who deliver each service.
Sources
This guide is general information, not advice about your situation. Speak with your GP or one of our team about what's right for you.