Updated October 2026 | Sponsored by Plan Hero NDIS Plan Management
Need Behaviour Support funding in your NDIS plan but not sure how to get it?
We asked the team at Plan Hero NDIS Plan Management to share their insights. As experienced NDIS plan managers, they process provider invoices, monitor participant budgets and help families understand how their funding can be used.
Drawing on their experience, Plan Hero shares practical advice on common Behaviour Support goals, where funding appears in an NDIS plan, what evidence to prepare and what to do if your plan doesn't include Behaviour Support.
What NDIS Goals Are Relevant to Behaviour Support?
Behaviour Support can help people with disability who experience behaviours of concern that affect their safety, communication, relationships or participation in everyday life.
Some common areas where participants may need Behaviour Support include:
- Emotional regulation: Developing strategies to manage distress, frustration and overwhelming situations.
- Communication: Building skills to express needs, choices and feelings.
- Relationships: Improving interactions with family, carers and other people.
- Safety: Reducing behaviours that may place the participant or others at risk.
- Independence: Building skills to participate in everyday activities and community life.
Examples of NDIS Goals for Behaviour Support
Your NDIS goals should reflect what matters to you and what you want to achieve. Here are some examples of Behaviour Support-related goals:
- "I want to manage my emotions so I can feel more confident participating in social activities."
- "I want to communicate my needs and feelings more effectively."
- "I want to build positive relationships with my family and the people supporting me."
- "I want to develop strategies to manage situations that cause me distress."
- "I want to feel safer and more independent at home and in the community."
Important: Having these goals does not automatically qualify you for Behaviour Support funding. The NDIA considers your disability-related support needs and whether the requested support meets NDIS funding criteria.
The NDIA's guidance on setting NDIS goals explains how goals are considered when planning supports and funding.
Where Does Behaviour Support Funding Appear in an NDIS Plan?
Where Behaviour Support funding appears depends on the type of NDIS plan you have:
- PACE plans (most new and reassessed plans): Behaviour Support has its own budget category, called Behaviour Support. It is separate from the Relationships budget.
- Older (legacy) plans: Behaviour Support is usually included under Capacity Building – Improved Relationships.
Behaviour Support funding is a stated support. This means it can only be used for the purpose described in your plan. It cannot be moved to other budgets, such as Improved Daily Living.
Behaviour Support funding may cover Behaviour Support assessments, developing Behaviour Support Plans, specialist interventions and training for family members, carers and support workers.
If you have a PACE plan, your Behaviour Support provider may also need to be listed under "my providers" in your plan before they can be paid from this funding.
When providers submit invoices, they use the relevant NDIS Behaviour Support item codes. These are different from the budget category shown in your plan.
Plan Hero tip: Before booking a Behaviour Support practitioner, check that your NDIS plan includes Behaviour Support funding and that you have enough funds available. Your plan manager can help you check your budget and track payments.
For more information, see the NDIS guide to Capacity Building supports.
What Evidence Helps When Requesting Behaviour Support Funding?
The NDIA needs to understand why specialist Behaviour Support is required and how it relates to your disability support needs.
Useful supporting evidence may include:
- Examples of behaviours of concern and how often they occur
- How these behaviours affect safety, relationships or everyday activities
- Existing reports from psychologists, occupational therapists or other treating professionals
- Existing Behaviour Support Plans or assessments
- Incident reports, where relevant
- Information about strategies already tried and why additional support is needed
- Professional recommendations about the type and amount of Behaviour Support required
The strongest evidence explains the person's actual support needs and how these affect everyday life, rather than simply listing a diagnosis.
Plan Hero tip: Start by gathering evidence you already have. You may not need to commission new assessments or reports to explain why Behaviour Support is required.
What If My NDIS Plan Doesn't Include Behaviour Support Funding?
If your NDIS plan doesn't include Behaviour Support funding, you cannot use your Improved Daily Living (OT and therapy) budget to pay for specialist Behaviour Support services.
You also cannot use your OT funding to commission a report solely for the purpose of applying for Behaviour Support funding. This is a common misunderstanding.
Improved Daily Living funding is intended for eligible therapy supports within that budget. It cannot be redirected to pay for a separate report commissioned only to obtain Behaviour Support funding.
However, if you already have an OT assessment or report that identifies Behaviour Support needs, you can submit it to the NDIA as supporting evidence.
How Do I Request Behaviour Support Funding?
If you believe you need Behaviour Support but don't have funding in your plan, you should:
- Contact your my NDIS contact and explain why Behaviour Support is needed.
- Provide existing evidence, such as therapy reports, incident reports or information from support workers and carers.
- Ask the NDIA about funding an initial Behaviour Support assessment if further specialist evidence is required.
- Request a change to your NDIS plan where your disability-related support needs have changed.
The NDIA may fund an initial specialist Behaviour Support assessment to help decide whether ongoing Behaviour Support funding should be included in your plan.
Plan Hero tip: Don't use your OT budget to pay for a report commissioned solely to obtain Behaviour Support funding. Check with the NDIA first. Your plan manager can help you understand your existing funding but cannot move money between stated supports or approve additional funding.
How Can I Request a Change to My NDIS Plan?
Under the NDIA's guidance on changing your plan, there are two main ways your plan may be changed:
- Plan variation: For smaller changes to an existing plan.
- Plan reassessment: When there are significant or ongoing changes to your circumstances or support needs.
You may need to provide evidence explaining why specialist Behaviour Support is required.
The NDIA will consider your request and decide whether your plan should be changed. A request does not guarantee additional funding.
How Can Plan Hero Help Manage Your NDIS Behaviour Support Funding?
Once Behaviour Support funding is included in your NDIS plan, Plan Hero NDIS Plan Management can help you manage your budget, process provider invoices and keep track of your spending.
Plan Hero specialises exclusively in NDIS Plan Management, supporting thousands of participants and families across Australia.
Its experienced team uses smart technology to process invoices efficiently, monitor spending and help participants understand how their approved funding is being used.
Plan Hero can help with:
- Budget management: Checking available Behaviour Support funding and tracking your remaining balance.
- Invoice processing: Processing eligible Behaviour Support provider invoices and arranging payment.
- NDIS compliance: Checking claims against relevant NDIS pricing and funding requirements.
- Spending reports: Providing updates on funding used and remaining balances.
- Budget monitoring: Helping you see whether your spending is on track throughout your plan.
- Funding information: Explaining your existing plan-managed budgets and how payments are processed.
Plan Hero cannot approve additional Behaviour Support funding, make clinical recommendations or change your NDIS plan. Those decisions are made by the NDIA and appropriately qualified professionals.
However, having an experienced plan manager can make it easier to keep track of your Behaviour Support funding and manage provider payments.
Find out more about Plan Hero NDIS Plan Management.
Frequently Asked Questions About NDIS Behaviour Support Funding
Do I need a specific NDIS goal to get Behaviour Support funding?
No specific wording is required. Your goals can help explain what you want to achieve, but Behaviour Support funding depends on your disability-related needs and NDIS funding criteria.
Which budget is Behaviour Support funded from?
In PACE plans, Behaviour Support has its own Behaviour Support budget. In older (legacy) plans, it is usually funded under Capacity Building – Improved Relationships. In both cases it is a stated support and can only be used for Behaviour Support.
Can I use my Improved Daily Living budget for Behaviour Support?
No. Specialist Behaviour Support is funded from its own stated budget. You cannot move Improved Daily Living funding to pay for specialist Behaviour Support services.
Can I use my OT funding to get a report recommending Behaviour Support?
You cannot use your Improved Daily Living funding to commission a report solely for the purpose of requesting Behaviour Support funding.
However, if an existing OT report identifies Behaviour Support needs, it can be provided to the NDIA as supporting evidence.
If further specialist evidence is required, ask the NDIA whether it can fund an initial Behaviour Support assessment.
Can my plan manager add Behaviour Support funding?
No. Plan managers help manage approved NDIS funding. They cannot add funding, move money between stated supports or approve a plan change. The NDIA makes those decisions.
Can I request Behaviour Support funding if my needs have changed?
Yes. If your disability-related support needs have changed, you can contact the NDIA about a possible plan change. You may need supporting evidence explaining why specialist Behaviour Support is required.
Does my Behaviour Support provider need to be NDIS registered?
Yes. Providers delivering specialist Behaviour Support must be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission for Specialist Positive Behaviour Support (registration group 0110).
The individual Behaviour Support practitioner must also be assessed as suitable by the NDIS Commission. These requirements apply however your plan is managed.
More NDIS Behaviour Support Resources
These MyCareSpace guides provide more information about Behaviour Support and the NDIS:
- NDIS Behaviour Support: A Complete 2026 Guide – How Behaviour Support works, funding, costs and the latest rules.
- When do you need an NDIS Behaviour Support Plan? – When a Behaviour Support Plan is required and how often it must be reviewed.
- Who Can Deliver Behaviour Support in the NDIS? – Provider registration and practitioner suitability requirements.
- Behaviour Support in Practice: Real life examples and outcomes – Real examples of how personalised Behaviour Support can improve everyday life.
Need Help Finding an NDIS Behaviour Support Practitioner?
Once you have Behaviour Support funding, the MyCareSpace Connections Team can help you find a registered NDIS Behaviour Support provider with availability in your area.
Whether you need a Behaviour Support assessment, a new Behaviour Support Plan or ongoing support, we can help you find a suitable practitioner.
Our connection service is free for participants, families and support coordinators.
Find an NDIS Behaviour Support Practitioner
Looking for an NDIS Plan Manager?
If you're looking for help paying providers, managing invoices and keeping track of your NDIS funding, Plan Hero can help.
With dedicated plan management specialists, technology-driven invoice processing and an experienced Australian support team, Plan Hero makes managing your NDIS funding simpler.
Visit Plan Hero to Learn More About NDIS Plan Management.
This is a sponsored resource featuring plan-management insights from Plan Hero. NDIS funding decisions are made by the NDIA. Information reviewed 20 October 2026.
