A Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA) is how a behaviour support practitioner works out why a behaviour of concern is happening. “Functional” means looking at the purpose the behaviour serves for the person, such as getting help, avoiding something overwhelming, seeking sensory input or communicating pain.
The assessment is the foundation of a good Behaviour Support Plan. Without it, strategies are guesswork.
What happens during an assessment
- Conversations with the person, wherever possible, about what matters to them
- Interviews with family, carers, support workers and teachers
- Observations at home, school, work or in the community, with consent
- Reading reports from doctors, therapists and schools
- Collecting data, such as ABC charts that record what happened before, during and after a behaviour
- Looking at health, sleep, sensory needs, communication, trauma history, relationships and routines
What we are looking for
We look for patterns. Does the behaviour happen at certain times of day, in certain places, with certain people or after certain demands? What happens straight afterwards? What is different on the good days? Patterns point to the unmet need behind the behaviour.
How long it takes
There is no fixed timeframe. An assessment takes as long as it needs to give an accurate picture. Under NDIS rules, the comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan that comes from it should be completed within six months. Where there are safety risks, an interim plan is put in place first.
How families can help
- Share what a good day and a hard day look like
- Keep simple notes or short videos (with consent) when things are hard
- Tell us what you have already tried, and what helped even a little
- Help us connect with school, day care and support workers
What comes next
The assessment leads to a written summary of why behaviours are likely happening. That understanding shapes every part of the Behaviour Support Plan: changes to environments, skills to teach and how to respond safely.
This guide is general information only. It is not medical or legal advice. Talk with us about your situation.
