Behaviour Support and Restrictive Practices
Understand behaviour support plans and the rules on restrictive practices.
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) starts with understanding the person—their needs, preferences, relationships and environment. It focuses on improving quality of life and providing respectful support that helps prevent and reduce distress.
The Get My Course Positive Behaviour Support for SIL Workers short course introduces the foundations of PBS in supported independent living. Explore how behaviour can communicate an unmet need, discomfort or a desire for change, and how meaningful activities, genuine choices and positive relationships support everyday wellbeing.
Learn about following Behaviour Support Plans, recognising early warning signs, responding calmly and identifying concerns about restrictive practices. The course also covers collaboration with Behaviour Support Practitioners, support after incidents and clear, factual documentation.
This course builds awareness for everyday support work. Apply your learning alongside individual Behaviour Support Plans and your organisation’s policies and procedures.
Practical resources you can keep and use whenever needed.
Revisit key information about PBS principles, Behaviour Support Plans, restrictive practice awareness and documentation.
Reinforce your learning and test your understanding through practical, non-graded activities.
Apply what you have learned at work and check that important support, reporting and follow-up steps are not overlooked.
Course outcomes
Explain the key principles of Positive Behaviour Support
Consider what behaviour may communicate without making assumptions
Support meaningful activity, choice and positive relationships
Recognise individual early warning signs of distress
Understand and follow strategies in a Behaviour Support Plan
Respond calmly and respectfully within your role
Recognise potential restrictive practices and raise concerns
Share useful observations with supervisors and Behaviour Support Practitioners
Support recovery after an incident without blame or punishment
Document observations, responses and outcomes clearly
On the job
A participant repeatedly declines a planned activity.
Consider their preferences, communication and possible unmet needs, and offer choices consistent with their support plan.
A change in routine is followed by signs of distress.
Notice the context, recognise individual warning signs and use the person’s planned support strategies.
You begin supporting a participant with a Behaviour Support Plan.
Understand the importance of reading the plan and seeking clarification before implementing unfamiliar strategies.
A participant becomes distressed during a daily task.
Respond calmly, give appropriate space and follow the plan’s response strategies.
A worker restricts access to an item “for convenience.”
Recognise a possible restrictive practice and raise the concern through the appropriate pathway.
A support strategy appears to be becoming less effective.
Record specific observations and request guidance or review through the appropriate team members.
A participant is recovering after an incident.
Offer reassurance, allow time to settle and support a gentle return to routine.
You need to document an event.
Record the context, observed behaviour, response and outcome without judgemental labels.
Six simple steps
After successfully meeting the course requirements, learners will receive a Certificate of Completion for the Get My Course Positive Behaviour Support for SIL Workers short course. You will also have your downloadable Course Pack for continued learning and workplace reference.
Certificate of Completion
Awarded once you meet all course requirements.
This is non-accredited training. The Certificate of Completion is not a nationally recognised qualification or Statement of Attainment. Completing this course does not qualify you as a Behaviour Support Practitioner, authorise you to develop or change Behaviour Support Plans, or authorise the use of restrictive practices.
Everyday support can influence how safe, understood and connected a person feels. Meaningful activities, genuine choices and respectful relationships help create a more supportive environment.
PBS encourages workers to look beyond the immediate behaviour and consider the person’s experience. This helps teams identify possible unmet needs and respond with greater understanding.
Consistent support, accurate observations and constructive collaboration also help practitioners review strategies. Together, these practices support dignity, participation and better quality of life.
Positive Behaviour Support is a person-centred approach that seeks to understand behaviour, improve quality of life and reduce behaviours of concern through individualised, respectful support.
SIL stands for supported independent living. It involves assistance with daily tasks and building skills to help people with disability live as independently as possible.
The course is designed primarily for disability support workers in SIL and shared accommodation. It is also relevant to community support workers, casual staff and team leaders seeking foundational PBS knowledge.
You can start anytime. Enrol online and begin learning when it suits you.
No. This is a non-accredited Professional Development Short Course. Successful learners receive a Certificate of Completion.
No. Everyday principles such as respecting preferences, offering meaningful choices and building positive relationships can support all participants. Where a Behaviour Support Plan is in place, workers must understand and follow the strategies relevant to their role.
No. The course helps workers understand their implementation and observation responsibilities. Plan development and review require an appropriately qualified and suitable Behaviour Support Practitioner.
Yes. It introduces physical, environmental, chemical and mechanical restraint, and seclusion. The focus is on recognising concerns, understanding role boundaries and seeking appropriate guidance.
No. Including a restrictive practice in a plan does not replace applicable state or territory authorisation requirements. Course completion also does not provide authorisation to use restrictive practices.
Prioritise safety and raise the concern with your team leader or Behaviour Support Practitioner. Provide factual observations and seek guidance rather than independently changing the plan.
Yes. The course explores recording the time, context, observed behaviour, response and outcome using clear, specific language.
Yes. Download the Reference Guide, Workbook and Workplace Checklist and keep them for future reference alongside current participant plans and workplace procedures.
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Learn to understand behaviour, support individual choice and contribute to a better quality of life through respectful everyday care.
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