When a behaviour keeps happening — the meltdowns at the same time each day, the property damage, the withdrawal — it’s tempting to ask “how do we stop it?” A functional behaviour assessment asks a more useful question first: “what is this behaviour telling us?” It’s the detective work that makes everything that follows actually work. Here’s what a functional behaviour assessment is, how it’s done in metropolitan Adelaide, and why it’s the foundation of any behaviour support plan worth having.
A functional behaviour assessment (sometimes called an FBA or functional behavioural assessment) is a structured process for working out why a behaviour of concern is happening. Behaviours almost always serve a purpose — to get something, avoid something, gain attention, or meet a sensory or communication need. The assessment uncovers that purpose so that support can address the real cause rather than just the symptom.
In positive behaviour support, the functional assessment is non-negotiable. A behaviour support practitioner uses it to make sure the strategies in the plan are based on evidence about the person, not guesswork or a one-size-fits-all template.
Two people can show the exact same behaviour for completely different reasons. One person might shout to escape a noisy room; another might shout because it reliably brings a support worker over. If you treat both the same way, you’ll help one and accidentally make things worse for the other. Identifying the function is what lets a practitioner choose strategies that genuinely fit the person.
A functional behaviour assessment is usually carried out:
If a participant has behaviour support funding in their NDIS plan, the assessment is typically part of that work.
A good assessment gathers information from several angles so the picture is complete:
The practitioner then uses that understanding to design strategies — which become the behaviour support plan.
| Area | What the practitioner explores |
|---|---|
| Antecedents | What happens before the behaviour — triggers, settings, times of day |
| The behaviour | A clear, objective description of what actually occurs |
| Consequences | What happens after — and what the person gains or avoids |
| Setting events | Background factors like sleep, pain, hunger or routine changes |
| Skills and strengths | What the person can already do, and what skills would help |
| Communication | How the person communicates needs, and any gaps |
The assessment isn’t the destination — it’s the map. Its findings flow directly into the behaviour support plan: the proactive strategies, the skills to teach, the response strategies, and any plan to reduce restrictive practices. Skipping or rushing the assessment is the single most common reason a plan fails, because the strategies end up aimed at the wrong target.
You know the person better than any practitioner ever will, and your input is part of the evidence. Expect to be interviewed, asked to share what you’ve noticed, and sometimes asked to help collect simple information about when behaviours happen. The best assessments are genuinely collaborative — the practitioner brings the method, you bring the lived knowledge.
A thorough functional assessment takes time and skill. A practitioner who promises a finished plan in a few days probably isn’t doing a real assessment. Look for someone who explains their process, observes in the real environment, and writes findings in plain language you can understand.
From our base in Kensington, Logik Works carries out functional behaviour assessments for NDIS participants across greater Adelaide — eastern, northern, southern and western suburbs and the inner city. Wherever possible we observe in the person’s own environment, because a behaviour that shows up at home or in a day program is best understood there, not in an office. Telepractice is available where it suits the participant and their team.
The assessment works out why a behaviour happens; the plan sets out what to do about it. The assessment comes first and informs the plan.
It varies with complexity, but it involves several information sources and direct observation, so it’s measured in weeks rather than days.
No. The assessment is based on the person’s behaviours and needs, not on a particular diagnosis.
The participant, their family or carers, support workers, and anyone else who knows the person well — alongside the behaviour support practitioner.
For eligible participants, yes — it’s part of behaviour support funding. A practitioner can help you check your plan.
Plans are living documents. If the function or circumstances change, the practitioner reviews and updates the approach.
Yes. Understanding the function is exactly what allows a practitioner to design strategies that make restrictive practices unnecessary.
Getting the assessment right is what makes everything that follows work. If you want a clear, thorough functional behaviour assessment that leads to a plan people can actually use, Logik Works can help — across metropolitan Adelaide, in person or via telepractice. Make a referral or get in touch and we’ll explain the next steps.