Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA)
Completed by a Behavioural Support Practitioner, our Functional Behaviour Assessments help uncover the reasons behind behaviours of concern in children. By observing your child and collaborating with families and support teams, we identify triggers and unmet needs to develop tailored strategies that promote safety, connection, and wellbeing.
FBAs are especially helpful when children show behaviours like aggression, self-injury, meltdowns, or have difficulty with transitions and communication. Our approach is strengths-based, neuro-affirming, and trauma-informed, focusing on respectful, practical support rather than control or punishment.
These assessments can be funded through your child’s NDIS plan. If you’d like to learn more or discuss whether an FBA is right for your child, please contact us — we’re here to support your family every step of the way.
Understanding Behaviours of Concern
When your child displays behaviours such as aggression, self-injury, or running away, an FBA helps identify the reasons behind these behaviours to guide safer, more effective support.
Managing Emotional Overwhelm
If your child struggles with big emotions like anger, anxiety, or frustration, an FBA can uncover triggers and help develop strategies to support emotional regulation.
Navigating Changes and Transitions
When your child finds it difficult to cope with changes in routine or new environments, an FBA can help identify supports that make transitions smoother and less stressful.
Supporting Communication Needs
If your child uses behaviour as their main way of expressing needs or distress, an FBA can inform alternative communication strategies tailored to your child.
Reducing Restrictive Practices
An FBA can assist in identifying ways to reduce or replace restrictive practices such as physical restraint by developing positive, respectful interventions.
Preventing Exclusion from School or Community
If behaviours are leading to exclusion from school or social activities, an FBA helps create inclusive supports that promote participation and belonging.
Building Consistent Support Across Environments
When multiple people support your child, an FBA provides clear, consistent guidance to ensure everyone responds in a respectful, unified way that benefits your child.
A functional behavioural assessment (FBA) may encompass some or all of the following components, though it's not mandatory for all cases:
Initial Consultation
This is the first meeting where the practitioner gathers background information about the child, their behaviours, and the concerns of the family and support team.
Review of Existing Documentation
Any previous reports, assessments, school notes, or medical information are reviewed to understand the child’s history and context.
Interviews with Caregivers and Support Staff
Detailed discussions with parents, teachers, and other caregivers help identify when and where behaviours occur and their possible triggers.
Direct Observation
The practitioner observes the child in natural settings such as home, school, or therapy sessions to see behaviours firsthand and note environmental factors.
Data Collection
Systematic recording of behaviours, including frequency, duration, intensity, and antecedents, to detect patterns and triggers.
Functional Analysis
Sometimes controlled situations are set up to test hypotheses about the function of behaviours, helping clarify why the behaviour happens.
Identification of Behaviour Functions
Using gathered information, the practitioner determines whether behaviours serve to gain attention, escape demands, seek sensory input, or communicate a need.
Collaboration with Multidisciplinary Teams
Input from allied health professionals, educators, and therapists ensures a holistic understanding of the child’s needs and informs recommendations.
Development of Hypotheses
The practitioner forms educated guesses about the cause and purpose of behaviours, which guides the creation of support strategies.
Comprehensive Reporting and Recommendations
A clear, accessible report is provided summarising findings and offering practical, strengths-based strategies to support the child across settings.
Take the first leap towards progress
If you are considering an assessment for your child, our team of professionals is here to guide you through the process with care, respect, and understanding. The first step is completing our intake form, which helps us understand your child’s needs and how an assessment can support them.
Submitting the form is obligation-free and doesn’t commit you to any further steps—it’s simply a way to begin the conversation and explore the best options for your child. Once we receive your form, our team will reach out to discuss the next steps, answer any questions you may have, and provide the support you need. Together, we can work towards helping your child thrive.
"Empowering individuals to build skills, gain confidence, and thrive in everyday life."
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