Functional Behaviour Assessment
A Functional Behaviour Assessment helps us move beyond what a behaviour looks like and develop a clearer, evidence-informed understanding of what may be contributing to it, what the person may be communicating, and what support is likely to make the greatest difference.
Look beyond the behaviour.
Understand what is driving it.
An FBA is a structured process for understanding the function or purpose of behaviour. It can draw on direct observation, interviews, existing reports, behavioural data and information from the people who know the person best to identify patterns in what happens before, during and after behaviour.
At BMe Supports, we place that functional understanding within the broader context of the person’s life. We consider communication, sensory and emotional regulation, physical and mental health, trauma history, relationships, routines, environmental demands, culture, strengths and quality of life — because behaviour rarely exists in isolation.
The result is not a label or a simple explanation. It is a working, evidence-informed formulation that can be tested, refined and translated into proactive strategies, environmental changes and meaningful skill development.
How a Functional Behaviour Assessment develops.
The process is collaborative and evidence-informed. Information is gathered from multiple sources, working hypotheses are developed and those hypotheses are refined as new information becomes available.
Define
Clearly describe the behaviour in observable, specific terms so everyone is talking about the same thing.
Gather
Bring together observation, interviews, records, behavioural data and information from relevant people and settings.
Analyse
Look for patterns, triggers, consequences, environmental influences, unmet needs and factors that may maintain behaviour.
Formulate
Develop evidence-informed working hypotheses about the function of behaviour within the person’s broader life context.
Translate
Use the findings to guide proactive supports, environmental changes, skill development and Behaviour Support Plan strategies.
For NDIS comprehensive Behaviour Support Plans, functional behavioural assessment forms part of the required behaviour support assessment. Where regulated restrictive practices are involved, assessment findings also help inform proactive, function-based strategies aimed at reducing and eliminating their use over time.