Beyond Behaviour: Exploring How Positive Behaviour Support Might Work for Autistic Children Within Australia's NDIS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) endorsed‐behavioural intervention framework. Understanding how and why PBS is effective is critical, given the increasing number of autistic children accessing the NDIS. Guided by critical realist theory, this synthesis of nine international studies identified mechanisms that informed the development of theories for reducing autistic children's problem behaviours. This research provides insight into the activation of PBS mechanisms, including the role of behaviour practitioners. Examination of PBS practice under routine NDIS service conditions is now required to determine whether NDIS PBS practitioners can achieve comparable outcomes for autistic children receiving behaviour support to the included studies.