Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) has become a staple term in disability services across the NDIS and Australia, yet many still conflate it with Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). In today’s post, we unpack our approach, compare it to ABA, explain why it matters and share how it can lead to lasting, respectful change for people with disability.

Why Words and Methods Matter

Imagine two scenarios: one in which an intervention team strictly measures every word or action, rewarding “correct” responses and withholding support until compliance is earned. Then picture a collaborative meeting where the person at the centre chooses meaningful goals, and the strategies are woven into familiar routines. Although both claim to address behaviour, the experience and the results could not be more different.

ABA has its roots in discrete-trial training and a heavy focus on modifying observable actions. Too often, this can lead to rigid drills, where the person’s interests, choices and well-being become secondary. By contrast, PBS begins with respect: we seek to understand why a behaviour occurs, what it communicates and how the environment influences it. First, let’s go over ABA in greater detail.

What is ABA Therapy?

Applied Behaviour Analysis, commonly known as ABA, is a scientific discipline rooted in behaviourist theory. Developed in the mid-20th century, it seeks to understand the principles that govern learning and behaviour. Practitioners systematically measure how an individual’s actions change in response to specific interventions and use that data to shape future strategies. Initially applied in various settings, from classrooms to clinical environments, ABA aims to increase desirable behaviours and reduce those that cause harm or interfere with daily life.

What are ABA methods?

Central techniques in ABA include discrete trial training, prompting, reinforcement schedules and task analysis. Discrete trials break complex skills into brief, structured teaching episodes: each trial has an explicit instruction, a response and a consequence. Prompts, verbal, gestural or physical, guide learners towards the correct response, then gradually fade to encourage independence. Reinforcement schedules offer rewards, such as tokens, praise or access to preferred activities, whenever the target behaviour occurs. Task analysis involves dividing a skill into component steps and teaching each step sequentially. Generalisation and maintenance strategies ensure that skills transfer across different environments, people and routines.

Why is there controversy around ABA?

ABA has fallen out of favour in recent years. Critics argue that some ABA practices focus excessively on compliance, overlooking personal choice and emotional well-being. Early applications sometimes employed aversive consequences, such as punishment or withholding of rewards, leading to ethical concerns about distress and trauma. Many self-advocate groups report feeling pressured to conform rather than supported to develop meaningful communication and self-advocacy. While modern ABA has shifted away from punitive methods and now emphasises positive reinforcement, its historical roots continue to prompt debate about informed consent, respect and whether measurable outcomes fully capture an individual’s quality of life.

Insight PBS and ABA

Insight PBS does not practice ABA or any of its associated methods. Below is an outline of the method and the processes our practitioners use.

You can read our full process here

The Foundation: Functional Assessment

Before recommending any strategy, our practitioners conduct a comprehensive Functional Behaviour Assessment. This involves:

Conversations with the person, their family and carers
Observations in real-world settings such as home, school or work
Data collection to identify triggers and patterns

Armed with this insight, we can design supports that address the root cause of behaviour rather than only its outward form.

Co-Designing a Meaningful Plan

Person-centred planning is at the heart of PBS. We invite the person, their family, allied-health colleagues, and support workers to set goals that truly matter, be it greater independence, improved social skills or reduced anxiety in new environments. Together, we map out strategies that:

Teach alternative skills, such as effective communication or self-regulation
Modify routines and settings to reduce unhelpful triggers
Include visual supports or augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) where needed

Every strategy is trialled in natural contexts so that new skills become part of daily life, not just an isolated exercise.

Building Capacity and Confidence

Rather than imposing a programme from the top down, we coach and guide everyone involved. Carers, educators, and support staff learn practical techniques and are encouraged to give feedback. This shared responsibility means support remains consistent, flexible, and tailored.

Safeguards and Ethical Standards

We adhere to strict ethical guidelines under the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Every intervention is fully transparent and must be consented to by the participant or guardian. Aversive or coercive methods have no place in our practice.

Real Outcomes, Real Stories

Since adopting this holistic, rights-based model, Insight PBS has supported hundreds of participants across Australia. We have seen remarkable improvements in communication, emotional regulation, and community participation. Parents and participants tell us they feel heard and respected. Schools report smoother transitions. Most importantly, individuals feel more in control of their own lives.