Our Behaviour Support Development Program: Supporting Practitioners, Strengthening Services

Clair Kauter • February 27, 2025

At helpz, we know that providing high-quality behaviour support starts with confident, well-equipped practitioners. That’s why we created the Behaviour Support Development Program (BSDP)—our very own training and mentorship pathway designed to help new practitioners build the skills they need to succeed.


Since launching in 2022, our program has supported over 100 practitioners to step into the field with the practical knowledge, experience, and confidence to provide meaningful support to people with disabilities. And we’re proud to say that number is growing every year!


How It Works


The BSDP is delivered entirely online and starts with a series of seven interactive webinars, giving practitioners a strong foundation in behaviour support. From there, participants can opt into an 8-week mentorship program, where they work alongside our experienced clinicians to apply their learning in real-world scenarios.


Throughout the program, we guide practitioners every step of the way, helping them:

✅ Write and refine behaviour support plans
✅ Develop effective data collection strategies
✅ Complete assessments with confidence
✅ Prepare training and implementation programs, including those involving restrictive practices


At the end of the self-paced journey, each practitioner undergoes a comprehensive review of their self-assessment and previous experience. Based on this, they may be endorsed as Core or Developing Core, setting them up for success as they take on their first caseload.


What Our Practitioners Say

Many of our past participants have shared how the BSDP gave them the confidence and skills to thrive in their roles.

Courtney Pettingill, a recent BSDP graduate, said: "I was initially anxious about completing the BSDP… but the activities made learning easy, and my nerves quickly faded thanks to the incredible support from the Helpz team and my clinical supervisor. Now, I feel confident delivering behaviour support services."

Looking Ahead to 2025

We’re excited to continue growing our BSDP in 2025, welcoming even more passionate practitioners who want to make a real impact in the disability sector.

If you’re looking for a supportive, hands-on program to kick-start your behaviour support career, we’d love to welcome you to helpz!
Find out more about our program here.

News & Insights

Check Our Latest Resources

September 10, 2025
Understanding Megalocornea-Intellectual Disability Syndrome
September 10, 2025
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissio n has released a new suite of resources titled "Restrictive Practices and Me", designed to support meaningful conversations with participants when regulated restrictive practices are included in their behaviour support plans. These resources aim to uphold participants' rights and ensure that discussions around restrictive practices are accessible, respectful, and tailored to individual needs. Developed in collaboration with people with disability, NDIS providers, authorisation bodies, and advocacy organisations, the materials reflect a commitment to person-centred practice and transparency. What’s Included? The Restrictive Practices and Me toolkit features: A tip sheet for practitioners and providers Plain English and Easy Read discussion books A case study illustrating practical application A set of icons to visually represent different types of restrictive practices These resources are editable and adaptable, allowing practitioners to tailor content to each participant’s circumstances. For example, pages not relevant to a participant’s situation can be removed, and images can be reused in other formats. Why It Matters Under Section 20 of the NDIS (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018, participants must be informed when restrictive practices are proposed. These conversations must be conducted in a way that is easy to understand and respectful of the participant’s autonomy. The Commission emphasises that restrictive practices should only be used as a last resort, and must be the least restrictive option available. They must be included in a behaviour support plan and follow the appropriate authorisation processes. Regulatory Priorities for 2025–26 This initiative aligns with the NDIS Commission’s broader regulatory priorities for 2025–26, which include: Reducing and eliminating regulated restrictive practices Strengthening oversight of unregistered providers Improving management of high-risk health concerns Ensuring providers support and train skilled workers Commissioner Louise Glanville reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to human rights, stating that “practices that restrict the rights or freedom of movement of people with disability can be traumatic, dangerous and breach basic human rights." Accessing the Resources The Restrictive Practices and Me resources are available for download on the NDIS Commission website . Providers are encouraged to use, adapt, and share these tools to foster informed, respectful, and rights-based conversations with participants. Link : Talking to participants about Restrictive Practices Reference: NDIS Commision 2025-26 priorities focus: participant rights and safer services
September 10, 2025
 By Tharon Neurodivergent Consultant at helpz