Behaviour support provision in Australia: A cross-sectional survey of practitioners developing behaviour intervention plans

Abstract

There is currently a limited understanding of the characteristics of the workforce of behaviour support practitioners in Australia. A better understanding will help future considerations of training requirements, professional credentialling and associated professional regulation. A cross-sectional online survey captured the demographic and work-related characteristics of those who develop behaviour intervention plans for people with disability in Australia. The sample (n = 423) was primarily female (78 per cent), aged 26–45 years (57 per cent) and held a graduate (39 per cent) or postgraduate (53 per cent) degree. The largest single professional group was psychologists (28 per cent). The most common duration of experience was 1 year. Approximately half of the respondents were allied health practitioners either registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency or a member of the National Alliance of Self-Regulating Health Professionals. The majority of practitioners had registered with the National Disability Insurance Scheme to provide behaviour support services (85 per cent). Both clients and services were concentrated in metropolitan regions, raising concerns regarding equity of access to behaviour support in remote communities, and among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Given the vulnerability of many people with disabilities in receipt of behaviour support, ongoing policy and procedure work is needed to ensure professional credentialling and regulation of the workforce.