NDIS Positive Behaviour Support Insights | Gibelli Positive Pathways
Providing mobile PBS and Functional Behaviour Assessments to families across Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and Western Australia. While we support participants across multiple states, we are currently offering priority mobile capacity in Melbourne’s Western suburbs, including Melton, Werribee, and the Wyndham corridor.
The NDIS is changing in 2026. From the new I-CAN v6 assessments to flexible budgets, discover what Melbourne families need to know to secure their support.
Navigating the 2026 NDIS Changes: What Melbourne Families Need to Know About Support Needs Assessments
As we move into early 2026, the NDIS landscape in Victoria is undergoing its most significant shift in a decade. With the introduction of the New Framework Planning, many Melbourne families are asking: "How will my support change, and what does this mean for my Behaviour Support Plan?"
At Gibelli Positive Pathways, we’ve been closely monitoring these reforms to ensure our participants in Werribee, Melton, and across the Western Suburbs stay ahead of the curve.
From "Functional" to "Support Needs": The 2026 Shift
The biggest change this year is the transition toward Support Needs Assessments. Unlike previous years where "expensive reports" were the primary focus, the NDIA is now using the I-CAN v6 tool (developed right here at the University of Melbourne) to determine flexible budgets.
What does this mean for you? Under the new framework, your budget will be more flexible, but the evidence required to justify that budget must be more precise. A robust Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) plan is no longer just a compliance document—it is now a vital piece of evidence that outlines exactly what your daily "disability-related support needs" look like in practice.
Victoria’s Safeguarding: The Senior Practitioner’s Role
While federal rules are changing, Victoria’s commitment to safety remains high. We continue to work hand-in-hand with the Victorian Senior Practitioner to ensure that all Behaviour Support Plans (BSPs) focus on the reduction of restrictive practices.
In 2026, the Senior Practitioner is emphasizing "The Right Direction"—a focus on quality of life and clinical integrity. Our practitioners are experts in:
BSP-QE II Compliance: Ensuring your plan meets the high-quality benchmarks set by the Victorian Government.
Authorised Program Officer (APO) Liaison: Streamlining the authorisation process so your support isn't delayed by paperwork.
Immediate Capacity in Melbourne’s West
We know that "reform fatigue" is real. With so many changes to NDIS laws, the last thing you need is a 6-month waitlist for a practitioner.
Gibelli Positive Pathways maintains immediate intake capacity for families in:
Werribee & Hoppers Crossing
Melton & Bacchus Marsh
Point Cook & Tarneit
Footscray & Sunshine
How We Help You Transition
Whether you are moving to a "New Framework Plan" this month or simply need to update your current strategies, we provide mobile, home-based assessments that capture the real-world data the NDIS now requires.
Ready to secure your 2026 support? Don’t wait for your plan review to find a practitioner. Let’s build a evidence-based pathway that protects your funding and improves your quality of life.
The NDIS is moving toward a "New Framework" for planning in 2026. Discover how the shift to Support Needs Assessments and the I-CAN v6 tool will change your Behaviour Support funding—and how families in Melbourne can prepare now to secure their budgets.
NDIS 2026: What Melbourne Families Need to Know About the "New Framework" Planning
How the shift from functional assessments to "Support Needs Assessments" impacts your Behaviour Support funding.
The NDIS is changing. If you are a participant or carer in Melbourne—from Mickleham to Glen Waverley—you’ve likely heard about the "New Framework" planning rolling out in mid-2026.
At Gibelli Positive Pathways, we know that change can be stressful, especially when it involves your support budget. Here is a clear breakdown of what is changing and how you can prepare.
1. What is the "New Framework" Planning?
Starting mid-2026, the NDIA is moving away from purely "Functional Assessments" and moving toward a Support Needs Assessment.
The Old Way: You provided multiple expensive reports from OTs, Psychologists, and PBS practitioners to "prove" your need.
The New Way: A trained government assessor will have a "structured conversation" with you about your daily life. They will use a tool called the I-CAN v6 (developed at the University of Melbourne) to help determine your budget.
2. Why Behaviour Support is More Important Than Ever
With the new framework, the NDIA is looking for measurable outcomes. The algorithms that set budgets in 2026 favor participants who can show their supports are actually working.
Concise Reporting: Long, "fluffy" reports are out. Sharp progress reports that show a reduction in restrictive practices or an increase in social skills are in.
Flexible Budgets: Most plans will now have a "Flexible Budget" component. A clear Positive Behaviour Support Plan (PBSP) ensures that money is being spent effectively to improve quality of life.
3. How to Prepare Your Family
If your plan is due for review in late 2025 or 2026, don’t wait for the NDIA to call you.
Review your current PBSP: Is it up to date? Does it clearly show your goals?
Collect Evidence: Keep a simple log of how transitions or social interactions are improving.
Talk to an Expert: Our team at Gibelli is already training on the 2026 framework to ensure our Melbourne clients don't see a "funding dip" during the transition.
Ready to Secure Your 2026 Support?
We currently have immediate capacity for Functional Behaviour Assessments (FBAs) and ongoing Behaviour Support across Melbourne, including Rowville, Fawkner, Heathmont, and Mernda.
Don't wait for your plan review to find out you're behind. Let us help you build the evidence you need for a successful transition to the new NDIS framework.
Click Here to Complete Our Online Referral Form (It takes less than 2 minutes to get started)
Gibelli Positive Pathways is expanding! We are now offering mobile NDIS Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and FBAs across Melbourne’s Western Suburbs, with current capacity in Melton and Werribee.
What is an FBA? A Parent’s Guide to NDIS Functional Behaviour Assessments
If you have recently received an NDIS plan with "Improved Relationships" funding, you may have heard the term FBA or Functional Behaviour Assessment.
For many parents in Melbourne’s West, this sounds like just another piece of clinical jargon. However, the FBA is actually the most important tool we use to understand your child’s needs and create a pathway toward a calmer, happier home life.
What exactly is an FBA?
Think of an FBA as a "detective investigation." Instead of just looking at what a person is doing (the challenging behaviour), we look at why they are doing it.
Every behaviour serves a purpose. Whether it’s a meltdown at school in Melton or a refusal to get dressed in Werribee, the participant is trying to communicate something. Our job is to translate that communication.
The Three Steps of the FBA Process
At Gibelli Positive Pathways, we break the assessment down into three clear stages:
Information Gathering: We talk to the people who know the participant best—you! We also review previous reports from OTs or Speech Pathologists.
Direct Observation: Our practitioners visit the home or school environment to see the behaviour in context.
The Analysis: We identify the "function" of the behaviour. Is it to avoid a difficult task? To gain attention? Or perhaps to meet a sensory need?
Why is the FBA so important for your NDIS Plan?
Without an FBA, a Behaviour Support Plan is just a guess. Google and the NDIS Commission require a evidence-based approach. A high-quality FBA ensures that:
Your strategies are actually targeted at the root cause.
Your funding is being used effectively.
You have a clear baseline to measure progress over time.
Local Support in Melbourne’s West
We understand that waiting for assessments can be stressful. We prioritize local families in Melton, Werribee, and surrounding suburbs to ensure your FBA is completed thoroughly and professionally, without the long commute to a city clinic.
Need an FBA for your child or participant?
Our mobile practitioners are currently accepting new referrals for Functional Behaviour Assessments across Western Melbourne.