ABA Australia commenced a national advocacy campaign calling for the formal recognition of Certified Behaviour Analysts (CBAs), Certified Behaviour Analyst – Undergraduates (CBAUs), and the discipline of applied behaviour analysis (ABA) within the NDIS Practice Standards Qualification and Professional Associations Required Documentation Guide.

The Guide released earlier in October 2025 did not explicitly include CBAs, CBAUs, or ABA services. This omission created uncertainty for participants, practitioners, and providers, and posed operational risks for services delivering evidence-based behaviour analytic supports.

ABA Australia identified that clearer professional recognition was essential to ensuring continuity of services, protecting participant access, and supporting safe and ethical practice across the sector, reflecting advocacy work the Association has been undertaking consistently since 2023.

As part of this advocacy, ABA Australia prepared a joint statement addressed to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, calling for:

• Formal recognition of CBAs and CBAUs under the Therapeutic Supports category

• Clear timelines and transparency regarding professional inclusion and review processes

• A meeting with the Commission to clarify the professional review process

• Representation in advisory and working groups to ensure behaviour analytic services are accurately considered

The campaign invited support from practitioners, families, carers, and organisations across Australia, reflecting the shared interest in maintaining access to high-quality, evidence-based behaviour analytic services within the NDIS.