Why positive behaviour for learning : the how's and why's of translating a US model for local sustainable education

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) is an initiative of the New South Wales Department of Education and Training Western Sydney Region (NSW DET WSR) that has been progressively introduced into schools. In adapting the US model of Positive Behaviour Interventions and Support (PBIS) program, DET WSR changed more than the name of the Australian model of the intervention. The original model was extended beyond behaviour management to emphasise the facilitation of learning outcomes. As a result of local adaptations, various changes occurred at both the school level and regional level. From fieldwork data comprising focus group discussions and individual interviews with stakeholders, the reasons for these changes and their effects, expected or unexpected, provided rich information that may facilitate further improvement of the intervention. Distinctive features of the WSR schools' adaptation of PBL were observed in terms of cultural and contextual factors.