Restrictive Practices Explained

Everyone has the right to feel safe, respected, and in control of their own life.

Sometimes, a person with disability may need extra support when they are distressed, overwhelmed, unsafe, or at risk of harming themselves or someone else.

In very limited situations, a service may use something called a restrictive practice.

Restrictive practices are serious because they limit a person’s rights, freedom, movement, or choices.

They are highly regulated and must never be used casually, as punishment, for convenience, or because a service does not have enough staff or training.

For NDIS participants, restrictive practices must be part of a behaviour support plan written by a qualified positive behaviour support practitioner. They must also be reported and regulated through the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

The goal should always be to keep people safe while protecting their dignity, rights, and choice as much as possible.

What is a restrictive practice?

A restrictive practice is something that limits a person’s rights or freedom.

It may stop a person from moving freely, making choices, accessing things, or doing something they want to do.

Restrictive practices can happen in different settings, including homes, supported accommodation, schools, day programs, workplaces, hospitals, and community services.

Because restrictive practices can have a serious impact on a person’s life, there are strict rules about when and how they can be used.

They should only be used when there is a clear safety reason, when other less restrictive options have been considered, and when they are included in an approved behaviour support plan.

Examples of restrictive practices

Restrictive practices may include things like:

Physical restraint, where someone uses physical force to stop or limit a person’s movement.

Mechanical restraint, where equipment is used to limit a person’s movement.

Environmental restraint, where a person’s access to places, items, or activities is restricted.

Chemical restraint, where medication is used mainly to influence or control behaviour, not to treat a diagnosed health condition.

Seclusion, where a person is kept alone in a space they cannot freely leave.

These practices should not be used unless they are properly authorised, documented, monitored, and reviewed.

Why restrictive practices are serious

Restrictive practices can have a big impact on a person’s wellbeing.

They can make people feel scared, powerless, ashamed, angry, or unsafe. They can damage trust between a person and the people supporting them. They can also increase distress if the person’s needs are not being understood.

This is why restrictive practices are tightly controlled.

They must be used only as a last resort and only in line with the person’s behaviour support plan.

The plan should explain why the restrictive practice is being used, when it can be used, how it must be used safely, and how it will be reduced or removed over time.

Restrictive practices should never be used as punishment

Restrictive practices should never be used to punish someone.

They should never be used because someone is frustrated, annoyed, tired, or wants the person to comply.

They should not be used because it is easier for staff or because a service has not planned properly.

For example, it is not okay to take away someone’s communication device because they are “being difficult.”

It is not okay to lock food away just because it is easier for staff.

It is not okay to stop someone seeing friends because they complained.

It is not okay to physically block someone just because they want to leave a room, unless there is an immediate and serious safety risk and the response is allowed under the person’s plan.

Support should be about dignity and safety, not control.

Restrictive practices need a behaviour support plan

For NDIS participants, a restrictive practice must be included in a behaviour support plan.

This plan must be written by a qualified positive behaviour support practitioner.

A good behaviour support plan should explain:

What the person is trying to communicate through their behaviour

What may be causing distress or risk

What support strategies should be used first

How the person can be supported in positive ways

When a restrictive practice may be used

How the restrictive practice must be used safely

How staff should record and report what happened

How the restrictive practice will be reduced or removed over time

The plan should focus on understanding the person and improving their quality of life, not just stopping behaviour.

Behaviour is communication

When a person is distressed, their behaviour may be telling us something important.

It may be saying:

I am overwhelmed.

I am scared.

I am in pain.

I do not understand.

I need space.

I need help.

I feel unsafe.

Something is wrong.

Positive behaviour support is about understanding what is happening for the person and changing the support, environment, communication, or routine to better meet their needs.

Good support should ask, “What is this person trying to tell us?”

It should not simply ask, “How do we make this behaviour stop?”

The goal should always be less restriction

If a restrictive practice is being used, there must be a plan to reduce and remove it wherever possible.

The goal should never be to keep using restrictions forever.

Support should focus on:

Understanding what triggers distress

Making the environment calmer and more accessible

Using communication supports

Giving the person more choice and control

Building predictable routines

Supporting sensory needs

Listening to the person’s preferences

Training staff properly

Using positive behaviour support strategies

Reviewing what is working and what needs to change

A person should not have their freedom limited because a service has not made the right adjustments.

People have the right to be involved

People with disability should be involved in decisions about their own support.

This includes decisions about safety, behaviour support, routines, risks, and any limits that may affect their life.

Information should be explained in a way the person can understand.

The person should be supported to share what they want, what they do not want, what helps them feel safe, and what makes things worse.

Families, guardians, advocates, and trusted people may also be involved, but the person’s voice should remain central.

Decisions should not be made about a person without them.

Services have responsibilities

NDIS providers have responsibilities when restrictive practices are used.

They must follow the rules, keep records, report what happens, and make sure restrictive practices are only used in line with the person’s behaviour support plan and relevant authorisation requirements.

Workers must understand the plan and know what they can and cannot do.

Services should also make sure staff are trained in positive behaviour support, trauma-informed practice, communication, dignity of risk, and rights-based support.

Restrictive practices are not everyday behaviour management tools.

They are regulated safeguards that require planning, oversight, reporting, and review.

What can you do if you are worried?

If you think a restrictive practice is being used in a way that is unsafe, unfair, or not properly explained, it is okay to ask questions.

You might ask:

Why is this being done?

Who decided this?

Is there a behaviour support plan?

Was the plan written by a positive behaviour support practitioner?

Has this restrictive practice been authorised?

Has it been reported to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission?

Has the person been involved?

Is this the least restrictive option?

What other supports have been tried first?

How will this be reviewed?

How will this be reduced or removed?

Who can I speak to if I am worried?

It can help to write down what happened, including dates, times, names, and details.

You can also speak with someone you trust, contact an advocate, or make a complaint.

When to get help

You should get help if:

A person is being hurt, threatened, isolated, or controlled.

A person’s choices are being removed without clear reason.

A person is being locked in or stopped from leaving.

A person is being held down or physically restrained.

A person is being given medication mainly to make them easier to manage.

A person is scared of their support workers or service.

A service refuses to explain why restrictions are being used.

A restrictive practice is being used without a behaviour support plan.

A restrictive practice is being used outside the plan.

A person is punished for speaking up.

A person’s rights, dignity, or safety are not being respected.

If someone is in immediate danger, call emergency services.

For NDIS funded supports, concerns can also be raised with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

Good support is rights-based

Rights-based support means people with disability are treated as full and equal members of the community.

It means services must think carefully about dignity, safety, consent, communication, culture, trauma, and choice.

It means staff need to understand that behaviour is communication.

It means people are supported, not controlled.

It means restrictive practices must only be used when there is a clear, lawful, authorised, and properly reviewed reason.

And even then, the aim should always be to reduce and remove restrictions wherever possible.

Final message

Restrictive practices are serious because they limit a person’s rights and freedom.

They are highly regulated and must not be used without proper planning, authorisation, reporting, and review.

For NDIS participants, restrictive practices must be included in a behaviour support plan written by a qualified positive behaviour support practitioner and overseen through the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

People with disability have the right to safe, respectful, person-centred support. They have the right to be involved in decisions about their own lives. They have the right to be heard when something does not feel right.

At Advocacy WA, we believe people with disability deserve support that protects dignity, builds confidence, and upholds rights.

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