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Rules about restrictive practices
All NDIS providers that use restrictive practices are required to register with the NDIS Commission. This includes families who run a service-for-one person with a disability.
A service-for-one is where a family directly employs their own staff and is responsible for their own business processes. It does not include employing staff through other disability services.
Services-for-one that implement restrictive practices as part of the supports they provide to an NDIS participant, will need to register with the NDIS Commission.
What are restrictive practices?
A restrictive practice is any practice that restricts the movement or freedom of a person with disability. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has rules about how some restrictive practices are used and reported. These include:
- seclusion – for example, locking a person in a room or if the person believes they cannot leave a room
- chemical restraint – for example, using medication to change a person’s behaviour
- mechanical restraint – for example, clothing that restricts a person’s movement
- physical restraint – for example, physically holding a person down
- environmental restraint – for example, locking a fridge door so that a person cannot open it.
Registering with the NDIS Commission means meeting the NDIS Practice Standards and Code of Conduct. It includes:
- making an application to the NDIS Commission
- being audited against the NDIS Practice Standards
- complying with the conditions of registration.
What can families running services-for-one do now?
If you are not sure whether you are using restrictive practices, you can get advice from your state-based behaviour support team on:
- Vic – [email protected]
- Tas – [email protected]
- SA – [email protected]
- NT – [email protected]
- NSW – [email protected]
- ACT – [email protected]
- QLD – [email protected]
- WA – [email protected]
- Behaviour Support National teams – 1800 035 544
If you think you might need to register with the NDIS Commission, you can contact the NDIS Commission on 1800 035 544 or [email protected]
Where can you find more information?
For more information about restrictive practices, visit
NDIS Commission – Regulated restrictive practices
For information about the NDIS Commission’s registration process,
visit NDIS Commission – Provider registration process
Inclusion Australia will provide updates about the project. Check the Inclusion Australia website or sign up to the E-News to stay updated about the project.
If you have any questions about this project, you can contact Liz Collier at VALID on 03 9416 4003.