A model for the elimination of restrictive practices

Inclusion Australia has made a model to show the different factors that can help reduce and eliminate restrictive practices.

We know that people with an intellectual disability experience restrictive practices more than others. Research from the Disability Royal Commission showed that restrictive practices are often used in group homes, detention settings and mental health settings.

The Disability Royal Commission showed us that restrictive practices are used too much, especially for people with an intellectual disability. Restrictive practices do not support human rights and can lead to trauma, pain, harm and violence.

Evidence shows that there are ways to reduce and eliminate restrictive practices. This evidence includes research and the expertise of people with lived experience. Our model has used this evidence to show why we need to think differently about restrictive practices and why they are used so we can work towards eliminating them.

Our model shows 4 ways to do this:

1. Supported decision-making
2. Early access to communication support
3. A trauma-informed lens
4. A sense of belonging in the community.

Thank you to our member organisations, Dr Paul Ramcharan, and colleagues across the sector for your feedback on the model as it was developed.

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A model for eliminating restrictive practices for people with an intellectual disability.

Essential inclusion and support. These four interconnected enablers are foundational to the inclusion, support and wellbeing of people with an intellectual disability. The presence of each enabler strengthens the other. The enablers are: (1) A sense of belonging, (2) A trauma-informed lens, (3) Early access to communication support, (4) Supported decisions-making.

Holistic understanding of behavioural drivers. By understanding the context and the factors that are driving behaviour, we can better support people with an intellectual disability to retain choice and control over their lives.

Elimination of restrictive practices. It is only with the enablers in place and holistic understandings of behavioural drivers that we can effectively reduce and ultimately eliminate restrictive practices.

A model for eliminating restrictive practices for people with an intellectual disability (PDF version)

We have also made a document that talks more about the different parts of our model, available below.

If you would like to know more about our model or have a question to ask, you can contact us.