“Restrictive practice” is one of those phrases families often hear for the first time in a meeting, a plan or an incident report, usually without much explanation. It can sound alarming, and understandably so. It describes any practice that limits a person’s rights or freedom of movement, and under the NDIS it is tightly regulated for good reason.
If someone you love receives NDIS behaviour support services, it helps to understand what these practices are, when they can and cannot be used, and what safeguards should be in place. Knowing the rules puts you in a stronger position to ask questions, protect the person’s rights and work alongside the support team.
This guide explains the five regulated restrictive practices in plain English, how plans, authorisation and reporting work, and the questions families can ask.
Why These Practices Are So Closely Regulated
Restrictive practices affect a person’s dignity, autonomy and human rights. Used poorly, they can cause physical and psychological harm, damage trust and hide the reasons behind a person’s distress. That is why the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission treats them as a last resort rather than a routine part of care.
The goal is always to reduce and, wherever possible, eliminate their use over time. Rather than focusing on controlling behaviour, good practice looks for the reasons behind it, such as pain, sensory overload, communication barriers or unmet needs, and builds strategies that address those causes.
Restrictive practices are also different from everyday safety measures a person freely chooses. A seatbelt worn by choice, or a door someone locks at night in their own home, is not the same as a restriction imposed to manage behaviour. Purpose, context and consent all matter, which is why each situation needs careful assessment rather than assumptions.
The Five Regulated Restrictive Practices
The NDIS Commission recognises five types of regulated restrictive practice. Each one can only be used when it is included in a behaviour support plan and any required authorisation is in place. Here is what each one means in everyday terms.
- This is when a person is kept alone in a room or space and is not allowed to leave, or believes they are not allowed to leave. Because of the serious risks involved, seclusion is one of the most closely scrutinised practices.
- Chemical restraint.This is the use of medication mainly to change or stop a behaviour. Medication prescribed to treat a diagnosed physical or mental health condition, such as epilepsy, is not chemical restraint. The key question is the main purpose of the medication.
- Mechanical restraint.This is the use of a device or piece of equipment to stop a behaviour, such as straps or splints applied for that purpose. Devices used for therapeutic or support reasons, like a cast or a postural support recommended by a health professional, are not counted.
- Physical restraint.This is when someone holds or uses their body to stop a person moving in order to prevent a behaviour. Physical guidance to help with an everyday task, such as holding an arm while dressing, does not count.
- Environmental restraint.This restricts a person’s free access to parts of their environment, items or activities. Examples include locking the kitchen, a cupboard or the fridge, or limiting access to certain places in the home or community.
Environmental restraints are often the easiest to overlook, because they can look like ordinary household rules. If a lock, restriction or rule limits what a person can access in their own home, it is worth asking whether it should be in a plan.
How Plans, Authorisation and Reporting Work
Several layers of protection sit around every regulated restrictive practice. Understanding them helps families see where to ask questions.
The plan. A behaviour support plan is written by an NDIS behaviour support practitioner working with the person, their family and the people who support them. It explains what may be behind behaviours of concern, sets out positive strategies to prevent distress, and describes any restrictive practice that may be used, when and how. A copy is lodged with the NDIS Commission. Where a restrictive practice is used on an ongoing basis, NDIS Commission rules require an interim plan within one month of first use and a comprehensive plan within six months.
Authorisation. Where required, a practice must also be authorised under state or territory processes before it is used. These processes differ across Australia, and Queensland’s framework has been going through reform, so it is reasonable to ask your provider to explain exactly how authorisation works for your family member right now. When comparing NDIS behaviour support services Brisbane families can access, a provider’s ability to explain this process clearly is a good sign of experience.
Registration and reporting. Only registered NDIS providers can use regulated restrictive practices. They must report their use to the NDIS Commission every month, within five business days of the month ending, including months when no practice was used. Any use that is not authorised or not in line with the plan must be reported as a reportable incident within five business days.
Review. Plans are not meant to stand still. Providers delivering the plan must tell the practitioner when a review is needed, and progress should be measured against the goal of reducing restrictive practices over time.
Families are an important part of that review. You often notice changes that staff may miss, such as new triggers, improved communication or a routine that works better, and sharing these observations helps the practitioner adjust strategies and track whether restrictions can be reduced.
Questions Families Can Ask
You have every right to understand how your family member is being supported. These questions can help start a constructive conversation with the practitioner or provider.
- Why is this practice needed, and what was tried first?A restrictive practice should only be considered after less restrictive options have been explored. Ask what the assessment found and which alternatives were tested before it was included in the plan.
- Is it in the plan, and is it authorised?Check that the exact practice being used is written into the current behaviour support plan, and ask whether any required authorisation is in place. If something is happening that is not in the plan, raise it straight away.
- What is being done to reduce the need for it?A good plan focuses on positive strategies, such as changing the environment, building communication and teaching new skills, so that restrictive practices become less necessary over time.
- How are workers trained?Ask how staff learn to use the plan, how they are taught to use any restrictive practice safely and only as a last resort, and how new workers are brought up to speed.
- How is each use recorded?Every use should be documented. Ask how this information is recorded, who reviews it and whether you can see summaries of the data.
- When will the plan be reviewed?Ask when the next review is due, what progress looks like and what goals have been set for reducing restrictive practices.
- Who can we talk to about concerns?Start with the provider, but you can also contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission on 1800 035 544 if you are worried about how a practice is being used.
Asking these questions is not a sign of distrust. Good practitioners and providers welcome them, because open conversations with families usually lead to better plans, more consistent support and faster progress towards fewer restrictions.
How Royalty Healthcare Supports Participants and Families
Royalty Healthcare (ABN 35 654 251 519) is a registered NDIS provider certified by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and has supported participants since 2019. From our office in Strathpine, we work with participants across Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
Our team brings together behaviour support practitioners, registered nurses and support workers, so the strategies in a participant’s plan are understood and applied consistently across every shift. We focus on understanding the reasons behind behaviours of concern, building skills and creating environments where people feel safe, with the aim of reducing restrictive practices over time. Families are kept informed and involved, and every worker holds a current NDIS Worker Screening Check.
We work with self-managed, plan-managed and NDIA-managed participants. To talk about your family member’s needs, call 1800 467 692.
Final Thoughts
Restrictive practices are a serious matter, and the safeguards around them exist to protect people’s rights. Understanding the five regulated practices, how plans and authorisation work, and what providers must report helps families stay informed and involved. Ask questions, check that what happens day to day matches the plan, and look for a team whose focus is on positive strategies and steady reduction. That is where real improvements in quality of life tend to come from.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and is not legal, clinical or financial advice. Rules for restrictive practices and their authorisation vary by state and can change, so check current guidance with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and your behaviour support practitioner.