Positive behaviour support
Positive behaviour support (PBS) is an evidence, values, and rights based approach. It focuses on improving a person’s quality of life by understanding the reasons behind their behaviour and identifying ways to meet their individual needs. This may include strategies such as:
• teaching the person new skills
• making changes to their environment
• providing guidance and assistance to the person's support team.
A behaviour support plan outlines practical strategies to address behaviours of concern. It is tailored to the individual’s needs, respects their dignity, and aims to enhance their overall quality of life.
Behaviour support plans sometimes include restrictive practices.
Restrictive practices
A restrictive practice is any action that limits a person’s human rights or freedom of movement.
They are sometimes used to keep a person with disability or others safe.
Restrictive practices can have serious human rights impacts and should only be used as a last resort to prevent harm to the person or others.
Restrictive practices do not:
- result in lasting positive change
- meet the person’s needs or improve their quality of life
- address the reasons for the behaviour and can sometimes make the behaviour worse.
NDIS participants subject to restrictive practices must have a behaviour support plan in place. When restrictive practices are used, they must be implemented within a Positive Behaviour Support framework, with robust safeguards and a focus on reducing and eliminating their use.
Behaviour support and the use of restrictive practices are considered high-risk categories of support. They are subject to additional requirements, including registration with the NDIS Commission.
Types of restrictive practices
The NDIS Commission regulates 5 types of restrictive practices.
- Seclusion: This is when a person is left alone in room or place and is not allowed to leave. For example, a door may be locked, or the person may be told they cannot leave or believe they cannot leave even if the door is open.
- Chemical restraint: This is when a person is given medicine to stop or reduce their behaviour.
- Mechanical restraint: This is when equipment or a device is used to stop or reduce a person’s behaviour. It may limit how the person moves or uses part of their body.
- Physical restraint: This is when a person, or part of their body, is held so they cannot move freely. This is done to stop or reduce behaviour.
- Environmental restraint: This is when a person is stopped from having or doing certain things. It can also mean being stopped from going to certain places in their home or community.
See our Guides and Easy Reads for more information about Restrictive Practices.
See Talking to participants about restrictive practices to access our Restrictive Practices and Me resources.
High risk practices
Some practices place people with disability at a high risk of harm. This harm can include serious long term physical or mental injury. In some cases, it can even lead to death.
For example, some types of physical restraint and harsh punishment may be considered abuse or neglect. These practices must never be used. In some states and territories, these practices are against the law.
The NDIS Commission clearly states that practices which place NDIS participants at a high risk of harm must not be used. If these practices occur, the NDIS Commission will take compliance action. More information is available in the Position Statement – Practices that present high risk of harm to NDIS participants.