Practice Alerts

A regular comprehensive health assessment for people with disability improves detection of health needs, enables active management of those needs, and significantly reduces health risks and poor health outcomes.

This practice alert was prepared by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, as a joint publication with the NDIS Commission. It provides guidance on how to support participants to access regular comprehensive health assessments and your obligations as an NDIS provider.

Dysphagia is a medical term for any difficulty with swallowing. It is associated with a wide range of disabilities and health conditions. People with disability who have dysphagia are more likely to die from choking or respiratory illnesses or have serious health complications because of poor management of dysphagia.

This practice alert explains the risks associated with dysphagia, how to support NDIS participants with dysphagia, and provider obligations.

Epilepsy is a condition affecting the brain that is more common among people with disability. It causes several types of seizures depending on what part of the brain is affected.

This practice alert explains the risks associated with epilepsy, how to support NDIS participants with epilepsy, and provider obligations.

People with disability are more likely to have poor physical and mental health, which can be a result of lifestyle risk factors such as poor nutrition, lack of exercise, smoking, stress, loneliness and isolation.

This practice alert was prepared by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, as a joint publication with the NDIS Commission. It explains what lifestyle risks are and how to support participants to achieve lifestyle changes that will match their own health and wellbeing goals.

Choking is a major cause of preventable deaths for people with disability. Certain medications administered to people with disability can increase this risk.

This practice alert explains which medicines are associated with swallowing problems, and what you need to be aware of to prevent the choking risks associated with them.

This practice alert provides guidance on supporting participants to take care of their oral health and to regularly access dental services.

Polypharmacy is often defined as the use of five or more medications, or two or more psychotropic medications, at the same time. It increases the risk of medication-related adverse effects and poorer health outcomes.

This practice alert explains the risks associated with polypharmacy, how to support NDIS participants who receive polypharmacy, and provider obligations.

Transitions of care refers to the movement of people between places or services providing care such as people moving between disability support services and hospitals. These are key points where there is risk of harm to NDIS participants. 

This practice alert explains how to support NDIS participants during transitions of care to and from hospitals, and provider obligations.

Vaccination is the most effective way to reduce the spread of influenza and reduce the incidence and severity of influenza-related hospitalisations and deaths.

People with disability and especially those living in shared accommodation settings are at greater risk of experiencing serious complications such as hospitalisation associated with influenza.

Influenza (the flu) is a contagious virus. It is recommended that NDIS participants receive the influenza vaccination every year.

New resources have been developed on this topic and can be accessed below. The Practice Alert and easy read version will be available soon.

Cardiovascular disease affects the heart and blood vessels.

New resources have been developed on this topic and can be accessed below. The Practice Alert and easy read version will be available soon.

Respiratory infections affect the parts of your body that help you breathe: your nose, throat and lungs.

New resources have been developed on this topic and can be accessed below. The Practice Alert and easy read version will be available soon.

Different types of pain require different types of management and monitoring.

New resources have been developed on this topic and can be accessed below. 

Hot water safety is a major issue for people with disability. Hot water is normally stored at temperatures above 60°C to avoid bacteria contaminating the water. However, at this temperature it will take seconds to scald.

This practice alert provides guidance on reducing the risk of hot water burns and scalds to people with disability.

Respiratory depression is characterised by slow and ineffective breathing and can lead to increased carbon dioxide in the body and reduced oxygen availability.

Respiratory depression is a serious and sometimes life-threatening condition if it is not monitored and managed effectively.

This practice alert provides guidance on supporting participants who are prescribed medicines that can cause respiratory depression.

People with disability have cardiovascular disease more often and earlier than the general population. Cardiovascular disease can be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and monitoring for health conditions that can increase risk.

This practice alert provides guidance on how to address lifestyle risk factors to minimise the likelihood of morbidity or mortality due to cardiovascular disease, and how to support participants to maintain good cardiovascular health.

Respiratory infections and diseases are a leading cause of ill health and death in people with a disability worldwide. In Australia, respiratory infections and diseases contribute to up to half of deaths of people using disability services.

This practice alert provides guidance on the risk factors for people with disability, and the prevention of respiratory infections.

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This is an easy read version of the Comprehensive Health practice alert.

Comprehensive health assessments help people with disability at risk of bad health. This easy read provides advice on how people with disability can reduce their risk of bad health with comprehensive health assessments.

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This is an easy read version of the Dysphagia practice alert.

Dysphagia affects how you eat, drink and swallow. People with disability who have dysphagia are more at risk of bad health. This easy read provides advice on how people with disability with Dysphagia can reduce their risk of bad health.

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This is an easy read version of the Epilepsy management practice alert.

This is an easy read version of the Lifestyle Risk Factors practice alert.

Lifestyle risk factors are things that can have bad effects your health. This easy read provides advice on how people with disability can reduce their lifestyle risk factors.

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This is an easy read version of the Lifestyle Risk Factors practice alert.

Lifestyle risk factors are things that can have bad effects your health. This easy read provides advice on how people with disability can reduce their lifestyle risk factors.

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This is an easy read version of the Medicines associated with swallowing problems practice alert.

Some medicines can make it hard for you to swallow or make you feel sleepy. People with disability are more at risk of health problems when they have trouble swallowing. This easy read provides advice on how people with disability can manage medicines associated with swallowing problems.

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This is an easy read version of the Oral health practice alert.

People with disability are at risk of having bad dental health. This easy read provides advice on how people with disability can maintain good dental health.

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This is an easy read version of the Polypharmacy practice alert.

Polypharmacy is when you take more than one medicine at the same time, which is common for people with disability. This easy read explains what polypharmacy is and how people with disability can manage the risks.

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This is an easy read version of the Transitions of care practice alert.

Transitions of care is when you move between places of care or services. There are risks when people with disability have a transition of care. This easy read provides information on how to make transitions of care safe for people with disability.

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Easy Read: Influenza vaccine

This is an easy read version of the Influenza practice alert.

The Flu (Influenza) is a virus that can make you very sick. People with disability who have the flu are more at risk of getting very sick and going to hospital. This easy read provides information to people with disability on getting the Influenza vaccine.

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This is an easy read version of the Cardiovascular disease practice alert.

Cardiovascular disease is a heart problem that affects your health and blood vessels. People with disability are more at risk of cardiovascular disease. This easy read provides information on how people with disability can help stop cardiovascular disease.

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This is an easy read version of the Prevention of respiratory infections practice alert.

Respiratory infections affect the parts of your body that help you breathe. People with disability with a respiratory infection are more likely to get very sick. This easy read provides information to people with disability on how to prevent respiratory infection.

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This is an easy read version of the Pain management practice alert.

People with disability are more likely to have pain that other people. This easy reads provides information to people with disability on how to manage their pain.

People with disability are more likely to have pain that other people. This practice alert provides information to providers on how to support people with disability to manage their pain.

Particularly in the summer months, heat brings increased risk of heat-related illness and health complications. People with disabilities most at risk of experiencing heat-related illness include people with difficulties with eating and drinking, people with an intellectual disability or physical disability and people with disabilities who are highly reliant on others.

Some people with disability use hoists or have support from workers so they can complete transfers safely.  Hoists also reduce the risk of workplace injury for support staff who assist people with transfers. Training in a person’s support plan and the correct use of a hoist is essential to keep people with disability and support staff safe.

This practice alert is for participants with epilepsy and prescribed midazolam, and the providers who support them.