Positive behaviour support aims to understand the reasons for behaviour and improve the person’s quality of life, communication, skills, choice, and environment. A behaviour support plan documents the strategies to be used.

Restrictive practices are high-risk supports. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission says they do not create lasting positive change by themselves and can make behaviour worse. Where a regulated restrictive practice is used, the framework focuses on safeguards and reducing and eliminating its use.

The five regulated restrictive practices

The NDIS Commission regulates five types:

  1. Seclusion: keeping a person alone in a place they cannot freely leave.
  2. Chemical restraint: using medication primarily to influence behaviour, outside treatment for a diagnosed condition.
  3. Mechanical restraint: using a device to restrict movement for the primary purpose of influencing behaviour, subject to the legal definition and exclusions.
  4. Physical restraint: using physical force to restrict movement for the primary purpose of influencing behaviour.
  5. Environmental restraint: restricting access to parts of the environment, items, or activities.

These are simplified descriptions. Use the Commission’s current definitions when deciding whether a practice is regulated.

Who does what

Specialist behaviour support provider

A provider delivering specialist behaviour support must meet the applicable NDIS registration requirements. It engages behaviour support practitioners, completes assessments, develops plans, and supports strategies to reduce restrictive practices.

NDIS behaviour support practitioner

The NDIS Commission assesses practitioner suitability. Do not rely on a job title, degree, or Carevo profile alone. Confirm that the practitioner is engaged by the appropriate registered provider and meets the current Commission requirements for the work.

Implementing provider

An implementing provider puts the plan into practice in day-to-day support. When regulated restrictive practices are involved, the provider has authorisation, implementation, record-keeping, and reporting obligations. Registration requirements apply to implementing regulated restrictive practices.

Behaviour support plans

A plan should be person-centred and based on assessment. It can include proactive environmental and communication strategies, skill building, ways to respond safely, implementation responsibilities, monitoring, and review.

The NDIS Commission distinguishes interim and comprehensive plans and publishes current templates, upload processes, and development timeframes. Check those pages directly because the rules and portal processes can change.

Participants who are subject to regulated restrictive practices must have a behaviour support plan in place. A plan does not by itself authorise a restrictive practice.

Authorisation and reporting

Authorisation of regulated restrictive practices is governed by the relevant state or territory process. Commission reporting and NDIS provider obligations apply in addition to that local framework.

An implementing provider should confirm, before use:

  • the current state or territory authorisation
  • the applicable behaviour support plan and expiry dates
  • the provider’s registration and implementation responsibilities
  • consent and participant-rights processes where applicable
  • Commission reporting requirements
  • the strategy for reducing and eliminating the practice

Unauthorised use has specific incident-reporting consequences. If a restrictive practice has been used without the required authorisation, follow the NDIS Commission’s current reportable-incident and restrictive-practice guidance immediately.

Questions for a provider

  • Which registered specialist behaviour support provider is responsible?
  • Is the practitioner currently considered suitable by the NDIS Commission?
  • When was the assessment completed and when is the plan due for review?
  • Are any regulated restrictive practices proposed or currently used?
  • Which state or territory authorisation applies?
  • Who is the implementing provider and how are workers trained?
  • How will use be monitored, reported, reduced, and eliminated?
  • How can the participant raise a concern or request a review?

What is positive behaviour support?

It is a person-centred approach that seeks to understand behaviour and build safer, more supportive environments and skills. Restrictive practices are not the goal of positive behaviour support.

What are the five regulated restrictive practices?

They are seclusion, chemical restraint, mechanical restraint, physical restraint, and environmental restraint.

Who can develop an NDIS behaviour support plan?

A behaviour support practitioner considered suitable by the NDIS Commission and engaged through an appropriately registered specialist behaviour support provider.

Can an implementing provider use a regulated restrictive practice without authorisation?

Providers must follow the applicable state or territory authorisation framework and NDIS Commission rules. Unauthorised use triggers separate reporting and compliance requirements. Seek current regulatory guidance for the specific situation.

Carevo can help compare listed providers but does not assess practitioner suitability, approve behaviour support plans, authorise restrictive practices, or provide regulatory advice.