Restrictive practices can feel like a difficult topic.
Families may hear the term in meetings and wonder what it means. Support coordinators may need to understand reporting rules. Providers may need to know what must be documented. Participants should understand their rights in clear and respectful language.
Restrictive practices NDIS rules exist to protect people with disability. They also help make sure any restriction on a person’s rights or movement receives proper oversight.
Positive Behaviour Support, often called PBS, plays an important role here. PBS looks at why behaviours happen and how support teams can reduce stress, improve communication, and build safer routines.
What Are Restrictive Practices Under the NDIS?
A restrictive practice is any practice or intervention that restricts the rights or freedom of movement of a person with disability. Under the NDIS, there are five regulated restrictive practices overseen by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
These are:
• Chemical restraint
• Mechanical restraint
• Physical restraint
• Environmental restraint
• Seclusion
The NDIS Commission states that it is committed to reducing and eliminating restrictive practices, with Positive Behaviour Support focused on improving quality of life.
The Five Types of Regulated Restrictive Practices
1. Chemical restraint
Chemical restraint means using medication mainly to influence a person’s behaviour, rather than to treat a diagnosed health condition.
For example, medication prescribed to manage epilepsy is not usually chemical restraint. Medication used mainly to sedate a person due to behaviour may be considered chemical restraint.
2. Mechanical restraint
Mechanical restraint involves using a device to restrict movement.
This does not include approved equipment used for safety, therapy, or mobility when used as intended.
3. Physical restraint
Physical restraint involves using physical force to restrict a person’s movement.
This must never be used as punishment or for staff convenience.
4. Environmental restraint
Environmental restraint means restricting access to parts of the environment.
Examples may include locking cupboards, limiting access to rooms, or preventing a person from leaving an area.
5. Seclusion
Seclusion means placing a person alone in a room or space where they cannot leave freely.
This is highly restrictive and requires strict oversight.
Why Are Restrictive Practices Regulated?
Restrictive practices affect a person’s rights, dignity, choice, and control.
The NDIS regulates them because they can cause harm when used without proper assessment, authorisation, reporting, and review.
The goal is not to make support harder. The goal is to protect participants and support teams by making sure any restrictive practice is:
• Used only when necessary
• Clearly documented
• Authorised where required
• Included in a behaviour support plan
• Reported correctly
• Reviewed regularly
• Reduced and eliminated where possible
What Is Behaviour Support Restrictive Practice Planning?
Behaviour support restrictive practices must sit within a Positive Behaviour Support approach.
This means a practitioner should not only document the restrictive practice. They should also explore why behaviours occur and what can reduce the need for restrictions.
A restrictive practices behaviour support plan may include:
• The participant’s goals and preferences
• Behaviours of concern
• Triggers and early warning signs
• Communication needs
• Proactive support strategies
• Skill-building strategies
• De-escalation steps
• Details of any restrictive practice
• Reduction strategies
• Review dates
• Roles and responsibilities
The NDIS Commission requires practitioners to consult with the participant and relevant people when including regulated restrictive practices in a behaviour support plan, and information must be provided in a format the person can understand.
When Might a Restrictive Practice Be Used?
Restrictive practices should only be considered when there is a risk of harm and less restrictive strategies have not been enough.
For example:
• A participant may try to run onto a busy road
• A person may engage in serious self-injury
• A behaviour may place others at immediate risk
• A participant may need environmental safeguards while safer strategies are developed
Even then, the focus should remain on reducing the restrictive practice over time.
Authorised vs Unauthorised Restrictive Practices
This part often creates confusion.
A regulated restrictive practice may require authorisation under state or territory rules. It also needs to be included in a behaviour support plan and reported through required NDIS systems.
An unauthorised restrictive practice happens when a regulated restrictive practice is used without the required approval, documentation, or plan.
The NDIS Commission states that unauthorised restrictive practices must be reported as reportable incidents.
What Is Restrictive Practice Reporting?
Restrictive practice reporting helps the NDIS Commission monitor use, risk, and compliance.
Registered providers who implement behaviour support plans with regulated restrictive practices must report authorised restrictive practice use monthly through the NDIS Commission Behaviour Support portal. The Commission also explains that unauthorised restrictive practices are reported as reportable incidents.
This reporting helps ensure restrictive practices do not become routine or invisible.
Families and support coordinators should feel comfortable asking providers:
• Is a restrictive practice being used?
• Is it authorised?
• Is it included in the behaviour support plan?
• Has it been reported correctly?
• What is the plan to reduce it?
• When will it be reviewed?
Real-Life Example
Imagine an adult participant who becomes distressed during evening routines and sometimes tries to leave the house late at night.
A provider locks the external door to prevent the person from leaving.
This may be an environmental restraint because it restricts the person’s freedom of movement.
A PBS practitioner would look deeper.
They may ask:
• Is the person anxious at night?
• Are they trying to access a preferred activity?
• Are they responding to noise, pain, or confusion?
• Do they understand the routine?
• Would visual supports help?
• Would a safer evening activity reduce distress?
• Can staff support choice without locking the door?
The goal is to reduce reliance on the restriction and improve the person’s daily life.
What Families Should Know
Families may feel conflicted about restrictive practices.
You may understand the safety concern but still worry about your loved one’s rights. Both concerns matter.
A good provider should explain restrictive practices in plain English and include the participant and family where appropriate.
Families should ask:
• Why is this restriction being used?
• What harm is it trying to prevent?
• What alternatives have been tried?
• Who approved it?
• How often is it used?
• How is it recorded?
• What is being done to reduce it?
• How will the participant be supported to build new skills?
Clear questions help keep the focus on safety, dignity, and rights.
What Support Coordinators Should Check
Support coordinators often help families understand services and funding.
When restrictive practices are involved, support coordinators may need to check:
• Whether a behaviour support practitioner is engaged
• Whether the plan is interim or comprehensive
• Whether restrictive practices are clearly documented
• Whether implementing providers understand their responsibilities
• Whether reviews are happening
• Whether reporting obligations are being met
• Whether PBS funding is available in the participant’s NDIS plan
Good coordination helps reduce gaps between providers, families, and practitioners.
Myth vs Fact About Restrictive Practices
Myth: Restrictive practices are normal disability support
Fact: Restrictive practices are regulated because they limit rights and freedom of movement.
Myth: A behaviour support plan gives permission for anything
Fact: Plans must meet NDIS requirements and any state or territory authorisation rules.
Myth: Restrictive practices solve behaviour
Fact: They may reduce immediate risk, but PBS focuses on understanding needs and reducing restrictions over time.
Myth: Families should not ask questions
Fact: Families, participants, and nominees have the right to ask for clear information.
How Arise Allied Health Supports PBS and Restrictive Practice Reduction
Arise Allied Health provides person-centred Positive Behaviour Support for NDIS participants across Australia.
Support may include:
• Positive Behaviour Support services
• Behaviour support assessments
• Functional behaviour assessments
• Interim behaviour support plans
• Comprehensive behaviour support plans
• Restrictive practice reduction strategies
• Psychology services
• Therapeutic supports
• Telehealth services
• NDIS allied health support
The focus remains on understanding the person, supporting communication, improving quality of life, and helping support teams use safe and respectful strategies.
Final Thoughts
Restrictive practices under the NDIS can be complex, but the core idea is simple.
Any restriction on a person’s rights or movement must be treated seriously.
It should be assessed, documented, authorised where required, reported correctly, reviewed, and reduced wherever possible.
For participants, families, carers, support coordinators, and providers, Positive Behaviour Support offers a more respectful path forward. It focuses on understanding behaviour, improving daily support, and protecting each person’s dignity, safety, and choice.
If restrictive practices are being discussed or used, speaking with a qualified behaviour support practitioner can help clarify the next steps and ensure support remains person-centred.