Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support: 10 Questions Answered

If someone you care about has a behaviour support plan, or if a provider has mentioned "restrictive practices", you probably have questions. What exactly counts as a restrictive practice? Who is allowed to authorise one? And what protections exist for the person at the centre of it all? This article answers the 10 questions Australian NDIS participants and families ask most often, in plain English, without the jargon.

The short answer to the most common question: a restrictive practice is any intervention that limits a person's freedom of movement or their right to make decisions. The NDIS has strict rules about when, how, and by whom these practices can be used, and behaviour support specialists play a key role in making sure they are reduced and eventually eliminated wherever possible.

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The 10 most common questions about restrictive practices and behaviour support

Q1. What is a restrictive practice under the NDIS?

A restrictive practice is any practice or intervention that restricts the rights or freedom of movement of a person with disability. The NDIS Commission recognises five types: chemical restraint (using medication to influence behaviour), mechanical restraint (using devices to restrict movement), physical restraint (using hands or body contact to restrict movement), environmental restraint (restricting access to spaces or objects), and seclusion (confining a person alone in a space they cannot freely leave).

The key word is "restricts". Even something that seems minor, like locking a cupboard to stop someone accessing food, can be an environmental restraint if it limits a person's freedom. The rules apply to all NDIS-registered providers, regardless of setting, including in-home supports, day programmes, and supported accommodation.

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Q2. Why would a restrictive practice ever be used?

Restrictive practices are only supposed to be used when a person's behaviour poses a risk of harm to themselves or others, and only as a last resort when other strategies have been tried or considered. They are never used as a convenience for staff, as a punishment, or to make support delivery easier.

When they are used, they must be part of a behaviour support plan developed by a specialist practitioner, authorised under the relevant state or territory law, and regularly reviewed with a goal of reducing and eventually eliminating the restriction. The aim is always to understand why a behaviour is occurring and to address the underlying cause, not simply to control the behaviour.

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Q3. What is a behaviour support plan and who writes it?

A behaviour support plan is a written document that describes a person's behaviours of concern, identifies the reasons behind those behaviours, and sets out strategies to address them in a positive, rights-respecting way. If restrictive practices are involved, the plan must document them clearly, including what they are, when they can be used, and how they will be reduced over time.

Behaviour support plans must be written by a specialist behaviour support practitioner, a role that is regulated by the NDIS Commission. These practitioners are registered with the Commission and must meet capability requirements. They work closely with the person with disability, their family, carers, and support workers to make sure the plan reflects the person's goals and preferences, not just the needs of the service.

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Q4. What is "positive behaviour support" and how is it different?

Positive behaviour support (PBS) is the framework that sits behind good behaviour support practice in Australia. Rather than focusing on stopping or punishing a behaviour, PBS focuses on understanding what function the behaviour serves for the person, and then building skills, adjusting the environment, and improving quality of life so the behaviour is no longer needed.

A PBS approach might involve teaching communication skills so a person can express needs without distress, changing a daily routine that is causing anxiety, or ensuring a person has more choice and control in their day. It is proactive rather than reactive, and it treats behaviour as communication rather than a problem to be managed. Families who understand this framework are often better equipped to work with practitioners and ask the right questions when reviewing a plan.

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Q5. Who can authorise a restrictive practice?

This is one of the most important questions, and the answer depends on where in Australia you live. Each state and territory has its own authorisation process, and NDIS providers must comply with both the NDIS Commission's requirements and the relevant state or territory law.

In general terms, a restrictive practice must be authorised by a relevant authority (such as a tribunal, guardian, or senior clinician, depending on the jurisdiction) before it can be used, except in an emergency. Using a restrictive practice without proper authorisation is a serious breach of the NDIS Code of Conduct and can result in regulatory action against the provider. If you are unsure whether a practice being used with your family member has been properly authorised, you have every right to ask for documentation.

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Q6. What are "regulated restrictive practices" and why does the term matter?

Regulated restrictive practices are the five types listed in Q1 (chemical, mechanical, physical, environmental, and seclusion). The term matters because NDIS-registered providers are required to report their use to the NDIS Commission, work toward reducing them, and ensure they are always covered by an approved behaviour support plan.

Unregulated use of these practices, meaning using them without a plan, without authorisation, or without reporting, is a serious safeguarding failure. The NDIS Commission monitors compliance and can investigate providers. If you believe a restrictive practice is being used on your family member without proper oversight, you can make a complaint directly to the NDIS Commission.

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Q7. What rights does the person with disability have in this process?

The person with disability is at the centre of the entire process and their rights are non-negotiable. They have the right to be involved in developing their behaviour support plan, to have their views and preferences documented, to have a support person or advocate present in meetings, and to refuse consent to practices that have not been properly authorised.

The NDIS Code of Conduct requires all providers and workers to respect the rights of people with disability to make decisions about their own lives. If a person has a guardian or a nominated decision-maker, that person also has rights in this process. Families and carers who feel a loved one's rights are not being respected can contact an advocate through the National Disability Advocacy Programme or make a complaint to the NDIS Commission.

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Q8. What should I look for when choosing a behaviour support provider?

When shortlisting behaviour support practitioners or providers, it helps to ask a few specific questions. Is the practitioner registered with the NDIS Commission as a specialist behaviour support provider? What is their experience with the type of support your family member needs? How do they involve the person with disability and their family in the planning process? And how do they measure progress toward reducing restrictive practices?

You should also look at whether the provider communicates clearly, whether they can work collaboratively with other members of the support team, and whether they take a genuinely person-centred approach rather than a one-size-fits-all model. When you browse NDIS-registered providers in your area, you can filter by support type and read provider profiles to get a sense of each organisation's approach before making contact.

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Q9. What happens if a restrictive practice is used in an emergency?

Emergency use of a restrictive practice, sometimes called an "unplanned" or "emergency" restrictive practice, is only permitted when there is an immediate risk of harm and no other option is available in that moment. It is not a loophole to avoid the authorisation process.

After any emergency use, the provider is required to report the incident to the NDIS Commission, document what happened and why, and ensure the behaviour support plan is updated to address the situation so it is less likely to recur. If emergency use is happening frequently, that is a signal the current plan is not working and needs to be reviewed urgently. Families should feel empowered to request an urgent plan review in this situation.

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Q10. How do I make a complaint if I think restrictive practices are being misused?

You can make a complaint directly to the NDIS Commission by phone, online, or in writing. The Commission investigates complaints about registered NDIS providers and can take regulatory action, including suspending or cancelling a provider's registration. You do not need to prove anything to make a complaint. You just need to describe what you observed or experienced.

You can also contact a disability advocate to help you navigate the process. Advocates are independent, free, and can help you put your concerns in writing and understand your options. If you are already working with a support coordinator, they can also help you document concerns and escalate them appropriately. For support coordinators looking to understand how to handle these situations, the support coordinator workspace on OpenWay has resources on managing complex support arrangements.

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A quick checklist: what a good behaviour support plan should include

If your family member has a behaviour support plan, use this checklist to make sure it meets the basics:

1. The person's name, background, and what matters to them.
2. A clear description of the behaviours of concern and their likely function.
3. Proactive strategies (what to do before a behaviour occurs).
4. Reactive strategies (what to do if a behaviour does occur).
5. Any restrictive practices, clearly named and documented.
6. Authorisation status for each restrictive practice.
7. A plan for reducing and eliminating restrictive practices over time.
8. Review dates and who is responsible for reviewing.
9. Signatures from the practitioner, the person with disability (or their authorised representative), and relevant support workers.
10. Contact details for the behaviour support practitioner if workers have questions.

If any of these elements are missing, it is reasonable to ask the practitioner to address the gap before the plan is implemented.

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Frequently asked

Is every NDIS provider allowed to use restrictive practices?

Only NDIS-registered providers are permitted to use regulated restrictive practices, and only when they are covered by an approved behaviour support plan and properly authorised under state or territory law. Unregistered providers are not permitted to use regulated restrictive practices at all. If you are choosing a provider for someone who has a behaviour support plan, registration status matters, and you can check it through the NDIS Commission's provider register or by reviewing profiles on OpenWay's provider directory.

Can a family member or carer be part of writing the behaviour support plan?

Yes, absolutely. Families and carers are considered essential contributors to the behaviour support planning process. A good practitioner will seek your input on the person's history, what works and what does not, and what the person's goals and preferences are. You also have the right to review the plan before it is finalised and to raise concerns if you disagree with any part of it.

What is the difference between a behaviour support plan and a positive behaviour support plan?

In practice, these terms are often used interchangeably in the NDIS context. The NDIS Commission requires that behaviour support plans be developed using a positive behaviour support framework, so all compliant plans should reflect PBS principles. If a plan focuses only on restricting or stopping behaviours without addressing underlying causes or building skills, it may not be meeting the standard required.

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How OpenWay can help

Finding a behaviour support practitioner or a provider experienced in working with people who have complex support needs can feel overwhelming, especially when you are already navigating a stressful situation. OpenWay is a free-to-use marketplace for NDIS participants, families, and support coordinators that makes it easier to find and compare registered providers across Australia.

You can browse NDIS-registered providers in your area, filter by support type, read provider profiles, and send enquiries directly, all without cost to you as a participant or family member. OpenWay does not handle NDIS funds, does not bill the NDIS, and is not part of the NDIA or the NDIS Commission. It is simply a place to find and connect with providers who may be the right fit.

If you are a support coordinator managing a participant with a behaviour support plan, the support coordinator tools on OpenWay can help you shortlist options, share profiles with families, and keep track of enquiries in one place.

OpenWay is not part of the NDIS, NDIA or NDIS Commission. Final scope, pricing, travel, cancellation rules and non-face-to-face charges must be confirmed in a written service agreement between the participant (or their authorised support person) and the provider.