Restrictive Practices and Your Rights
NDIS restrictive practices are tightly regulated and must be authorised, reported and reduced over time. Here's what they are and what your rights are.
Restrictive practices are one of the most sensitive areas in the NDIS — anything that restricts a person's rights or freedom of movement. They're heavily regulated for good reason, and the whole system is built around reducing and eliminating them. This guide explains what restrictive practices are, the strict rules around them, and the rights that protect you or the person you care for.
What restrictive practices are
They are a last resort, not a first response
They must be authorised and part of a plan
They must be reported
The goal is reduction and elimination
Your rights
Frequently asked questions
What are restrictive practices in the NDIS?
A restrictive practice is anything that restricts a person's rights or freedom of movement, used in response to behaviours that risk harm. Regulated types include seclusion, chemical, physical, mechanical and environmental restraint. They're tightly controlled and meant to be a last resort, not a…
Are restrictive practices allowed on the NDIS?
Only under strict conditions. A regulated restrictive practice must be a last resort, set out in a behaviour support plan by a qualified practitioner, authorised under state or territory rules, reported to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and paired with a plan to reduce and eliminate it.
Do restrictive practices have to be reported?
Yes. The use of regulated restrictive practices must be reported to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. This reporting is a key safeguard — it means their use is monitored and not hidden, and it holds providers accountable for how and how often practices are used.
What are my rights if restrictive practices are being used?
You have the right to be safe and free from unnecessary restriction, to a proper behaviour support plan focused on reducing restrictions, to be involved in decisions, to be informed, and to complain if practices are used wrongly. The system's goal is reducing and eliminating these practices.