NDIS Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support: Your Provider Obligations
What NDIS restrictive practices are, when you can lawfully use them, and the behaviour support, authorisation and monthly reporting duties every provider must
The five regulated restrictive practices
Who these obligations bind
You cannot use an RRP without a behaviour support plan
Authorisation is a state and territory matter
Monthly reporting to the NDIS Commission
Unauthorised use is a reportable incident
The goal is reduction and elimination, not comfortable continuation
How this plays out in practice
What an auditor will check
Common mistakes providers make
Why the 2026 reforms raise the stakes
Your next step
Frequently asked questions
What are the five regulated restrictive practices under the NDIS?
They are seclusion, chemical restraint, mechanical restraint, physical restraint and environmental restraint, defined in the NDIS (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018. Each restricts a participant's rights or freedom of movement, and each may only be used where it is set out in a behaviour support plan, authorised under the relevant state or territory framework, and reported monthly to the NDIS Commission.
Do I need to be registered to use restrictive practices?
Yes. If your workers use a regulated restrictive practice while delivering supports you are an implementing provider and must be registered and comply with the reporting and plan requirements. Writing behaviour support plans is a separate role that requires registration for the Specialist Behaviour Support group and a practitioner assessed as suitable by the Commission. From 1 July 2026 mandatory registration also applies to SIL providers, where restrictive practices most commonly occur.
Is using a restrictive practice a reportable incident?
It is when the use is unauthorised or not in line with the participant's behaviour support plan. That includes using a regulated practice with no plan, outside what the plan permits, or before state or territory authorisation is obtained. These must be notified to the NDIS Commission within the required window, separately from your routine monthly restrictive practice reporting.
Who authorises the use of a restrictive practice?
Authorisation is governed by the law of the state or territory where the support is delivered, not by the NDIS Commission, so the process differs across jurisdictions. Lodging a behaviour support plan with the Commission does not replace authorisation — you need both. Confirm the current pathway with the relevant state or territory authority, such as a Senior Practitioner, before any use.
How often do I report restrictive practice use to the NDIS Commission?
Implementing providers report the use of regulated restrictive practices to the Commission every month through its reporting portal, including whether each use was authorised and consistent with the plan. Confirm the current mechanism, timing and any nil-return requirements on ndiscommission.gov.au, as the portal and its requirements are updated over time.