Understanding Restrictive Practices in NDIS Support

Julian Vilsten
Jan 23
6 min read

Updated: Jun 10

Written by Julian Vilsten, Clinical Neuropsychologist and Specialist Behaviour Support Practitioner. Last updated: June 2026

Restrictive practices are interventions that limit a person's rights or freedom of movement to manage behaviour. The NDIS regulates five types: chemical, environmental, mechanical, physical, and seclusion. They can only be used as a last resort, under an authorised behaviour support plan, and their use must be reported to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

Key points

What they are: a restrictive practice is any intervention that limits a person's rights or freedom of movement.
The five types: the NDIS regulates chemical, environmental, mechanical, physical, and seclusion.
When they're allowed: only as a last resort, when there's a risk of harm and less restrictive options have been tried.
The rules: use must be authorised by the state or territory, written into a behaviour support plan, and reported monthly to the NDIS Commission.
The risk: using a regulated practice without an authorised plan is an unauthorised restrictive practice, and a reportable incident.

Restrictive practices are a deeply sensitive and highly regulated area of disability support. They involve interventions that intentionally limit the rights or freedom of movement of a person. Their use is a serious matter under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). While restrictive practices may sometimes be necessary to prevent immediate harm, they must always be used as a last resort. The person's dignity and rights must remain at the forefront.

Understanding what constitutes a restrictive practice, the types that are regulated, and how they should be used is essential for NDIS providers, carers, and support teams. It's also critical to understand the impact these practices can have on the individual, along with the responsibilities that come with using them.

Why do restrictive practices matter?

At their core, restrictive practices can impact a person's autonomy, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life. Even when used with good intentions, they can feel disempowering, confusing, or distressing. This is why national and international frameworks exist to ensure their careful, considered use.

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission is responsible for overseeing how restrictive practices are used in Australia. Its guidelines align with broader legal protections, including the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities. This charter protects individuals' rights to freedom, dignity, and self-determination.

All use of restrictive practices must be:

Authorised by relevant state or territory bodies.
Documented in a behaviour support plan developed by a registered NDIS behaviour support practitioner.
Monitored and Reported to the NDIS Commission.
Regularly reviewed to ensure the practice is the least restrictive option available.

The goal of any support should be to reduce and eventually eliminate the need for restrictive practices. This can be achieved through proactive and positive behaviour support strategies.

What are the 5 types of restrictive practices?

Here's a closer look at each type of regulated restrictive practice under the NDIS, along with two examples for each.

What is environmental restraint?

Environmental restraint limits a person's access to areas, items, or activities as a way to control behaviour.

Examples:

Locking cupboards or fridges to stop food access.
Taking away or locking away personal items like mobile phones or cigarettes.

What is chemical restraint?

Chemical restraint refers to the use of medication to control a person's behaviour. This is not for treatment of a diagnosed condition but to influence or manage behaviour.

Examples:

Giving a person a sedative during the day to reduce agitation.
Administering antipsychotic medication to manage aggression when there is no relevant psychiatric diagnosis.

What is mechanical restraint?

This involves using a device to prevent, restrict, or subdue a person's movement for the purpose of controlling behaviour.

Examples:

Securing someone to a chair with belts to stop them from standing.
Using a helmet or restrictive clothing to prevent head-banging or other self-harm.

What is seclusion?

Seclusion is the sole confinement of a person in a room or space from which they are unable to leave freely or believe they cannot leave, even if just for a short time.

Examples:

Locking someone in a room during a behavioural episode to prevent harm.
Telling a person they must remain in a room alone until they calm down.

What is physical restraint?

Physical restraint is the use of physical force by another person to prevent, restrict, or subdue someone's movement.

Examples:

Holding a person down to stop them from harming themselves or others.
Blocking a person's exit with your body to prevent them from entering a certain area.

Who can use restrictive practices, and how are they authorised?

A regulated restrictive practice can only be used by a registered NDIS provider, and only when it's part of a behaviour support plan written by a registered behaviour support practitioner. The plan has to show the practice is a last resort, name the less restrictive options already tried, and set out a clear path to reducing and removing it.

Authorisation sits with the state or territory where the person lives, so the exact process changes depending on where you are. On top of that, providers report their use of regulated restrictive practices to the NDIS Commission every month, even in months where nothing was used.

If a regulated practice is used without an authorised plan in place, that's an unauthorised restrictive practice. It's a reportable incident and has to go to the NDIS Commission within five business days. Some practices are prohibited outright, and in several states seclusion can't be used with anyone under 18.

A Rights-Based Approach

Every person deserves to feel safe, respected, and in control of their own life. While restrictive practices may sometimes be necessary in complex situations, their use must never become routine or go unexamined. A rights-based approach means always asking: Is this the least restrictive option? Is there another way to support the person more positively and respectfully?

Working together, behaviour support practitioners, carers, and providers can create safer, more empowering environments. This helps individuals thrive, not just manage risk.

How does positive behaviour support reduce restrictive practices?

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is a proactive approach that focuses on understanding the reasons behind behaviours. It aims to replace challenging behaviours with positive alternatives. By using PBS, we can reduce the reliance on restrictive practices.

PBS involves working closely with individuals to identify triggers and develop strategies that promote positive behaviours. This might include teaching new skills, providing emotional support, or modifying the environment to better suit the individual's needs.

The aim is always to need these practices less, not to use them more smoothly. A good behaviour support plan treats every restrictive practice as something to fade out, by understanding what the behaviour is communicating and changing the conditions around it. That's the work positive behaviour support exists to do.

If you're looking for behaviour support that takes the reduction of restrictive practices seriously, Outcomes Lab provides neuroaffirming Positive Behaviour Support, Psychology, and Neuropsychology across Melbourne. Contact us here to make a referral or check capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the five types of restrictive practices in the NDIS?

Chemical, environmental, mechanical, physical, and seclusion. Each one limits a person's rights or freedom of movement in a different way, and all five are regulated by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

What counts as a restrictive practice?

Any practice or intervention that restricts the rights or freedom of movement of a person with disability. If something is done to manage or control behaviour by limiting what a person can do, access, or where they can go, it's likely a restrictive practice.

Who can authorise a restrictive practice?

Authorisation sits with the state or territory where the person lives, so the process differs by jurisdiction. The practice also has to be part of a behaviour support plan written by a registered NDIS behaviour support practitioner.

Can a restrictive practice be used without consent?

No. Consent must be sought for the specific practice, from the person or their authorised decision-maker, alongside state or territory authorisation. Rules on who can consent vary by jurisdiction.

What's the difference between a regulated and an unauthorised restrictive practice?

A regulated restrictive practice is one of the five types used within an authorised behaviour support plan. Using any of those five without a current, authorised plan is an unauthorised restrictive practice, which is a reportable incident.

Is locking a door or cupboard a restrictive practice?

It can be. Locking cupboards, fridges, or doors to limit what a person can access or where they can go is environmental restraint, one of the five regulated practices.

Is PRN ('as needed') medication a chemical restraint?

It depends on why it's given. Medication used to influence behaviour, rather than to treat a diagnosed condition, is chemical restraint. Medication prescribed for a diagnosed physical or mental health condition is not.

About the author

Julian Vilsten is a Clinical Neuropsychologist, Specialist Behaviour Support Practitioner, and the Director of Outcomes Lab. He has over 15 years of experience in mental health and disability services. Outcomes Lab provides NDIS psychology, neuropsychological assessment, and positive behaviour support services in Melbourne, VIC and Port Lincoln, SA.

To make a referral or check capacity, contact us here.