Behaviour support is one of the most heavily regulated areas of the NDIS framework. The NDIS Commission takes compliance failures in this area seriously — providers have faced significant regulatory action, including registration cancellation, for breaches involving unauthorised restrictive practices.
Under the NDIS framework, Specialist Behaviour Support is a regulated support. Providers registered for this support must employ or engage practitioners who meet the NDIS Commission's capability requirements. These practitioners are responsible for conducting comprehensive behaviour assessments and developing behaviour support plans (BSPs) that are individualised, evidence-based, and oriented towards reducing and ultimately eliminating the use of restrictive practices.
A regulated restrictive practice is any practice that restricts the rights or freedom of movement of a person with disability. The five types are: seclusion, chemical restraint, mechanical restraint, physical restraint, and environmental restraint.
For any regulated restrictive practice to be used, it must be documented in an NDIS behaviour support plan, authorised under the relevant state or territory authorisation framework, reported to the NDIS Commission monthly, and subject to ongoing review with the goal of reduction and elimination.
You must: ensure all staff have read the participant's current BSP before commencing supports; verify that restrictive practices are authorised before implementation; train workers in the specific strategies outlined in the plan; maintain a restrictive practices register recording every instance of use; submit monthly restrictive practice reports to the NDIS Commission; and facilitate six-monthly plan reviews.
Common failures include: workers implementing outdated plan versions; restrictive practices being used without authorisation; monthly reporting submitted late or incompletely; and workers who have not received plan-specific training being rostered to work with a participant. Digital care management platforms with version control, worker acknowledgment tracking, and automatic monthly reporting substantially reduce these risks.
Ready to streamline your NDIS operations? Start your free CareIQ trial — built for Australian care providers.