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Restrictive practices: a plain-English guide for South Australia

A restrictive practice is anything that limits a person's rights or freedom of movement, such as locking a door, holding someone or giving medication to change behaviour. Under the NDIS it can only be a last resort to prevent harm, must be part of a behaviour support plan, and in South Australia must be authorised under the state's Restrictive Practices Authorisation scheme.

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Restrictive practices at a glance

What it is
An action that limits a person's rights or freedom of movement
Five regulated types
Seclusion, chemical, mechanical, physical and environmental restraint
Only ever
A last resort, the least restrictive option, for the shortest time
Must be
In a behaviour support plan, with a plan to reduce and stop it
In SA
Authorised by an Authorised Program Officer (Level 1) or the Senior Authorising Officer (Level 2)
Never allowed
Practices with a high risk of harm, or use as punishment
Your rights
Appeal within 30 days; free advocacy is available

What is a restrictive practice?

A restrictive practice is any action that limits a person's human rights or freedom of movement.1 Examples include locking a door or a cupboard, holding someone, keeping a person alone in a room, or giving medication mainly to change how someone behaves.

Restrictive practices are sometimes used to reduce a serious risk of harm to the person or the people around them. They don't address the reasons behind behaviour,1 which is why the NDIS treats them as a last resort and why positive behaviour support works to reduce and, where possible, remove them. If you're new to the term, behaviours of concern explains what restrictive practices are usually responding to.

Under the NDIS, anyone subject to a regulated restrictive practice must have a behaviour support plan.1 In South Australia, the state's Restrictive Practices Authorisation scheme covers NDIS participants, children and adults, who receive supports from registered NDIS providers, and it's free.7

This page is about disability and the NDIS in South Australia. Aged care uses the same words under different rules: see the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission if that's what you're looking for.

This is general information, not legal advice. Talk to your support coordinator, the Restrictive Practices Unit or our team about your situation.

What are the five regulated restrictive practices?

The NDIS rules name five types of regulated restrictive practice.16 Each one is defined by its main purpose: it's used to influence the person's behaviour. Here they are in plain words, with an example of each. The Commission's Regulated Restrictive Practices Guide explains each type in more detail for providers.4

Seclusion
Keeping a person alone in a room or space they can't leave, or believe they can't leave. Example: closing a person in a bedroom on their own until they're calm. In South Australia the regulations add conditions: seclusion can last no longer than two hours, and can only be used in an emergency to prevent serious harm, to help the person de-escalate or self-regulate.6
Chemical restraint
Using medication or another chemical substance mainly to influence a person's behaviour. Example: giving a sedative to keep someone calm on an outing when it isn't prescribed to treat a diagnosed condition. Medication prescribed for a diagnosed mental disorder, physical illness or physical condition isn't chemical restraint.6
Mechanical restraint
Using a device to prevent, restrict or subdue a person's movement to influence their behaviour. Example: a belt or splint used to stop someone hitting out, rather than for a therapeutic or medical reason.6
Physical restraint
Using physical force to prevent, restrict or subdue a person's movement to influence their behaviour. Example: holding a person's arms so they can't move. A quick, reflexive hand to guide someone away from harm isn't physical restraint.6
Environmental restraint
Restricting a person's free access to parts of their environment, including items or activities. Example: locking the fridge, a cupboard or the back door so the person can't get to them. In South Australia it doesn't include areas people ordinarily can't enter, such as staff rooms or other residents' rooms.6

You might also read about the "three" or "four" types of restraint. Those lists come from aged care and hospitals. Under the NDIS there are five regulated types.

What's never allowed?

Even with a plan, some things are never acceptable:

  • Practices with a high risk of harm some practices carry such a high risk of harm that they must never be used, including certain physical restraints with a high risk of injury or death158
  • Restraint as punishment a restrictive practice can't be used to punish a person89
  • Restraint because of staff shortages or for the convenience of the people providing support9
  • Causing pain or distress, or taking things away practices that cause pain or distress, withholding basic needs such as food, water, culture or relationships, or taking away activities the person enjoys8
  • Ignoring or shutting the person out ignoring, excluding or rejecting the person in social or personal interactions8
  • Using a practice without authorisation in South Australia this is an unauthorised restrictive practice, and the provider must report it to the NDIS Commission as a reportable incident122

Is my medication a chemical restraint?

Not usually. Under the NDIS definition, medication prescribed for a diagnosed mental disorder, physical illness or physical condition isn't a chemical restraint.6 What matters is the main purpose: medication used mainly to influence how a person behaves is a chemical restraint, and must be in a behaviour support plan and authorised like any other regulated restrictive practice.61

The same medicine can be a chemical restraint for one person and not for another, depending on why it's prescribed. The NDIS Commission has a form a prescriber can use to record a medication's purpose. [Confirm: the form's exact name and address on the Commission's site]

We don't give medication advice. If you're unsure why a medication was prescribed, or whether it counts as a chemical restraint, ask the person's GP or prescriber, and never stop or change a medication without talking to them first. Chemical restraint in aged care and mental health services follows different rules from the NDIS.

How does authorisation work in South Australia?

South Australia authorises regulated restrictive practices under the Disability Inclusion Act 2018 (SA), its 2021 restrictive practices amendments and regulations, and the state's Guidelines, read together.7 A practice can only be authorised when there's a risk of harm, it's needed to prevent more harm, it's in a behaviour support plan, and the person and their family were involved in developing it. It can never be authorised as punishment or because of staff shortages.9 The steps:

  1. A behaviour support plan

    A behaviour support practitioner the NDIS Commission considers suitable writes the plan with the person, their family, guardian and supports, and includes any restrictive practice the evidence shows is needed.9 The practitioner writes the plan, but doesn't authorise anything.

  2. The provider registers and nominates an APO

    The registered NDIS provider that will use the practice (the implementing provider) registers with the state scheme and nominates an Authorised Program Officer (APO): one of its own staff, approved by the Senior Authorising Officer.108

  3. The provider applies

    The implementing provider applies for authorisation.10 The APO needs evidence that the practitioner consulted the person, their guardian, family and supports.8

  4. The APO decides or endorses

    The APO authorises Level 1 practices, and endorses Level 2 practices, which go to the Senior Authorising Officer in the Department of Human Services for a decision.8

  5. Some decisions go to the Senior Authorising Officer

    As well as Level 2 practices, the APO must refer the decision when a guardian doesn't consent, guardians disagree, a young person under the guardianship of the Department for Child Protection who is able to decide refuses, or the APO has a conflict of interest, such as being involved in the plan.8

  6. Use, notices and reporting

    Once authorised, the provider uses the practice only as the plan describes, gives the required written notices, and reports its use to the NDIS Commission.122

Guardians and family members can't authorise or direct a restrictive practice.8 Nor can a behaviour support practitioner: only an APO or the Senior Authorising Officer can.

What's the difference between Level 1 and Level 2?

South Australia sorts regulated restrictive practices into two levels, which decides who authorises them.811 [Confirm: check the Level 1 and Level 2 lists in the SA Restrictive Practices Guidelines before publishing]

Level 1
Authorised by the implementing provider's APO. Most chemical restraints are Level 1, unless the regulations declare them Level 2.11
Level 2
Endorsed by the APO, then decided by the Senior Authorising Officer. Examples include physical restraint and seclusion.811

Who does what?

Several people have a part, and only two can authorise a restrictive practice in South Australia.

Behaviour support practitioner
Assesses, writes and reviews the behaviour support plan with the person and their supporters, and lodges it with the NDIS Commission. Doesn't authorise. What a behaviour support practitioner does.
Implementing provider
The registered NDIS provider that uses the plan day to day. Registers with the state scheme, nominates an APO, applies for authorisation, gives written notices and reports use.1012
Authorised Program Officer (APO)
A provider employee approved by the Senior Authorising Officer. Authorises Level 1 practices and endorses Level 2.8
Senior Authorising Officer
In the Department of Human Services. Decides Level 2 practices and the cases an APO must refer, and reviews their own decisions on request.813
The person, family and guardian
Must be consulted and involved in the plan. Can't authorise or direct a restrictive practice, and can appeal decisions.813
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
Oversees behaviour support nationally. Plans are lodged with it (new plans through its new Portal from 12 October 2026), and providers report the use of restrictive practices to it.2

What should families receive, and what are your rights?

If a restrictive practice is used with you or someone you support in South Australia:

  • A written notice after an authorised restrictive practice is used, the provider must give a written notice to the person, to a parent or guardian of a child, or to the person's guardian, as soon as reasonably possible. One notice can cover up to 3 months.12
  • Reporting to the NDIS Commission providers report the use of restrictive practices to the Commission, monthly once a plan is lodged in its Portal, and every unauthorised use is a reportable incident.212
  • Appeal an APO or provider decision to the Restrictive Practices Unit within 30 days (the Senior Authorising Officer can allow longer).13
  • Ask for a review of a Senior Authorising Officer decision the Senior Authorising Officer reviews it on request, and you can then go to the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT) within 30 days.13
  • Raise concerns safely people with disability won't lose services for raising a concern or making a complaint.13
  • Free advocacy DACSSA, Independent Advocacy SA and ADAI can help, and Ask Izzy lists other services.13
  • The Restrictive Practices Unit DHSRestrictivePracticesUnit@sa.gov.au or 1800 862 004, 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays.13

How does positive behaviour support reduce restrictive practices?

A goal of positive behaviour support, one of many, is to reduce and, where possible, remove restrictive practices. PBS is evidence-based and focuses on the person's quality of life by understanding the reasons behind their behaviour.1

It starts with a functional behaviour assessment, which works out what a behaviour does for the person: getting help, getting away from something that's too much, or meeting a sensory need. When that need is met in a safer way, through new skills, better communication, changes to routines and surroundings, and a support team who know what to do, a restrictive practice is often needed less. Data collected over time shows whether that's happening.

Any regulated restrictive practice in a plan must be used only as a last resort, in proportion to the risk, for the shortest time and in the least restrictive way, and the plan should set out how it will be reduced.3

How does CHSA work with restrictive practices?

[Confirm: PBS team sign-off on this page's wording] Our approach is evidence first. A goal of positive behaviour support is to reduce and, where possible, remove restrictive practices, so we put strategies in place, collect and analyse data, and revise the strategies where needed to reduce risks to the person and the people around them. We follow the same process whether restrictive practices are already in place or someone asks us to include one in a plan.

  1. Understand the person

    We get to know the person and the people around them, and complete a functional behaviour assessment to understand why behaviours of concern happen. Where restrictive practices are already in place, we complete an updated assessment.

  2. Put positive strategies in place

    Skills, communication, changes to routines and surroundings, and training for the support team, so everyone responds in the same calm, consistent way.

  3. Collect and analyse data

    We record what happens, look at what the data shows, and revise the strategies where needed to reduce risks to the person and those around them.

  4. Decide on the evidence

    We use the updated assessment and the available data to decide whether each existing restrictive practice is still necessary, or whether a requested one is needed at all.

  5. Only ever a last resort

    When the evidence justifies it, we write the least restrictive option into the behaviour support plan, only after preventative and less restrictive strategies have been tried, with a plan to reduce and, where possible, stop it.

  6. Authorisation is the provider's

    Nobody at CHSA is an Authorised Program Officer, so we never authorise a practice. The implementing provider's APO decides whether to authorise it under South Australia's Restrictive Practices Authorisation scheme (Level 2 practices go to the Senior Authorising Officer),8 and the provider reports its ongoing use to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.2

  7. Keep reviewing

    We keep collecting data and reviewing the plan with the person and their supporters, so any restrictive practice is used for no longer than it's needed.

Who can help at CHSA?

Our eight behaviour support practitioners support children, teenagers and adults at home, at school, in the community, at our clinics and by telehealth. Rowena Cornish and Jess Valerio are the team's two clinical supervisors. All our behaviour support practitioners are assessed as suitable by the NDIS Commission.

Common questions about restrictive practices

Is locking a door or cupboard a restrictive practice?

It can be. Locking a door, cupboard or fridge so a person can't get to a place, item or activity is environmental restraint, a regulated restrictive practice, and needs to be in a behaviour support plan and authorised.6 In South Australia, areas people ordinarily can't enter, such as staff rooms or other residents' rooms, aren't included.6

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

It depends on its main purpose, not on how often it's given. Medication prescribed for a diagnosed mental disorder, physical illness or physical condition isn't a chemical restraint; medication used mainly to influence behaviour is.6 Ask the person's GP or prescriber about any medication, and never change it without talking to them.

Can a restrictive practice be used without consent?

In South Australia, a guardian's views must be considered, but consent isn't the only factor. If a guardian doesn't consent, or guardians disagree, the APO must refer the decision to the Senior Authorising Officer, who decides.8 You can ask for that decision to be reviewed and then go to SACAT.13

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

An authorised practice is in a behaviour support plan and has been authorised by an APO or the Senior Authorising Officer. Any other use, including use while waiting for a plan or authorisation, is unauthorised, and the provider must report it to the NDIS Commission as a reportable incident.122

What are the three or four main types of restraint?

Those lists come from aged care and hospitals. Under the NDIS there are five regulated types of restrictive practice: seclusion, and chemical, mechanical, physical and environmental restraint.1

Will CHSA write a restrictive practice into a plan?

Only when the evidence shows it's needed, as a last resort, with a plan to reduce and stop it. We gather data and try preventative and less restrictive strategies first, and we never authorise a practice ourselves: that's the implementing provider's Authorised Program Officer or the Senior Authorising Officer.8

References

  1. NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. (n.d.). Understanding behaviour support and restrictive practices. https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/rules-and-standards/behaviour-support-and-restrictive-practices/understanding-behaviour-support (accessed 3 November 2026).
  2. NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. (n.d.). Behaviour support and restrictive practices. https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/rules-and-standards/behaviour-support-and-restrictive-practices (accessed 3 November 2026).
  3. NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. (n.d.). Rules for behaviour support and restrictive practices [Confirm: exact page title]. https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/rules-and-standards/behaviour-support-and-restrictive-practices/rules-behaviour-support-and (accessed 3 November 2026).
  4. NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. (2020). Regulated Restrictive Practices Guide [Confirm: check for a newer edition]. https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-02/regulated-restrictive-practice-guide-rrp-20200_0.pdf (accessed [Confirm: read by hand before publishing, then add the date]).
  5. NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. (n.d.). Position statement: Practices that present high risk of harm to NDIS participants [Confirm: not yet read; check the title, year and the statement's own address (linked from this page)]. https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/rules-and-standards/behaviour-support-and-restrictive-practices (accessed [Confirm: read by hand before publishing, then add the date]).
  6. Government of South Australia, Department of Human Services. (2022). Regulated restrictive practices. https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/care-and-support/disability/restrictive-practices/restrictive-practices-scheme/regulated-restrictive-practices (accessed 3 November 2026).
  7. Government of South Australia, Department of Human Services. (2026). Legal framework. https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/care-and-support/disability/restrictive-practices/restrictive-practices-scheme/legal-framework (accessed 3 November 2026).
  8. Government of South Australia, Department of Human Services. (2022). Authorising and endorsing restrictive practices. https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/care-and-support/disability/restrictive-practices/ndis-service-providers/authorising-and-endorsing (accessed 3 November 2026).
  9. Government of South Australia, Department of Human Services. (2022). Decision making for authorisation. https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/care-and-support/disability/restrictive-practices/ndis-service-providers/authorisation-decision-making (accessed 3 November 2026).
  10. Government of South Australia, Department of Human Services. (n.d.). Obligations and compliance for NDIS service providers. https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/care-and-support/disability/restrictive-practices/ndis-service-providers/obligations-and-compliance (accessed 3 November 2026).
  11. Government of South Australia, Department of Human Services. (n.d.). Restrictive Practices Guidelines. https://www.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/775107/Restrictive-Practices-Guidelines.pdf (accessed [Confirm: read by hand before publishing, then add the date]).
  12. Government of South Australia, Department of Human Services. (2025). Reporting obligations. https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/care-and-support/disability/restrictive-practices/ndis-service-providers/reporting-obligations (accessed 3 November 2026).
  13. Government of South Australia, Department of Human Services. (n.d.). Feedback, complaints and appeals. https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/care-and-support/disability/restrictive-practices/feedback,-complaints-and-appeals (accessed 3 November 2026).

Talk to our PBS team

Our positive behaviour support team works with the person, their family and providers to reduce restrictive practices.

Positive behaviour support

Written by Trevor Keen, Founder and Physiotherapist [Confirm: byline author for this page]. Clinically reviewed by [Confirm: reviewer — Rowena Cornish or Jess Valerio, shown with NDIS Commission suitability].

Last reviewed 4 November 2026. How we write our pages

General information only. Speak with your GP or one of our team about your situation.

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