What is Restrictive practice?
A restrictive practice is any action that restricts the rights or freedom of movement of a person with disability. The regulated types are seclusion, chemical, mechanical, physical and environmental restraint. Their use must be authorised under state or territory law, set out in a behaviour support plan, and reported to the NDIS Commission monthly.
Use of a regulated restrictive practice without authorisation is a reportable incident in its own right, which makes unauthorised use both a clinical and a regulatory failure.
Practices must be the least restrictive option, used only in response to risk of harm, and paired with a behaviour support plan by a registered practitioner working toward reducing and eliminating their use.
The five regulated restrictive practices
- Seclusion: confining a person alone in a room or area they cannot leave, or believe they cannot leave
- Chemical restraint: using medication primarily to influence a person's behaviour
- Mechanical restraint: using a device to prevent, restrict or subdue a person's movement
- Physical restraint: using physical force to prevent, restrict or subdue movement
- Environmental restraint: restricting free access to all parts of the person's environment, such as locked cupboards or doors
Each practice must be the least restrictive response, used only to reduce the risk of harm, and only alongside strategies that build the person's skills and quality of life.
When a practice is authorised
A regulated restrictive practice is authorised only when it is included in the person's behaviour support plan, has been authorised under the state or territory process where one applies, and is used as the plan describes. Anything outside those conditions is unauthorised and is a reportable incident: notify the NDIS Commission within five business days. The 24-hour deadline applies only if the same event also involved death, serious injury, abuse or neglect, unlawful contact or assault, or sexual misconduct.
If a practice will be used on an ongoing basis, the implementing provider must engage a specialist behaviour support provider: an interim behaviour support plan is due within one month of the practice first being used, and a comprehensive plan within six months.
Monthly reporting
When a behaviour support plan is lodged, the practitioner lists the regulated restrictive practices it contains. The implementing provider then reports monthly to the NDIS Commission on the use of each listed practice, including months when a practice was not used. Reports should be lodged within five business days of month end.
Accurate monthly reports depend on workers recording every use at the time, with the date, duration, reason and the practice used.
How Rostery helps
Rostery keeps each participant's restrictive practices register and behaviour support plan on their record, lets workers log each use in a Restrictive Practices Log chart from the carer app, and records on an incident the practice used, whether it was authorised and who authorised it.
Compliance guides
In more depth from AuditCore, our sister NDIS compliance platform.
Questions people ask
Is a PRN medication a restrictive practice?
It can. Medication used primarily to influence a person's behaviour is chemical restraint, whether regular or as needed. Medication prescribed by a medical practitioner to treat a diagnosed mental disorder, physical illness or physical condition is not.
How often do I report restrictive practice use?
Monthly, through the NDIS Commission portal, for each regulated practice in a lodged behaviour support plan, including nil use. Lodge within five business days of the end of the month.
What if a restrictive practice is used in an emergency?
If it is not in a behaviour support plan or not authorised, it is an unauthorised use and must be reported as a reportable incident, and a behaviour support plan may then be needed.
Checked against the official sources on 26 October 2026. Rules change: confirm the current position with the agency before you rely on it.
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