Some practices place a person with disability at a high risk of physical or psychological injury or death. These practices include certain types of physical restraint and punishments and may constitute abuse and neglect. These practices are known as prohibited practices.
Prohibited practices must never be used as they carry a very high risk of causing harm to a person with disability or restricting their human rights. Prohibited practices cannot be used in relation to a person with a disability in any circumstances and cannot be authorised by the Senior Practitioner.
The use of prohibited practices may be subject to criminal charges and fines.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Commission also bans high-risk restrictive practices by both registered and unregistered NDIS providers. The use of high-risk restrictive practices, including prohibited practices, is considered a serious breach of the NDIS Code of Conduct.
The specific practices that are prohibited practices are in the Disability Rights, Inclusion and Safeguarding Regulations 2025, and align with the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Commission’s position on high-risk practices.
If prohibited practices are in use:
- Providers must immediately cease using them and appropriate action must be taken to ensure the person's safety, health and well-being. This should include the development, approval and use of alternative strategies.
- Providers, support workers, participants and any person with responsibilities under the Disability Rights, Inclusion and Safeguarding Act, should inform the Senior Practitioner and relevant authorities of the use of a prohibited practice or if they are aware of the practice being used by others.
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