Information on this page will assist providers in understanding and complying with the legislative changes and reforms that have been introduced to ensure restrictive practices is used as a last resort only.
If required, it should only be used in the least restrictive form, for the shortest period of time, after careful consideration of the impacts on the consumer.
Consent must also be given by the consumer or their substitute decision maker before any restrictive practice is used.
New responsibilities came into effect on 1 September 2021 that legally require aged care providers to have a behaviour support plan in place as part of the existing care and services plan for consumers:
- that need behaviour support
- where the use of a restrictive practice has been assessed as necessary, and
- where a restrictive practice is being used.
Fact sheets
- Behaviour support plans
- Consent for medication in aged care
- Frequently asked questions about consent
- New consumers and restrictive practices (new 17 January 2022)
- Overview of restrictive practices
- Restrictive practices – key changes for providers from 1 July 2021
Regulatory Bulletin
- RB 2021-13: Regulation of restrictive practices and the role of the Senior Practitioner, Restrictive Practices
- Letter from the Commissioner – Important changes relating to the use of restrictive practices (28 June 2021).
Webinars
- Restrictive practices – behaviour support planning webinar – 23 August 2021
- Restrictive practices webinar – changes to the legislation – 13 July 2021
Tools
- Behaviour support plans by Dementia Support Australia, including:
- Decision-making tool: supporting a restraint-free environment in community aged care
- Decision-making tool: supporting a restraint-free environment in residential aged care
- ‘Minimising restraint in residential aged care facilities’ storyboard user guide
- 'Minimising restraint in home services' storyboard user guide
- Restrictive practices scenarios
- Perimeter restraint scenarios infographic
Videos
Other resources
Guidance
Guidance is available to assist providers in best practice person centred care and appropriate use of restrictive practices
It includes information on:
- behaviour support and care planning
- consent and decision making
- dementia
- governance
- medication safety
- advocacy
Psychotropic medications
Providers have responsibilities to manage medications safely.
The Commission is particularly focused on the use of psychotropic medications in aged care.
Psychotropic are a high-risk class of medications and may be prescribed as chemical restraints.
- Better use of medication in aged care
- Psychotropic medication - PRN stickers
- Psychotropic medications used in Australia - information for aged care
- Psychotropic self-assessment tool – frequently asked questions (new 28 January 2022)
- Psychotropic self-assessment tool – a template for recording information for consumers receiving psychotropic medications (updated 28 January 2022)
- Six steps for safe prescribing antipsychotics and benzodiazepines in residential aged care
Visit Better use of medication in aged care project for information about reducing the inappropriate use of medication.