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 – fact sheet (version 1.8, September 2021 (PDF, 1.29 MB)
- Consent for medication in aged care – fact sheet (PDF, 460.61 KB)
- Frequently asked questions about consent (PDF, 433.26 KB)
- New consumers and restrictive practices – fact sheet (PDF, 567.42 KB)
- Overview of restrictive practices (PDF, 465.43 KB)
- Fact sheet – Restrictive practices – Key changes for providers from 1 July 2021 (PDF, 404.12 KB)
Regulatory Bulletin
- RB 2021-13-1.1 Regulation of restrictive practices and the role of the Senior Practitioner, Restrictive Practices (PDF, 326.49 KB)
- Commissioner letter – Important changes relating to the use of restrictive practices 28 June 2021 (PDF, 145.39 KB)
Webinars
- Restrictive Practices webinar - myth busting - 26 February 2024 and presentation slides
- Restrictive practices webinar – behaviour support planning – 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 (PDF, 679 KB)
- Decision Making Tool: Supporting a restraint-free environment in residential aged care (PDF, 409.93 KB)
- Restrictive practices scenarios (August 2021) (PDF, 481.04 KB)
- Perimeter restraint scenarios infographic (PDF, 163.59 KB)
Transcript for 'Alternative Approaches to Chemical Restraint'
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.
- Discussion paper - Better use of medications in aged care (PDF, 1.22 MB)
- ACQSC Psychotropic medication PRN stickers guide (PDF, 692.76 KB)
- ACQSC Psychotropic medication PRN stickers - black and white template (PDF, 53.27 KB)
- ACQSC Psychotropic medication PRN stickers - colour template (PDF, 85.93 KB)
- Psychotropic self-assessment tool – information for aged care (PDF, 647.8 KB)
- Psychotropic medications self-assessment tool template (DOCX, 693.68 KB)
- Six steps for safe prescribing antipsychotics and benzodiazepines in residential aged care (PDF, 280.93 KB)
Visit our Medication: its your choice page for information about reducing the inappropriate use of medication.
