The risk of abuse for some people with disability can increase depending on a range of personal and service type factors. Understanding the increased risk associated with specific services and settings is vital for supporting people safely.

These resources will help you understand and address these risks.

Recognising Restrictive Practices is a set of short films and accompanying guide that explore the use of restrictive practices and encourage disability support workers and supervisors to reflect on and talk about less restrictive ways of supporting people with disability.

Those who have completed the Understanding Abuse e-learning program will enjoy seeing Tom as he moves into his new house and discovers that things are different there.

Hear from people with disability, support workers and practice leaders as they share their perspectives. Consider the impact of restrictions on people you support and explore ways to do things differently. The films are not training in and of themselves, but can be used in the context of your organisational policies and procedures and local legislation.

A short introduction film and seven pairs of films explore the following restrictive practices:

• Restricted Access
• Power Control
• Mechanical Restraint
• Chemical Restraint
• Physical Restraint
• Seclusion
• Consequence Control

Watch the first clip for each restrictive practice then stop and answer the questions provided. Then watch the second clip to hear what others had to say.

More information about all of the topics covered in these films, as well as links to other materials can be found in the Recognising Restrictive Practices Guide (PDF | Word).

Legislation for restrictive practices is different in each state and territory. NDS recommends these films be used within your organisational policies and procedures on restrictive practices and with support from local professionals as required.

These films were funded by the Victorian Government and developed with support from the Victorian Office of Professional Practice.