6 April 2021

Transitions of care between disability services and hospitals

A new practice alert provides guidance on reducing the risk of harm to people with disability when they move between places of care, such as to and from hospital.

Key points

• Transitions of care refers to the movement of people between places or services providing care such as between disability support services and hospitals.
• In Australia, problems in transition of care have been associated with risks of harm to people who have a disability.
• Safe transition of care requires clear communication about, and coordination of, participant care between providers, health care staff, participants and their support network

Practice alert: Transitions of care between disability services and hospitals

Transitions of care refers to the movement of people between places or services providing care such as people moving between disability support services and hospitals. These are key points where there is risk of harm to NDIS participants.

We have developed a practice alert called ‘Transitions of care between disability services and hospitals’. It explains how to support NDIS participants during transitions to and from hospitals, and your obligations as a provider regarding transitions of care.

We committed to developing this and other practice alerts in response to the research undertaken by Dr Carmela Salomon and Professor Julian Trollor into the causes and contributors to deaths of people with disability.

The practice alert is available on the NDIS Commission website. Please read and follow the guidance outlined in this practice alert, and share it with your workers who support people with disability when they move between places of care.

Contact Us

Call: 1800 035 544 (free call from landlines). Our contact centre is open 9.00am to 5.00pm (9.00am to 4.30pm in the NT) Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

Email: contactcentre@ndiscommission.gov.au

Website: www.ndiscommission.gov.au