Authorisation of Restrictive Practices in WA
Issue 20 | September 2026
- ARP Spotlight: QA Panel Outcome Summary Reports
- Behaviour Support Plan requirements for QA Panel authorisation process
- Upcoming education sessions
- Best practice in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS): Is having a diagnosis a reason to use restrictive practices?
ARP Spotlight
Quality Assurance Panel Outcome Summary Report
Restrictive practices are practices or interventions that limit the rights or freedom of movement of people with disability.
In WA, the Authorisation of Restrictive Practices in Funded Disability Services Policy1 (Policy) sets out the authorisation requirements for the use of restrictive practices.
Implementing Provider(s) must seek authorisation for each regulated restrictive practice proposed for a person with disability by convening or accessing a Quality Assurance (QA) Panel.
Decision-makers at the QA Panel review the proposed restrictive practices outlined in the Behaviour Support Plan (BSP) against each of the five principles of use2 and approve/do not approve the use of the restrictive practice outlined in the BSP.
A completed Quality Assurance (QA) Panel Outcome Summary Report, on the approved form, signed by decision-makers at the QA panel, is the evidence of authorisation for the use of regulated restrictive practices. NDIS Providers who require support to upload this form to the NDIS Portal can contact the NDIS Commission.
Outcome Summary Report Requirements
The QA Panel Outcome Summary Report must include:
- The authorisation decision for each restrictive practice proposed to be used and described in the BSP.
- The reasons for the approval/non approval.
- Recommendations to support future authorisation reviews.
- The authorisation expiry date, which should be no longer than 12 months and no later than the BSP expiry date.
- Declarations and mitigation strategies for actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interests of QA Panel decision making members.
- Names and roles of decision-making members of the QA Panel.
- Names and roles of other attendees of the QA Panel.
- List of documents required for the QA Panel.
- List of documents required for next QA Panel.
There must be only one QA Outcome Summary Report for a person with disability for each QA Panel process, including when multiple Implementing Providers are present.
It should be possible to look back on the Outcome Summary form and clearly understand the rationale for the authorisation decisions. It can be helpful to complete the form during the QA Panel meeting to ensure all Panel members agree on the information captured in the report and to provide for an efficient signature process.
The approved outcome summary report form is available at the WA Authorisation of restrictive practices website, and in the Procedure Guidelines, Appendix 2, page 15. The format of this form must not be changed.
[1] [2] Policy and procedure guidelines (Authorisation of Restrictive Practices in Funded Disability Services Policy and Procedure Guidelines Stage Two, section 4.1.2)
BSP requirements for QA Panel Authorisation Process
A Provider should not convene a Quality Assurance (QA) Panel for the authorisation of restrictive practices until they have all the supporting documentation ready to share with the QA Panel members. This includes a Behaviour Support Plan (BSP) which addresses the requirements outlined in the Procedure Guidelines and summarised below:
The BSP must:
- be current
- show clear evidence of engagement with the person and their support team
- contain detailed descriptions of any restrictive practices used or proposed
- ensure that any restrictive practice described is only used in response to a behaviour of concern which puts the person or others at risk of harm
- address all the 5 principles for the use of each restrictive practice described
- contain, or refer to, a reduction and elimination plan.
The role of the QA Panel is to consider this information to approve (authorise) or not approve the restrictive practices documented in the BSP.
Behaviour Support Practitioners developing the BSP need to work together with the person and their support team, including the Implementing Provider(s), to ensure that the BSP meets these requirements.
Upcoming Education
Education sessions will be held on Microsoft Teams.
To register: Please click on the session title and select your preferred date on Eventbrite.
ARP Policy Overview Session for disability service providers and Behaviour Support Practitioners:
- Friday 30 October 2026 at 10:30am–12pm AWST
- Thursday 26 November 2026 at10:30am–12pm AWST
ARP Policy Deep Dive: Out of Scope Practices for disability service providers and Behaviour Support Practitioners:
- Tuesday 13 October 2026 at 1:30pm–3pm AWST
- Tuesday 1 December 2026at 1:30pm–3pm AWST
ARP Policy Deep Dive: Reduction and Elimination of Restrictive Practices for disability service providers and Behaviour Support Practitioners with a good understanding of restrictive practices and are familiar with the Policy:
- Thursday 24 September 2026 at 10:30am–12pm AWST
- Tuesday 27 October 2026 at 1:30pm–3pm AWST
- Wednesday 18 November 2026 at 1:30pm–3pm AWST
ARP Policy: Supported Decision Making for disability service providers and Behaviour Support Practitioners:
- Monday 26 October 2026 at 1:30pm–3:30pm AWST
Positive Behaviour Support and Authorisation of Restrictive Practices for Senior Managers/Delegates on Quality Assurance (QA) Panels:
- Thursday 22 October 2026 at 10:30am–12pm AWST
- Thursday 3 December 2026 at 10:30am–12pm AWST
Authorisation Requirements and Quality Assurance Panels for Behaviour Support Practitioners (for authors of behaviour support plans and practitioners sitting on QA Panels) and for Senior Managers/Delegates on QA Panels:
- Wednesday 21 October 2026 at 9:30am–12:30pm AWST
- Wednesday 4 November 2026 at 9:30am–12:30pm AWST
Quality Assurance Panels Practice Sessions – three separate practice scenarios for Behaviour Support Practitioners (for authors of behaviour support plans and practitioners sitting on QA Panels) and Senior Managers/Delegates on QA Panels who have completed an Authorisation Requirements and QA Panels Session (formerly QA Panels Intro Session):
- Wednesday 23 September 2026 at 1:30pm–3:30pm AWST
- Wednesday 14 October 2026 at 1:30pm–3:30pm AWST
- Tuesday 24 November 2026 at 1:30pm–3:30pm AWST
Email BehaviourSupportConsultancy@communities.wa.gov.au for more information on education sessions.
Best practice in PBS
Is having a diagnosis a reason to use restrictive practices?
The diagnosis of a condition is a way of classifying the nature of a disease, disorder, disability or impairment. A diagnosis may explain the symptoms or their cause and/or guide intervention and support options.
A diagnosed condition is experienced differently by each person and leads to unique functional impacts in their life. Whilst it is important to consider the functional impact of developmental or acquired diagnosis in relation to a person’s needs this should occur in an individualised way alongside an understanding of a person’s history and experiences. Each person with a diagnosed condition has specific strengths, challenges, needs, wishes and responses over time. The types and frequency of supports should be tailored and responsive to their needs rather than only based on the diagnosis.
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is an evidence-based way to understand a person’s strengths, experiences, needs and circumstances. PBS is based on engaging and working together with a person and key people around them. Importantly, working together means gathering different views and information, including diagnostic information about the person.
The ‘Understanding Me’ tool explores the person’s needs and helps build a whole picture of a person’s unique situation. A deep understanding of the person and their situation supports the development of high-quality care and support environments around the person, also often referred to as Capable Environments.
Does a diagnosis mean restrictive practices are needed?
Under the Authorisation of Restrictive Practices in Funded Disability Services Policy, a restrictive practice may only be used in response to a behaviour of concern, where that behaviour poses a risk of harm to the person with disability and/or others. A diagnosis alone does not lead to a behaviour of concern and does not justify the use of a restrictive practice.
Practical tips on applying PBS to reduce and eliminate restrictive practices and improve quality of life can be reviewed in multiple past issues of the ARP Bulletin (See ARP Bulletin Issues 1 through 14) at Authorisation of restrictive practices: education, events and news
For specific questions regarding the Policy, please email: arp@communities.wa.gov.au
For enquiries on the regulation or reporting of restrictive practices in the NDIS, email the NDIS Commission: behavioursupport@ndiscommission.gov.au
Feedback or suggestions for future bulletins
The bulletin is intended to provide guidance around the Authorisation of Restrictive Practice in Funded Disability Services Policy. Your feedback and suggestions are valued and welcomed.
Please email arp@communities.wa.gov.au with any feedback, suggestions about a topic or questions you would like answered in future publications.
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