15 December 2022

New practice alerts: Sun and summer safety, and pain management 

One new and one updated practice alerts provide guidance on best-practice support of people with disability most at risk.

Key points

• People with disability are at high risk of poor health, chronic disease and premature death from potentially preventable causes.
• They have a right to the highest attainable standard of health, and a right to choice and control regarding personal lifestyle and daily activities.
• Practice Alerts are short, evidence-based summaries outlining best-practice support of NDIS participants most at risk of preventable harm and death.
• To assist providers and workers in meeting their obligations under the NDIS Practice Standards and NDIS Code of Conduct, the NDIS Commission has developed alternative formats of many of these Practice Alerts, including video animations and printable quick reference guides. Easy read formats are also available.

Practice Alert: Sun and summer safety

Particularly in summer, heat increases the risk of heat-related illness and health complications.

The Practice Alert: Sun and summer safety provides guidance on heat-related illness, its risk factors, and managing this risk and preventing heat-related illness in NDIS participants.

Practice Alert: Pain management (updated)

Pain is more common in people with disability compared to the general population but is often not recognised. Untreated pain can negatively impact physical and mental health, and cause changes in behaviour.

The Practice Alert: Pain Management covers some of the causes of pain, who is at risk and how to identify, manage and prevent pain in NDIS participants.

About practice alerts

Practice alerts outline best-practice support of NDIS participants, based on contemporary research and evidence about issues affecting people with disability. They outline the risks, actions that can be taken to support NDIS participants, and obligations for NDIS providers and workers. Practice alerts are developed by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission in consultation with clinicians, academics and subject matter experts.

The NDIS Commissions committed to developing 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.

All practice alerts are available on the NDIS Commission website. Please read and follow the guidance outlined in these practice alerts, and share it with your workers to better support NDIS participants and keep them safe.

Other resources

The NDIS Commission has a range of resources available to support NDIS workers in understanding their obligations under the NDIS Code of Conduct and better support people with disability.

These resources include our e-learning modules, which are free and available online to everyone. The e-learning modules include: worker orientation, supporting safe and enjoyable meals, and supporting effective communication.

To empower people with disability to raise a concern or complaint if they are not happy with the quality or safety of their NDIS supports or services, we have developed a video series: ‘Make it known, make it better ’.

There are 15 videos in the series, and complementary posters, based on each aspect of the NDIS Code of Conduct – which set out the obligations of NDIS providers and workers to treat people with disability ethically. These resources were co-designed, tested with, and feature NDIS participants, their families, providers and support workers.

Visit the NDIS Commission website to access these and other training resources.

Contact us

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

Email: contactcentre@ndiscommission.gov.au
Website: www.ndiscommission.gov.au