4 July 2022

New practice alerts: Cardiovascular Disease, Epilepsy, Medicines and Respiratory Depression, and Preventing Respiratory Infections

Three 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 new formats of this important information, including video animations and printable quick reference guides. Easy read formats are also available.

Practice Alert: Cardiovascular disease

People with disability are more likely to have cardiovascular disease than the general population. This can help be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and monitoring for health conditions that can increase risk.

The Practice Alert: Cardiovascular disease in people who have a disability provides guidance on how to support NDIS participants to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease through methods such as annual health assessments and adequate and up-to-date training for staff.

Practice Alert: Prevention of respiratory infections

In Australia, respiratory infections and diseases contribute to up to half of deaths of people using disability services.

The Practice Alert: Prevention of Respiratory Infections explains the risk factors associated with respiratory infection, the signs of infection and precautions that support workers can take to prevent infection and disease in NDIS participants.

Practice Alert: Medicines that can cause respiratory depression

Respiratory depression is slow and ineffective breathing. This can lead to increased carbon dioxide levels, and potentially a medical emergency.

The Practice Alert: Medicines that can cause respiratory depression provides guidance on medications that are associated with an increased risk of respiratory depression, and providers’ obligations in supporting NDIS participants who take these medications.

Practice Alert: Epilepsy management (updated)

Epilepsy is a condition of the brain that is more common among people with disability.

The Practice Alert: Epilepsy management provides guidance on supporting NDIS participants who have Epilepsy. Providers should ensure NDIS participants have an Epilepsy Management Plan that has been developed in consultation with a neurologist, specialist doctor or Epilepsy nurse and reviewed at least every 12 months.

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 new resources

• In addition to the Supporting Effective Communication worker orientation module we have now also released a new e-learning module for NDIS workers, Supporting Safe and Enjoyable Meals. These have been developed to support learning and assist providers and workers in meeting their obligations.
• 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 video 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. The new 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