Victorian Senior Practitioner's Directions and Prohibitions

0:01
Everybody has the right to feel safe and respected.

0:05
The NDIS Commission says physical restraint is the use or action of physical force to prevent, restrict or subdue movement of a person's body or part of their body for the primary purpose of influencing their behaviour.

0:23
The NDIS Commissioner is clear that some physical restraints should never be used.

0:29
Some types of physical restraint are also not allowed by law in some States and territories.

0:34
In Australia, for example, there are some physical restraints that are not allowed by law in Victoria.

0:42
A basket hold is where a person wraps their arms around another person's upper or lower body or both.

0:50
Prone restraint is where a person forces another person into a face down position on the ground.

0:57
Supine restraint is where a person forces another person into a face up position on the ground.

1:05
A pin down is where a person holds down another person's arms or legs or any part of their body.

1:12
A takedown technique is where a person forces another person to fall to the floor with or without help.

1:21
Any physical restraint that limits or stops another person from breathing or digesting food properly.

1:29
Any physical restraint where a person pushes another person's head forward onto their chest.

1:36
Any physical restraint that involves hurting another person, hyperextending another person's joints, or putting pressure on another person's chest or joints to make them do something.

1:50
These physical restraints might be called to different things by different people in different states or territories.

1:57
If it looks or sounds like any of these types of physical restraint, it should never be used in Australia.

2:05
These physical restraints should never be used because they put at risk someone's breathing, digestion, or movement.

2:14
This might lead to serious injury, trauma, or death for the person being restrained or the person that is doing the physical restraint.

2:24
Using these physical restraints is not providing good support for people with disability.

2:31
If a physical restraint that should never be used is used on you, or you see someone using one, it is not OK and needs to stop.

2:41
You should tell someone you trust, like a family member or carer, so they can help you to make it stop.

2:49
There are things disability service providers must do if they do see or hear about a physical restraint that should never be used.

2:59
Check that the person who was restrained is OK and the environment is safe.

3:05
Report the physical restraint to the right government organisation in your state.

3:10
For example, in Victoria this is the Victorian senior practitioner.

3:17
Report the physical restraint to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

3:24
Help connect the person that was restrained with the right support.

3:28
Make sure steps are in place so it doesn't happen again.

3:32
For example, service providers could review what happened or give more training to support workers.

3:39
We all have a role to play to make sure people with disability get the support they need in a Safeway.

3:47
Keeping each other safe is everyone's responsibility.