What is a restrictive practice

This guide uses simple words and pictures to explain information. This makes information easier to understand.

This guide has some hard words. The word will be written in bold.

We explain what the hard word means.

This guide is written by the Restrictive Practices Unit.

The Restrictive Practices Unit are people in Government who make sure that laws for restrictive practices are followed.

It’s okay to ask for help to read this information.

Ask a friend, family members or support person for help.

Restrictive practices can stop you from going places and doing things you want.

Restrictive practices can take away your choices.

A restrictive practice should only be used when you act in ways that makes you or other people unsafe.

There are rules and laws about how a restrictive practice is used.

Restrictive practices are used to stop behaviours of concern.

Behaviours of concern are doing something that could hurt you or someone else.

There are 5 types of restrictive practices.

Seclusion:

This is when you are in a room alone and you are not allowed to leave.

Chemical:

Medicine to change or stop a behaviour.

Mechanical:

This is when equipment is used to stop a behaviour of concern.

Physical:

This is when someone stops you moving your body or a part of your body to stop a behaviour of concern.

Environmental:

This is when you are stopped from having items or doing activities.

Call us:

1800 862 004

You can call us Monday to Friday between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.

Email us:

DHSRestrictivePracticesUnit@sa.gov.au

Write to us:

Restrictive Practices Unit
PO Box 70
RUNDLE MALL SA 5000