What evidence does an auditor or the regulator ask for under NDIS Practice Standards Module 2 4.1 to Module 2 4.8?

Procedure describing each regulated restrictive practice type and the authorisation process in each jurisdiction served; Practitioner training records on seclusion, chemical, mechanical, physical and environmental restraint; Jurisdiction-specific authorisation guidance held and current; Training records on restrictive practice identification and associated risks for each practitioner; Content outline of restrictive practice training covering positional asphyxia and chemical restraint risks; Supervision notes reviewing restrictive practice risk in specific plans; Meeting notes or consultation r

Rules / NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators

Practice StandardsNDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicatorsndis-practice-standards--module-2-restrictive-practices

Requirement

Module 2: Restrictive practices

The Module 2 outcome restrictive practices: every quality indicator the NDIS Practice Standards set for it (Module 2 4.1 to Module 2 4.8), what an auditor asks to see under each, the common gaps, and a free worksheet to fill in.

Clause

NDIS Practice Standards Module 2 4.1 to Module 2 4.8

Regulator

NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission

Edition held

Rules Schedules 1 to 8, Compilation No. 6 (F2026C00527) and Quality Indicators Guidelines Compilation No. 3 (F2026C00528), in force 1 July 2026

Checked current

6 October 2026, Federal Register: both compilations are the latest version on 6 October 2026

Who it applies to

Registered providers of specialist behaviour support (certification).

Every clause in the standards library

NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators on the standards library

Under review, not in force

The NDIS Commission's review of the Practice Standards (a proposed quality framework and changes to the standards and how they are assessed) is still being considered; nothing from it is in force.

Module 2 4.1Restrictive practices (specialist): knowledge of regulated practices and authorisationsource

Requirement, our statement of the clause

The provider knows and understands the regulated restrictive practices described in the NDIS (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018 and any state or territory legislation, policy and processes for obtaining authorisation (however described) for restrictive practices included in a behaviour support plan.

Evidence that typically shows this

Procedure describing each regulated restrictive practice type and the authorisation process in each jurisdiction served
Practitioner training records on seclusion, chemical, mechanical, physical and environmental restraint
Jurisdiction-specific authorisation guidance held and current

Common gap to check

Staff cannot distinguish environmental from mechanical restraint
Authorisation process for a jurisdiction where the provider operates is not documented

Module 2 4.2Restrictive practices (specialist): practitioner training on restrictive practices and risksource

Requirement, our statement of the clause

Each behaviour support practitioner undertakes professional development to keep their understanding current of which practices are considered restrictive and the risks those practices carry.

Evidence that typically shows this

Training records on restrictive practice identification and associated risks for each practitioner
Content outline of restrictive practice training covering positional asphyxia and chemical restraint risks
Supervision notes reviewing restrictive practice risk in specific plans

Common gap to check

Restrictive practice training completed once at induction and never refreshed
Risks of specific practices, such as PRN psychotropics, not addressed

Module 2 4.3Restrictive practices (specialist): discussion of need, risks and alternativessource

Requirement, our statement of the clause

The participant and, with consent, their support network, implementing providers and other relevant stakeholders are engaged in discussing whether restrictive practices are needed, understand the risks of using them, and are offered alternatives during those discussions.

Evidence that typically shows this

Meeting notes or consultation records showing the participant and stakeholders present
Consent records for sharing information with the support network
Documented alternatives considered and reasons for any restrictive practice retained
Easy read or accessible explanations given to the participant

Common gap to check

Participant not involved or consulted only through the family
Alternatives to restraint not recorded

Module 2 4.4Restrictive practices (specialist): stakeholder engagement in proportionate strategiessource

Requirement, our statement of the clause

The participant and, with consent, their support network, implementing providers and other relevant stakeholders take part in developing behaviour support strategies that are proportionate to the risk of harm to the participant or to others.

Evidence that typically shows this

Risk of harm assessment linked to each strategy in the plan
Records of strategy development sessions with stakeholders
Draft plan feedback from implementing providers and family

Common gap to check

Strategies more restrictive than the documented level of risk
Strategy development done by the practitioner alone

Module 2 4.5Restrictive practices (specialist): plans include practices only as authorisedsource

Requirement, our statement of the clause

A restrictive practice is included in a participant's behaviour support plan only in line with the relevant Commonwealth legislation and policy and with any state or territory legislation and policy requirements for obtaining authorisation (however described).

Evidence that typically shows this

State or territory authorisation decisions or panel outcomes matched to each plan
Plan quality checklist confirming authorisation status before finalisation
Correspondence with authorising bodies on pending authorisations

Common gap to check

Plans finalised containing practices still awaiting authorisation
Authorisation expiry dates not tracked against plan dates

Module 2 4.6Restrictive practices (specialist): plans meet RPBS Rules conditionssource

Requirement, our statement of the clause

Every regulated restrictive practice in a behaviour support plan complies with the conditions prescribed in the NDIS (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018, for example that it is used only as a last resort, is the least restrictive response, is proportionate, and is used for the shortest possible time.

Evidence that typically shows this

Behaviour support plans showing the RPBS Rules conditions addressed for each regulated restrictive practice
Plan peer review or quality audit records
Commission plan quality feedback or plan audit results

Common gap to check

Plan does not explain why the practice is the least restrictive option
No duration or fading criteria for the practice

Module 2 4.7Restrictive practices (specialist): reduction and elimination strategies in planssource

Requirement, our statement of the clause

Each participant's behaviour support plan or interim plan contains strategies designed to reduce and eliminate any restrictive practices it includes.

Evidence that typically shows this

Sample comprehensive and interim plans with a reduction and elimination section
Measurable targets and review points for each restrictive practice
Progress notes showing reduction strategies being tested

Common gap to check

Interim plans with no reduction strategy
Reduction section generic and identical across participants

Module 2 4.8Restrictive practices (specialist): support to implementing providers on reductionsource

Requirement, our statement of the clause

The provider supports the other providers implementing a behaviour support plan to deliver services, carry out the plan's strategies, and evaluate how well current approaches are reducing and eliminating restrictive practices.

Evidence that typically shows this

Records of support visits, calls or meetings with implementing providers
Joint evaluation notes on restrictive practice use data
Advice or guidance documents issued to implementing providers

Common gap to check

Support ends once the plan is lodged
No joint review of restrictive practice data with implementing providers

Worksheet: what your practice holds, and where

Ref	Held (yes, partly, no, not applicable)	Where it is kept	Owner	Last reviewed	Next review
Module 2 4.1
Module 2 4.2
Module 2 4.3
Module 2 4.4
Module 2 4.5
Module 2 4.6
Module 2 4.7
Module 2 4.8

Download the worksheet (CSV)Print the worksheet (A4)

Completing this worksheet records what your practice holds and where. It does not make a practice compliant or ready for audit, and it is not legal advice.

Related requirements

NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators

Module 2 3.1 to Module 2 3.5Module 2: Behaviour support in the NDIS
Module 2 5.1 to Module 2 5.6Module 2: Assessments and plans
Module 2 6.1 to Module 2 6.7Module 2: Supporting implementation
Module 2 7.1 to Module 2 7.6Module 2: Plan monitoring and review
Module 2 8.1, Module 2 8.2Module 2: Reportable restrictive practice incidents
Module 2 9.1, Module 2 9.2Module 2: Interim behaviour support plans
Every page of this instrument

The same topic in other instruments (behaviour support)

Restrictive Practices Rules s 8Never use a restrictive practice the State or Territory prohibits
Restrictive Practices Rules s 9(2)(a)Use a regulated restrictive practice only once authorised
Restrictive Practices Rules s 9(2)(b)Lodge evidence of the authorisation with the Commissioner
Restrictive Practices Rules s 10(2)(a)Use a regulated restrictive practice only as the behaviour support plan says
Children guidance P-6Positive behaviour support for children, never harmful practices

See every requirement for your practice See the specimen practice