This audit would assess the effectiveness of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Quality and Safeguards Commission’s (the NDIS Commission’s) management of the restrictive practices undertaken by NDIS providers to NDIS clients.

Section 9 of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (NDIS Act) defines a restrictive practice as any practice or intervention that restricts the rights or freedom of movement of a person with disability. Under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018 certain restrictive practices are subject to regulation. The NDIS Commission has regulated restrictive practices under the NDIS since the entity was established in 2018. This includes monitoring the use of regulated restrictive practices and promoting their reduction and elimination.

Across the four quarters of 2022–23, an average of 4,480 participants were subject to unauthorised restrictive practices, and an average of 12,253 participants were subject to regulated restrictive practices.