Building the foundations for rights-based behaviour support in the disability sector
Summary
Australian legislation currently requires the development of behaviour support plans for a disabled person as a response to behaviour of concern and the use of regulated restrictive practices. The current reactive approach emphasises the person as the sole focus of intervention rather than adopting a proactive approach that seeks to prevent challenging situations resulting in behaviours of concern and restrictive practices in the first place. The inadequacy of behaviour support systems has been under the spotlight, with the Disability Royal Commission reporting the urgent need for system reform and practices that uphold human rights. Similarly, the final report of the independent review into the NDIS stressed the need to build the foundations of good practice as part of a systems-wide approach.
Impact
This research, led by Dr Alinka Fisher developed evidence-based service guidelines (minimum expectations) for behaviour support that protects and upholds the rights of people living with disability in supported independent living (SIL). These clear and actionable guidelines include explicit elements of practice guided by rights (e.g., to access a good life) and equity (across disability, culture, and lifespan) and acknowledge that inadequate systems are a contributor to behaviours of concern. They were informed by (and mapped against) legislative requirements and ethical frameworks that support adoption.
This project was developed in collaboration with key industry partners and consisted of Phase 1 of a multi-phase research program focused on adopting rights-based behaviour support across both disability and aged care settings.
Project Details
Funding partner
Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH)
Timeframe
2024 – 2025
Publications
Further information is available on this Department of Families, Fairness and Housing webpage: https://www.dffh.vic.gov.au/research-restrictive-practices-and-compulsory-treatment
Team
DCI researchers
Dr Alinka Fisher (project lead)
Kymberly Louise
Katrina Reschke
Research/project partners
Monash University- Associate Professor Erin Lief & Dr Russell Fox
Department of Communities; Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services;
National Disability Services