Cultural Safety in SIL Homes
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Non-accredited short course
Behaviour support and restrictive practices course online
Course overview
Build your understanding of positive behaviour support and how to recognise, report and help reduce restrictive practices in disability services.
This course explores how everyday support can protect a person’s rights, dignity and choice. You will learn about following Behaviour Support Plans, recognising early signs of distress, using proactive strategies and seeking help when a situation falls outside your role.
Through short lessons and realistic workplace scenarios, you will consider consent, authorisation, factual documentation and the importance of reviewing patterns over time.
Important
The course provides foundational knowledge. It does not authorise the use of restrictive practices or replace training in a person’s Behaviour Support Plan, workplace procedures or applicable legal requirements.
Course objectives
- Rights, Responsibilities and Authorisation: Understand restrictive practices, participant rights, consent, role boundaries and the difference between a Behaviour Support Plan and required authorisation.
- Documentation and Escalation: Learn how to record observable facts, explain actions taken and communicate concerns through the appropriate reporting pathways.
- Monitoring and Review: Recognise patterns in incidents, identify changes that require review and understand the purpose of consistent records.
- Reducing and Eliminating Restrictive Practices: Explore proactive support, communication, meaningful choice and planned changes guided by the behaviour support practitioner.
The course also introduces the five regulated restrictive practice categories: seclusion, chemical restraint, mechanical restraint, physical restraint and environmental restraint.
Throughout the learning, the focus remains on understanding the person’s needs and supporting their quality of life.
What does the Behaviour Support and Restrictive Practices Course Pack Include?
Practical resources you can keep and use whenever needed.
Reference Guide
Revisit key principles, role responsibilities, documentation prompts and escalation reminders.
Workbook
Reinforce your learning through practical, non-graded activities, reflection questions and workplace scenarios.
Workplace Checklist
Check important steps when reviewing plan instructions, recording concerns and seeking support.
Who this course is for
- Disability support workers implementing individual Behaviour Support Plans
- Workers in supported independent living and community support settings
- New workers developing their understanding of participant rights and positive behaviour support
- Experienced workers refreshing their knowledge of documentation and escalation
- Team leaders and supervisors supporting consistent workplace practice
- Service coordinators seeking greater awareness of restrictive practice safeguards
Course outcomes
What you will be better prepared to do
1
Recognise actions that may restrict a person’s rights or freedom of movement
2
Identify the five regulated restrictive practice categories
3
Understand why safety concerns do not automatically authorise a restriction
4
Follow proactive strategies in a person’s Behaviour Support Plan
5
Recognise early signs of distress and possible unmet needs
6
Support communication, choice and participation
7
Distinguish your responsibilities from those of supervisors and behaviour support practitioners
8
Write timely, factual records without judgemental labels
9
Escalate unclear instructions, suspected unauthorised practices and significant changes
10
Contribute observations that support review and the reduction of restrictive practices
On the job
How the learning connects with everyday work
Scenario 1
Distress after a routine change
A participant becomes distressed after an unexpected routine change.
Recognise early signs and use the person’s planned communication and support strategies.
Scenario 2
Limiting access “for safety”
A colleague suggests locking away an item “for safety”.
Recognise that limiting access may be a restrictive practice and seek clarification before introducing a restriction.
Scenario 3
A family request outside the plan
A family member requests a restriction that is not in the plan.
Understand that a request or consent alone does not replace required safeguards and authorisation.
Scenario 4
Recording an incident
You need to record an incident.
Describe what happened beforehand, what you observed, actions taken and the outcome.
Scenario 5
A restrictive practice used more often
A restrictive practice is being used more often.
Recognise the need to escalate the pattern for review.
Scenario 6
A situation the plan doesn’t cover
A situation is not addressed by the current plan.
Prioritise immediate safety, seek support and avoid independently inventing or changing restrictive strategies.
Six simple steps
How the course works
1
Enrol online
Register and access your course.
2
Start when it suits you
Begin anytime and work through the learning at your own pace.
3
Explore the lessons
Learn about rights, positive support, documentation, monitoring and reduction strategies.
4
Use your Course Pack
Download the Reference Guide, Workbook and Workplace Checklist.
5
Apply your understanding
Complete workplace scenarios and knowledge checks.
6
Complete the course requirements
Finish the final knowledge check to receive your Certificate of Completion.
How your learning is checked
- Recognising restrictive practices
- Understanding consent, authorisation and role boundaries
- Following Behaviour Support Plans
- Identifying proactive and less restrictive support options
- Recording observations and actions factually
- Choosing appropriate escalation and reporting pathways
- Recognising patterns that require review
Workbook activities are non-graded and provide opportunities for reflection and practice. These learning checks assess understanding. They do not certify competence in physical interventions or authorise the use of a restrictive practice.
What you will receive
After successfully meeting the course requirements, learners will receive a Certificate of Completion for the Get My Course Behaviour Support and Restrictive Practices short course. You will also have the downloadable Course Pack for ongoing reference and learning.
Certificate of Completion
Awarded once you meet all course requirements.
This is non-accredited training. The Certificate of Completion is not a nationally recognised qualification or Statement of Attainment. Completing the course does not qualify you as an NDIS behaviour support practitioner or authorise you to introduce, change or use restrictive practices.
Why Behaviour Support and Restrictive Practices Matters in Care Work
Everyday support decisions can affect a person’s freedom, wellbeing and sense of safety. Understanding their communication, preferences and early signs of distress helps workers provide more responsive care.
Positive behaviour support focuses on understanding needs, building skills and improving quality of life. It encourages proactive support rather than relying on restrictions.
Restrictive practices can cause harm and limit a person’s rights. Recognising them, following required safeguards and reporting concerns supports efforts to reduce and eliminate their use.
Clear observations also help the wider team understand what is working, what needs to change and when specialist review is required.
Frequently asked questions
What is positive behaviour support?
Positive behaviour support seeks to understand a person’s needs and the reasons behind behaviour. It uses individual strategies to improve quality of life, build skills and reduce the need for restrictive practices.
What is a restrictive practice?
A restrictive practice limits a person’s rights or freedom of movement. The five regulated categories are seclusion, chemical restraint, mechanical restraint, physical restraint and environmental restraint.
Is this course nationally accredited?
No. This is a non-accredited Professional Development Short Course. Successful learners receive a Certificate of Completion, not a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment.
How is the course delivered?
The course is delivered online, with downloadable resources to support your learning.
How long does the course take?
The course takes approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete. Work through the online lessons and activities at your own pace, around your schedule.
How much does the course cost?
The course fee is $95.
When can I start?
You can start anytime. Enrol online and begin learning when it suits you.
Does this course authorise me to use restrictive practices?
No. Use of a regulated restrictive practice must meet applicable requirements, including the person’s Behaviour Support Plan, relevant state or territory authorisation requirements and provider obligations. Workers also need appropriate training and must act within their role.
Is inclusion in a Behaviour Support Plan enough to authorise a restrictive practice?
No. A plan does not replace any separate authorisation required in the relevant state or territory. Consent alone also does not replace these safeguards.
Will I learn physical restraint techniques?
This course focuses on understanding, prevention, safeguards, documentation and escalation. It does not provide certification in physical restraint techniques.
What should I do if I suspect an unauthorised restrictive practice?
Prioritise immediate safety and promptly follow your organisation’s escalation and incident reporting procedures. Record factual observations and seek appropriate guidance.
Are the workbook activities graded?
No. Workbook activities reinforce learning. Required knowledge checks and course assessments are identified separately.
Can I keep the course resources?
Yes. Download the Reference Guide, Workbook and Workplace Checklist for future reference. Always use them alongside current plans, procedures and applicable requirements.
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Hear from our students!
Before this course, I honestly wasn't confident telling the difference between a PEG and PEJ tube. Now I know exactly what to check, how to position the client safely, and when to escalate. It's given me so much more confidence on the job.
Sarah M. — Aged Care Support Worker
The scenarios were so realistic, they matched situations I'd already faced at work. I finally understood why clean technique matters so much with PEJ feeds specifically, and I've already improved how I document after every feed.
Rodel T. — Disability Support Worker
My client has a PEG tube and I was always nervous about the site care. This course walked me through everything step by step. I now know what's normal, what's a red flag, and exactly who to call and what to say. Brilliant training.
Priya K. — Home Care Worker
Build Safer Everyday Behaviour Support Practices
Strengthen your understanding of positive support, participant rights and clear reporting to help reduce reliance on restrictive practices.
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