Information and resources are for the following groups:
Why is this important?
The Commissioners of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC), the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) and the CEO of Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care have made a joint statement about the inappropriate use of psychotropic medicines in older people and people with disabilities.
The statement recognises that psychotropic medicines can be an appropriate treatment for different diagnosed conditions, however there is evidence that psychotropic medications are being inappropriately prescribed, especially for older people and people with disabilities.
Under the NDIS Act (2013), the use of medication or chemical substance for the primary purpose of influencing a person’s behaviour is considered a chemical restraint, unless the use of medication is prescribed by a medical practitioner for the treatment of, or to enable treatment of, a diagnosed mental disorder, a physical illness or a physical condition.
The NDIS Commission is working to help reduce and eliminate the use of restrictive practices, and ensure where restrictive practices are required, that they are done in accordance with authorisation requirements for each state or territory and the NDIS Act (2013)
Where did we find these resources?
We searched for these resources in the following websites:
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
- State-based Senior Practitioners
- Universities
- Peak bodies representing health and disability services
- Organisations representing and supporting people with intellectual, developmental or learning disabilities
- YouTube
We searched guidelines about the following subjects:
- Prescribing medications for behaviour management
- Prescribing psychotropic medications
- Mental health in intellectual disabilities
- De-prescribing (reducing) medications
- Practice and quality Improvement in medication management
Whilst care is taken to ensure the accuracy and currency of these resources at the time of publication, these resources are not always updated after the fact. It is the responsibility of the viewer to determine the appropriateness of a resource as part of their own due diligence. These resources do not replace the need for individual expert advice.
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* Whilst care is taken to ensure the accuracy and currency of these resources at the time of publication, these resources are not always updated after the fact. It is the responsibility of the viewer to determine the appropriateness of a resource as part of their own due diligence. These resources do not replace the need for individual expert advice.