Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (A4) sent feedback on FaHCSIA's Draft Proposed National Framework for Reducing the Use of Restrictive Practices in the Disability Service Sector (see http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/our-responsibilities/disability-and-carers/pu…).

The main points in A4's feedback were:

• the goal must be to minimise restrictive practices ... more than merely reducing them
• since Government policy is to provide services for people with disability in mainstream settings as much as possible, efforts to minimise restrictive practices need to be in all settings, not just in disability services.
• there are existing policies and frameworks, which apparently are not especially effective (hence the need for new ones nationally) ... to be effective more substantial steps must be taken; in particular, legislation is needed. Anything less than legislation could be interpreted as meaning Government wants to be seen to be doing something rather than achieving outcomes.
• the draft understated the effects of restrictive practices; for example, it omitted that restrictive practices have been fatal

You can download A4's submission from the link below. Also, there is a link to a submission from one of our members (well done).