Office of the Senior Practitioner

The Disability Act 2006 created the position of the Senior Practitioner. The Senior Practitioner is generally responsible for ensuring that the rights of people who are subject to restrictive interventions and compulsory treatment are protected, and that appropriate standards are complied with in relation to restrictive interventions and compulsory treatment.

The Senior Practitioner has extensive powers to set standards and guidelines, and to monitor and direct disability service providers in relation to the use of restrictive interventions and compulsory treatment.

Functions of the Senior Practitioner

Lead best practice in behaviour management strategies and develop standards and guidelines for behaviour management and restrictive interventions
Monitor restrictive interventions and the requirements of the Disability Act 2006
Provide specialist expertise and secondary consultations to disability support providers in relation to behaviour management and restrictive interventions
Develop guidelines and share best practice for supporting people who are subjected to restrictive interventions or compulsory treatment
Oversee the Independent Person program
Develop partnerships with researchers, professionals and others to undertake research to inform contemporary practice and policy.

Role of the Office of the Senior Practitioner
The core responsibility of the Office of the Senior Practitioner is to protect the rights of people with a disability subject to restrictive interventions and compulsory treatment. This document describes the role of the office in more detail.
Office of the Senior Practitioner - easy read
The Senior Practitioner works with other people at a place called the Office of the Senior Practitioner. The Senior Practitioner's job and the job of the other people at the Office of the Senior Practitioner is to protect the rights of people with a disability. They want to protect the rights of people to move about freely.
Office of the Senior Practitioner annual reports
The Office of the Senior Practitioner Annual Reports reflect on productivity and highlight key achievements over the reporting periods.