1. Context

1.1 The Senior Practitioner Act 2018 (the Act) commenced on 1 September 2018.

1.2 The Act enshrines the principle that service providers should only use restrictive practices in very limited circumstances – as a last resort, in the least restrictive way and for the shortest period possible in the circumstances.

1.3 The Act regulates the use of restrictive practices by persons or other entities who provide any of the following services to another person:

a. education (including education and are)

b. disability

c. care and protection of children

1.4 The Act establishes the role and office of the Senior Practitioner, including:

a. the Senior Practitioner's functions and powers

b. reporting by service providers on uses of a restrictive practice to the Senior Practitioner.

2. Scope

2.1 The Review will consider the following issues:

a. the objectives and principles of the Act

b. whether the intent of the Act to provide a framework for the reduction and elimination of restrictive practices in the ACT is being met

c. whether the Act is operating effectively and supporting the functions and powers of the Senior Practitioner

d. whether the Act presents legislative barriers to the exercise of the Senior Practitioners functions and powers

e. whether the Act provides an effective reporting structure for the Senior Practitioner

f. whether the Act enables the ACT to meet its commitments under the National Framework for Reducing and Eliminating the Use of Restrictive Practices in the Disability Sector and the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework

g. the interaction of the role of the Senior Practitioner with other agencies and the interaction of the Act with other ACT legislation.

2.2 The review will include consultation with stakeholders including the education (including education and care), disability and care and protection child protection sectors, service providers, advocacy groups, and other relevant bodies.

2.3 Consultation for the review will engage the Aboriginal dn Torres Strait Islander community, people with disability and the culturally and linguistically diverse community.

3. Governance

3.1 The Minister for Disability is the Minister responsible for the review.

3.2 The review will be conducted by the Community Services Directorate (CSD).

4. Deliverables

4.1 CSD will produce and deliver

a. one draft report for review by April 2024; and

b. one final report to the Minister for Disability by May 2024.

4.2 The report will reflect the findings of the review.

4.3 The report will be presented to the Legislative Assembly before 1 September 2024.