The Department of Communities (Communities), in partnership with the disability sector, seeks to ensure the rights of people with disability are protected, and access to high quality services are safeguarded.
As outlined in the Authorisation of Restrictive Practices in Funded Disability Services Policy (Policy), Implementing Providers must convene a Quality Assurance Panel (QA Panel) to authorise the use of a restrictive practice.
Communities maintains a register of Independent External Behaviour Support Practitioners (Independent External Practitioners). Implementing Providers can access Independent External Practitioners from the register for free, for the purposes of a QA Panel.
View our live Register Availability Tracker to help support your planning and booking requests for an Independent External Practitioner.
To book an Independent External Practitioner from the register, please complete the online booking form. All booking requests must allow for a minimum of 7 working days from earliest preferred QA Panel date.
Note: In accordance with the Policy, Implementing Providers convening QA Panels must meet the responsibilities and requirements of the Procedure Guidelines for the Authorisation of Restrictive Practices in NDIS funded Disability Services – (Stage Two, September 2023).
If multiple Implementing Providers are implementing the same restrictive practice with the same person, they are encouraged to collaborate and attend the same QA Panel meeting.
After the QA Panel, the Implementing Provider who convened the QA Panel must submit an online QA Panel completion form.
This completion form is used by Communities to confirm when, and if, the QA Panel was held and to pay the booked Independent External Practitioner, from the register, for their time on a QA Panel.
If the QA Panel was cancelled, the Implementing Provider must include a reason using the QA Panel completion form.
Independent External Practitioners from the register who have attended a QA Panel booking, can provide feedback about a booked QA Panel using the QA Panel feedback form. We welcome your feedback to continue improving services with the disability sector.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a cost to Implementing Providers to book an Independent External Practitioner from the register for their time on the QA Panel?
Show moreNo. When booked through Communities, Implementing Providers will not incur any booking fees nor are required to pay Independent External Practitioners from the register, for their time on a QA Panel.
Is it mandatory to use an Independent External Practitioner from the Communities register?
Show moreNo. An Implementing Provider can, at their own cost, use an NDIS Independent External Practitioner who is not on the Communities register.
When multiple Implementing Providers are involved who should convene the QA Panel?
Show moreImplementing Providers can nominate who will be the primary lead and the lead must carry out Implementing Provider responsibilities as per the Procedure Guidelines for the Authorisation of Restrictive Practices in NDIS funded Disability Services – (Stage Two, September 2023).
What happens if the Implementing Provider or Independent External Practitioner cancels a booking for a QA Panel?
Show moreThe Implementing Provider must submit the QA Panel completion form to Communities and include a reason for the cancellation and cite if any service time was involved. Depending on the circumstances of the cancellation, the Implementing Provider may have to reimburse Communities for the Independent External Practitioner’s time.
Does the Implementing Provider who convened the QA Panel need to submit the QA Panel Outcome Summary Report to Communities?
Show moreNo. The QA Panel Outcome Summary Report provides the evidence of authorisation for the NDIS Commission. There is no facility to enable submission of a copy to Communities. It must be submitted to the NDIS Commission.
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