Restrictive Practices

61 The Hon. S.G. WADE ().6 July 2022).

1. Under the former government, SA Health was involved in work being led by the Attorney-General's Department to better protect South Australians from restrictive practices. Can the minister update on progress in this work?

2. Will the government continue this work?

3. Whether within this project or otherwise, what work is being done to reduce the use of restrictive practices in mental health services?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector):

A body of work was undertaken in this area in 2020. Given that matters have progressed since this time, particularly with the commencement of the amendments to the Disability Inclusion Act 2018, further detailed advice is being provided by the Attorney-General's Department on the development of legislation to regulate the use of restrictive practices in SA.

The Minister for Health and Wellbeing has also advised that:

Since July 2021, the Chief Psychiatrist Restraint and Seclusion Standard has applied to the administration and operation of the Mental Health Act 2009 across public and private settings. Restrictive practices regulated by the standard include mechanical restraint, physical restraint, chemical restraint and seclusion.

The following are also in place to reduce the use of restrictive practices:

a statewide working group chaired by the Chief Psychiatrist on trauma informed practice;

a statewide community of practice conducted in conjunction with the University of South Australia;

data reporting through the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and the Chief Psychiatrist's annual report;

ongoing improvements to data collection processes and practices;

expansion of data collection to all health settings;

expansion of a tool kit available online at www.chiefpsychiatrist.sa.gov.au to assist in the promotion of reducing the use of restrictive practices;

education and training through the Mental Health Learning Centre on trauma informed care;

promotion of the inclusion of a lived experience workforce in all mental health settings;

audits and inspections are conducted through the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist safety and quality team on the effectiveness of the local implementation of reduction strategies and adherence to the Chief Psychiatrist Restraint and Seclusion Standard (the standard).