Your Rights Matter.
Your Voice Matters.
Everyone has the right to feel safe, respected, listened to and involved in decisions about their own life.
At Disability and Nursing Solutions (DANS), we are committed to supporting your rights while working together to provide safe, respectful and meaningful support.
Understanding Your Rights
Your rights do not change because you have a disability, receive NDIS funding or need support from another person.
You have the right to make decisions about your life, express your views, receive information you can understand and be treated with dignity.
DANS respects the rights of participants and works in line with the NDIS Code of Conduct and relevant NDIS Practice Standards.
Important: You can ask questions, disagree with a recommendation, request a different approach or raise a concern. Speaking up should never result in unfair treatment or retaliation.
Your Rights as a Participant
These are some of the rights that guide the way we work with you.
Respect, dignity and fairness
You have the right to be treated with courtesy, respect and fairness, regardless of your disability, background, age, gender, identity, beliefs or circumstances.
Choice and control
You have the right to make informed choices about your supports, goals, daily life and the providers you work with. We will support you to understand your options.
Safety and protection
You have the right to receive safe and competent services and to be protected from violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination.
Privacy and confidentiality
You have the right to have your personal information handled respectfully and securely. We will explain what information is collected, why it is needed and when it may be shared.
Informed consent
You have the right to information you can understand before making decisions about assessments, services or information sharing. Consent and decision-making arrangements must be respected.
Communication and accessibility
You have the right to communicate in ways that work for you and to request reasonable adjustments, interpreters or accessible information when needed.
Culture, identity and beliefs
You have the right to have your cultural identity, language, values, beliefs, relationships and personal preferences respected.
Independence and dignity of risk
You have the right to develop independence and make informed choices, including choices that involve reasonable risks. We will discuss risks without unnecessarily limiting your freedom.
Support from an advocate
You can seek help from an independent advocate, family member, nominee or trusted person. We will respect lawful decision-making arrangements and your choices about involvement.
Feedback and complaints
You have the right to raise concerns, make a complaint or contact the NDIS Commission directly without fear of retaliation or losing your rights.
Reviewing or changing supports
You can ask questions about your support arrangements, request a review or choose another provider, subject to applicable service agreement terms.
Information about your services
You have the right to understand the services being provided, applicable charges, service terms and how to access information relevant to your support.
Working Together: Participant Responsibilities
Good support works best when everyone communicates openly and treats each other respectfully. We encourage you and the people supporting you to help us in the following ways, wherever practical.
Share relevant information
Tell us about your goals, preferences, communication needs and any relevant changes that may affect the safety or delivery of your support.
Treat others respectfully
We ask everyone involved in the service to communicate respectfully. If behaviour creates a safety concern, we will respond in a way that considers your needs and rights.
Discuss appointments and changes
Let us know when possible if you need to change or cancel an appointment. We will explain any applicable cancellation terms in advance.
Ask questions and share feedback
Tell us if something is unclear, a strategy is not working or your circumstances have changed. Your feedback helps us improve support.
Understand service arrangements
We encourage you to review your service agreement, ask about fees and discuss responsibilities before agreeing to services.
Help maintain a safe environment
Where possible, tell us about hazards, access requirements or known risks that may affect visits or support. DANS remains responsible for its own safety and service obligations.
Your rights always come first. These are expectations for working together, not reasons to deny your legal rights. Communication difficulties, disability-related behaviour or needing additional assistance do not mean you lose your right to respectful, safe and fair treatment.
Your Rights in Positive Behaviour Support
Positive Behaviour Support is about understanding a person’s needs, improving quality of life, building helpful skills and reducing behaviours of concern through person-centred approaches.
A behaviour support plan should not simply tell other people how to control behaviour. It should consider your goals, communication, environment, relationships, preferences and what may be contributing to distress.
You have the right to be involved
- Be included in assessment and planning in ways that are meaningful to you.
- Have your communication needs and preferences considered.
- Understand proposed strategies and discuss alternatives.
- Involve trusted people where appropriate and in accordance with consent arrangements.
- Ask for a review when your needs or circumstances change.
Support should improve quality of life
- Strategies should be individualised and informed by evidence.
- Support should build understanding, skills and positive opportunities.
- Practitioners should consider the reasons behind behaviours of concern.
- Your dignity, freedom and safety must be respected.
- Strategies should be monitored and reviewed for effectiveness.
Restrictive Practices and Your Rights
A restrictive practice is an action or intervention that restricts a person’s rights or freedom of movement. These practices can carry significant risks and are subject to strict safeguards.
The NDIS Commission regulates five types of restrictive practices: seclusion, chemical restraint, mechanical restraint, physical restraint and environmental restraint.
Our approach: DANS is committed to Positive Behaviour Support approaches that seek to reduce and eliminate restrictive practices. The focus must remain on understanding needs, improving quality of life and promoting safer, less restrictive supports.
What safeguards apply?
- A restrictive practice must not be used merely as punishment, convenience or a substitute for appropriate support.
- Regulated restrictive practices included in behaviour support plans must meet applicable NDIS requirements, including conditions about necessity, proportionality, least restriction and use as a last resort.
- Any required state or territory authorisation must be obtained by the implementing provider responsible for using the regulated practice.
- Behaviour support practitioners must engage participants and relevant support people, in accordance with applicable consent arrangements, in discussions about risks and alternatives.
- Plans and practices must be reviewed in accordance with applicable requirements and when circumstances warrant review.
Concerned about a restrictive practice?
You can ask for an explanation of the practice, its risks, any alternatives and how it is reviewed. You can raise a concern with DANS or contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission directly.
Learn more from the NDIS Commission’s behaviour support guidance .
Your Consent, Information and Privacy
DANS may need personal and sensitive information to understand your circumstances and provide appropriate supports. We will explain why information is needed and how it may be used.
We will seek consent where required and respect applicable decision-making and representation arrangements. You can ask questions or seek assistance before making a decision.
You can request access to or correction of personal information and ask about changing or withdrawing consent, subject to applicable legal obligations.
Read our Privacy Policy to learn more.
You Can Have Someone Support You
An advocate can help you understand your rights, express your views, make decisions, resolve concerns or raise a complaint.
You do not need permission from DANS to contact an independent advocate. You may also choose to involve a trusted person, subject to applicable legal and consent arrangements.
For independent advocacy information, visit the Australian Government’s Department of Social Services .
What If Your Rights Are Not Respected?
If you are unhappy, feel unsafe or believe your rights have not been respected, you can speak up.
You can raise a concern with DANS, ask someone to help you or complain directly to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. You do not have to raise the issue with DANS first.
Raise a concern with DANS
We welcome feedback, including anonymous complaints. We aim to respond respectfully, consider your safety and explain the next steps.
Contact the NDIS Commission
The Commission receives complaints concerning the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services.
For details about making a complaint to DANS, please see our Complaints & Feedback page .
Immediate danger: If someone is in immediate danger or there is an emergency, call 000.
Helpful Information
Explore these pages to understand more about your supports and safeguards.
We’re Here to Listen
If you have a question about your rights, need information in another format or would like to discuss Positive Behaviour Support, please contact our team.