Better health and ageing for all Australians

Programs

National Mental Health Seclusion and Restraint Project

The National Mental Health Seclusion and Restraint Project (NMHSRP) aims to reduce and, where possible, eliminate seclusion and restraint in public mental health services.

All state and territory governments are participating in the project.

The project is in three parts:

  • National documentation project: this consists of a community of practice network and the development and piloting of data standards and performance indicators.
  • Beacon demonstration sites: eleven sites across Australia are developing and implementing best practice initiatives. These sites aim to become centres of excellence in relation to the reduction and, where possible, the elimination of seclusion and restraint.
  • Study tour scholarships: scholarship holders are investigating evidenced based practice at facilities in the United States of America in order to adapt these learnings to the Australian environment.
The Australian Government has provided further funding to all state and territory governments to continue the project to 30 June 2009. In collaboration with the states and territories, the outcome will be to develop and test resources that can be used to change workforce culture and practice leading to the reduced use of seclusion and restraint in mental health services across Australia.

More information is available at www.nmhsrp.gov.au. This website supports and facilitates the activities of the project through the development of a community of practice (CoP) and an online interactive communication and resource system.

Page last reviewed: 18 April 2011