Considering Additional Risks
The risk of abuse for some people with disability can increase depending on a range of personal and service type factors. This includes gender, age, disability type and complexity, behaviours of concern, communication needs, culture and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identity. Understanding the increased risk associated with specific services and settings is also vital for supporting people safely.
Exploring Risk: A Zero Tolerance Research Report considers these risks and how they can intersect to increase risk of abuse, neglect and violence.
These resources and links to useful information will help you understand and address these risks.
These resources are designed to help you understand and address personal risks of abuse, neglect and violence.
Gender
- Stop the Violence Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA), People with Disability Australia (PWDA), The University of NSW (UNSW)
- Voices Against Violence Women with Disabilities Victoria, Office of the Public Advocate, Domestic Violence Resources Centre Victoria
People with complex communication support needs
- Speak Up and Be Safe: Free communication aids and resources to assist adult with a cognitive disability and/or communication difficulties identify and report abuse. Developed by SCOPE Communication and Inclusion Resource Centre.
Children and Young people with Disability
- Enabling and Protecting Children with Disability Australia
- Feeling safe, being safe: What is important to children and young people with disability and high support needs about safety in institutional settings? S Robinson
- Protecting children and young people with a disability - a booklet for parents and carers Department of Education and Child Development – South Australia
Domestic and Family Violence
- Domestic Violence and Intellectual Disability training program People with Disability Australia
These resources are designed to help you understand and address the risks of abuse, neglect and violence to your organisation.
- Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Policy and research
- Person-centred Practice Across Cultures workbooks National Disability Services and futures Upfront
Trauma Informed Support is a contemporary, evidence-based approach to supporting people who may have experienced trauma in their lives.
The Trauma Informed Support films have been developed to assist support workers, providers, people with disability and their families to understand what trauma is, the impact it can have, and ways in which everyone in an organisation can provide trauma-informed support.
Each film will help you to start a conversation about a different aspect of Trauma Informed Support. There are questions at the end of each film to help you to talk to each other. The films can be watched in sequential order with opportunities for reflection and discussion in between each film.
Alternatively, if there is a particular topic of interest, each film can be watched on its own.
Some tips for positive conversations:
- Think about where and when you will have the conversation so that everyone is comfortable and free from distraction.
- Make sure you allow enough time so that everyone has the opportunity to speak and be heard.
- Think about what follow-up might be needed. Let people know how they can keep the conversation going and where they can get support if needed.
- Consider who you would like to facilitate the conversation.
Getting the support you need
Some of the things that are talked about in the films or that you talk about together might bring up feelings for people. This may be because of things you have experienced or seen in your work or personal life.
Please talk to someone you trust if you need to discuss any of the issues covered in these films. This may include a family member or friend, or a supervisor or manager.
You can also call Lifeline on 13 11 14 for confidential 24-hour telephone crisis support.
Understanding Trauma This film lays the foundation for understanding trauma and how it can affect people differently throughout their lives. Exploring the impact of trauma on the brain and the physiological responses it can prompt, this film aims to build understanding about human behaviour that supports a safer, more sensitive approach to supporting people who may have experienced trauma. |
What is Trauma Informed Support Acknowledging the possibility of trauma for the people you support is the first step in providing trauma informed support. This film explores the six foundational values of Trauma Informed Support - an evidence based, therapeutic approach which recognises signs and symptoms of trauma, enables pathways for recovery and actively seeks to avoid re-traumatisation. |
A Trauma Informed approach to Positive Behaviour Support Positive Behaviour Support is an approach which views all behaviour as communication, and aims to improve a person’s quality of life and build on their strengths. Understanding the impacts of trauma creates an opportunity to provide more effective positive behaviour support, as we are more attuned to a person’s needs and can respond in a holistic manner. This film provides key practices for implementing positive behaviour support through a trauma informed lens. |
How can Organisations Embed a Trauma Informed Approach? Embedding Trauma Informed support into organisations begins with recognising that the people who use its services, their families and staff may all have experienced trauma at some point. Drawing on the work of the Taking Time Framework (Jackson and Waters 2015), this film offers practical suggestions for how all levels of an organisation can play a powerful role in building and sustaining a trauma informed culture. |
Building networks of support and recognising vicarious trauma An important part of providing effective Trauma Informed Support is knowing when either you or the person you are supporting might need additional help. This film focusses on how we can build strong networks of support, and the ways in which individuals and organisations can recognise and respond to the signs and symptoms of vicarious trauma. |
Acknowledgement
Much of the content of these films was based on the Taking Time Framework (A Trauma Informed Framework for Supporting People with Intellectual Disability)*.
*Jackson, A. L., & Waters, S. E. (2015). Taking Time – Framework: A trauma-informed framework for supporting people with intellectual disability. Melbourne, Australia: Berry Street. This report was sponsored by the NSW Statewide Behaviour Intervention Service (SBIS), Clinical Innovation and Governance (CIG), Ageing Disability and Home Care (ADHC), Family and Community Services (FACS).
Positive behaviour support is a respectful and ethical approach to supporting people when behaviours of concern may be present. The primary goal of positive behaviour support is to improve a person’s quality of life and to reduce and eliminate the use of restrictive practices.
Positive behaviour support is a human rights-based approach which is underpinned by important values including respect, dignity, empathy, choice, person centeredness and unconditional positive regard and should be embedded into the support provided to everyone.
It is important for support workers to recognise and understanding that they play a big role in providing good positive behaviour support. Getting to know the people they are supporting, developing trusting and respectful relationships, and supporting people to feel empowered in all areas of their life helps to lay the foundation for great positive behaviour support.
There are several important foundational elements that are necessary for good positive behaviour support to occur:
- Quality of Life
The primary focus of positive behaviour support, improving quality of life, which can mean different things to different people. - Listening and Communicating
Tuning in to the different ways people communicate and really listening is an important skill to develop. - Being Aware of Sensory Needs and Preferences
Getting to know the sensory needs and preference of the people is fundamental to providing good positive behaviour support. - Upholding the Values of Positive Behaviour Support
Positive behaviour support is a human rights-based approach which is underpinned by important values including respect, dignity, empathy, choice, person centeredness and unconditional positive regard.
Positive Behaviour Support eLearning Program
The Zero Tolerance Positive Behaviour Support eLearning Program is a national video-based self-paced online eLearning program for disability support workers, people with disability and families and allied health practitioners who are new to the sector.
Foundation of Positive Behaviour Support Films and Guide
The Foundations of Positive Behaviour Support films provide an overview of positive behaviour support and discuss some of the foundational elements that are necessary for good positive behaviour support to occur. The films recognise that these foundational elements should be embedded into the support provided to everyone.
Getting the support you need
Some of the things that are talked about in these films or that you talk about with others might bring up certain feelings. This may be because of things you have experienced or seen in your work or personal life.
Please talk to someone you trust if you need to discuss any of the issues covered in these films. This may include a family member or friend, or a supervisor or manager.
You can also call Lifeline on 13 11 14 for confidential 24-hour telephone crisis support or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
What is Positive Behaviour Support This film provides an overview of positive behaviour support and outlines a number of important elements that are essential to the approach. It also discusses the components of a good positive behaviour support plan and considers the factors in the surrounding environment that might be contributing to a behaviour occurring. |
Quality of Life This film explores the primary focus of positive behaviour support, improving quality of life, which can mean different things to different people. Getting to know and understand the people you are supporting, developing trusting and respectful relationships, and supporting people to feel empowered in all areas of their life helps to lay the foundation for great positive behaviour support. |
Listening and Communicating There are many different ways that people may communicate their needs including facial expressions, gestures, touch, eye contact, words, use of a communication device or pictures. Tuning in to the different ways people communicate and really listening is an important skill to develop. This film also discusses the importance of checking in with the people you support and reflecting on practice. |
Being Aware of Sensory Needs and Preferences Getting to know the sensory needs and preference of the people you support is fundamental to providing good positive behaviour support. This film discusses the need to be aware of the immediate environment and consider what might need to change to ensure people's needs are met. This may include things like lighting, temperature and sound but can also include your own energy and body language. |
Upholding the Values of Positive Behaviour Support Positive behaviour support is a human rights based approach which is underpinned by important values including respect, dignity, empathy, choice, person centeredness and unconditional positive regard. This film encourages reflection about what support workers bring to their role each day such as their values, their mood and their ability to self-reflect. It also discusses ways to approach conversations respectfully about restrictive practices with families to ensure that positive relationships are maintained whilst upholding the rights of the people we support and using least restrictive alternatives. |
These five films and accompanying guide will help your team to recognise restrictions when they see or use them, understand that all restrictions can have negative impact on the health and wellbeing of the person and help start the conversation about ways to do things differently. We recommend using the Guide for additional content and activities.
Use the films in different ways:
- work through the films on your own,
- with your team; or
- if you are a supervisor – in supervision and training
Recognising Restriction on people’s lives guide
Preventing and Responding to Domestic and Family Violence Films
Women with Disabilities Victoria has collaborated with National Disability Services to develop four short films for disability workers on family violence and disability. The films are:
- Introduction
- Preventing and responding to family violence
- Prevention of domestic and family violence
- Early intervention in domestic and family violence
The purpose of the films is to help disability workers identify and respond to family violence. Research shows that people with disabilities experience higher rates of violence than people without disabilities. Women with disabilities in particular experience very high rates of family and domestic violence. The disability workforce has a vital role to play in preventing, identifying and responding to domestic and family violence.
For more information about the topics covered in these films and more about domestic and family violence and to get support please go to Women with Disabilities Victoria website.
Introduction: Preventing and responding to family violence This film provides an overview of domestic family violence and introduces the three other films. The films use scenarios to assist disability workers to identify, understand, prevent and appropriately respond to domestic family violence. Research shows people with disabilities experience higher rates of violence than people without disabilities. Women with disabilities experience very high rates of domestic and family violence. Audio description of film: |
| Prevention: Prevention of domestic and family violence This film focuses on prevention of violence against women and people with disabilities. Prevention of violence means doing things to change the causes of domestic and family violence. More about prevention Family violence is preventable. To prevent violence, we need to understand its causes. The causes are also called ‘drivers’. The drivers of domestic and family violence include beliefs, attitudes and behaviours that make it possible and acceptable for someone to use violence. Drivers of violence against people with disabilities include negative attitudes toward disability, and control of decision-making by people without disabilities. Prevention of domestic and family violence is about doing things to change the drivers of violence - like challenging negative beliefs about people with disabilities and sexist attitudes and behaviours and increasing education. It’s about changing our culture and changing society, so we can help stop family violence before it starts. Points of reflection: What positive examples of prevention did you see in the film ? What did people do to:
Have you seen anything similar to these examples of prevention in your own work? Audio description of film: |
| Early Intervention: Early intervention in domestic and family violence: About early intervention It’s important to understand what family violence is so you can recognise early warning signs and take action. Warning signs can include subtle or repeated patterns of control or coercion. Loss of power and control increases the risk of family violence. It can be hard for people with disabilities to recognise and challenge a pattern of control or abuse if they don’t know their rights and don’t have the power to make their own decisions. Early intervention means understanding who is at risk of family violence and doing things to support them to be safe, before violence happens. Points for reflection:
Audio description of film: |
| Response: Responding to domestic and family violence This film focuses on how to respond to family violence experienced by people with disabilities. About responding to domestic and family violence When you are working with someone experiencing family violence, safety is a priority. It is essential to get advice so your actions don’t increase the risk of harm for the person you are supporting. Talk to your organisation and make sure you understand your professional and legal obligations. An example of responding would be helping a person call a family violence service for support or the police to report the family violence. A family violence service can help make a safety plan and provide other support. Some people may need to go to a refuge to be safe. Supporting someone experiencing family violence can be confronting. It’s important to remember you might need support for yourself to understand and deal with what has happened. Remember you can use phone services like 1800 RESPECT to debrief. You can also talk to your manager or use your employee assistance program. Points for reflection:
Audio description of film: |
Other resources:
The current environment of increased uncertainty, isolation and physical distancing means that many community members including people with disability are navigating additional risks to health, safety and wellbeing. Those who don’t use words to communicate, or who are facing hardship due to family violence or mental health are particularly at risk during this time. This session is an opportunity to explore the extent and impact of additional risks, and discuss practical solutions we can all take to ensure service providers, people with disability and the wider community are as safe and supported as possible.
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National Disability Services hosted an interactive webinar discussing Positive Behaviour Support during Covid-19 on the 4th of June 2020. This webinar includes:
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© National Disability Services (NDS) 2017 applies to NDS Zero Tolerance logo, Zero Tolerance Framework and The Empowerment Circle.
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