ABSTRACT
Upon commencement of the Mental Health Act 2016 (Qld) in March 2017, the Government of the Australian State of Queensland introduced a new framework for the regulation of physical restraint in mental health settings. Prior to 2017, only seclusion and mechanical restraint were regulated in Queensland. The new Act represents a major step forward in recognising patient rights and safeguards and aligning the mental health legislation with contemporary clinical practice. The introduction of safeguards and rules for the use of physical restraint reflects the strong evidence that unregulated use of physical restraint can lead to serious harm. Queensland has embraced the national priority of eliminating seclusion and restraint and has achieved a significant reduction in the use of these practices. This chapter details the key features of the physical restraint framework in Queensland. It then describes the process through which the framework was implemented – including through information sharing, the development of policies and practice guidelines and education and training – and outlines the findings of several post-implementation reviews, identifying barriers to change and lessons for the future.
