The Minister for Disability, Children and Youth, Rachel Stephen-Smith has announced the appointment of Mandy Donley (pictured) as the ACT’s first Senior Practitioner.
The Senior Practitioner is responsible for ensuring the rights of people who are subject to restrictive interventions and compulsory treatment are protected and that appropriate standards are complied with.
Ms Stephen-Smith said restrictive interventions are sometimes used to prevent people hurting themselves or others.
She said Ms Donley would work closely with organisations and the community to provide education and to raise awareness about how to reduce and eliminate restrictive practices.
“Restrictive practices are more likely to be used in response to the behaviour of some of the most vulnerable people in our community — people with disability, older people, people living with psychosocial disability and children and young people,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“In the coming months, the Senior Practitioner will begin consultations on the development of policies, standards and guidelines to promote best practice, working with impacted sectors.”
She said the role was focused on improving the lives of all people who were vulnerable and potentially subject to restrictive practices, as well as upholding their human rights.
“Ms Donley brings a wealth of experience to Canberra from her time working in Victoria and I look forward to working with her on the reduction and elimination restrictive practices in the ACT,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
