Safeguarding and Incident Management Policy (Summary)

1. Our Commitment to Safety

We believe everyone has the right to feel safe, valued, and in control of their supports.

We take proactive steps to:

• Prevent harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation
• Support your dignity, privacy, and choice
• Foster a culture where safety concerns can be raised without fear
• Meet our legal and ethical obligations under the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission

2. What Is an Incident?

An incident is any event, whether accidental or deliberate, that has, or could have, caused harm, injury, or distress to a participant, staff member, or member of the public.

This includes:

• Injuries or medical emergencies
• Allegations or suspicions of abuse or neglect
• Breaches of privacy or dignity
• Property damage, unsafe situations, or restrictive practices
• Any event that impacts a person’s safety or wellbeing

3. Reporting and Responding to Incidents

If an incident occurs:

1. Immediate safety comes first – our staff act to protect everyone involved.
2. The incident is reported promptly to a team leader or manager.
3. We investigate to understand what happened and how to prevent it happening again.
4. We communicate with you (and your chosen representatives) about what occurred and the steps being taken.

Serious incidents, such as abuse, neglect, or the unauthorised use of restrictive practices, are reported to the NDIS Commission in accordance with regulatory timeframes.

4. Learning and Improvement

Every incident helps us learn and improve.

We review all incidents regularly to strengthen our training, policies, and prevention strategies, ensuring our services remain safe, transparent, and accountable.