What is happening to you?
Someone is making me take pills
Why is someone making you take pills?
Here are some examples:
Someone is…
- Giving you medication that makes you sleep
- Giving you medication that makes you confused
Someone is giving me medication when I am…
- Upset
- Scared
- Making a lot of noise
- Trying to run away
Some people call these ‘challenging behaviours’ or ‘behaviours of concern’.
Sometimes it is hard to tell people how you are feeling or why you are feeling this way.
It is OK to feel upset, we all get upset sometimes.
It is important to…
- Have some help to understand your feelings
- Find different ways to let people know how you are feeling
However, no-one should be punished or made to feel unsafe because of their feelings.
Restrictive Practices can only be used when you are so upset that you are trying to hurt yourself or someone else.
Who is making you take pills?
This might be: A parent, brother, sister, your carer, support worker, girlfriend, boyfriend or friend.
Where are you?
You might be: At home, at a friend’s house, at an activity, work or school.
Laws about using Restrictive Practices
There are laws about using Restrictive Practices.
If someone is using Restrictive Practices on you they must…
- Have special permission from a tribunal
- Have a ‘Positive Behaviour Support Plan’ in place so they can find a way to stop using Restrictive Practices in the future
- Tell you when a Retrictive Practice is about to be used and why
- Only use a Restricitve Practice that causes the least harm to you
If they are using Restrictive Practices you should be involved in these decisions. You should be involved in the development of your ‘Positive Behaviour Support Plan’. They should be working toawards finding ways to stop using them.
They should never use Restrictive Practices as a punishment. If they do they are breaking the law and this is an abuse of your human rights.
There are lots of people ready to help you.
If you are unsure if they are using Restrictive Practices on you, or even if you just want to make sure they are following the law, there are people who can help you, there are people who will listen to you and make sure they are doing the right thing. These people will protect your human rights.
They are people you can trust and might be:
Your family
If there is someone in your family who you feel safe with, you can talk to them about the person making you take pills.
Police
You can ask someone you trust to help you talk to the police about the person making you take pills.
Disability advocates
There are people who advocate for people with disability when they need help. If someone is making you take pills, you may be able to get help from an advocate to make sure your human rights are protected.
Counsellors
If you have a counsellor, or if you can make an appointment to see one, you can tell them that someone is making you take pills and they can help to make sure your human rights are protected.
Find help near where you live
1800 RESPECT
This is the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. They can connect you with the right services for the help you need.
Phone their 24/7 Hotline: 1800 737 732
Visit their website: www.1800respect.org.au (recommended in private browsing mode)
QAI Office
You can call our office and if we cannot assist we will try and find the right help for you in your local area.
Phone: 07 3844 4200 or 1300 130 582
Email: qai@qai.org.au