| Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) |
When a person uses something other than speech to communicate. They might use body movements, gestures, sign language, a computer or device, communication books or other printed material. |
| Australian Charter of Health Care Rights |
The Charter describes what consumers, or someone they care for, can expect when receiving health care. These rights apply to all people receiving health care in Australia, including in public and private hospitals, day procedure services, general practice, and other community health services. |
| Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 |
This Strategy is a national framework to improve the lives of people with disability in Australia. It is signed by the Australian, state, territory and local governments. The first National Disability Strategy was released in 2010; this Strategy builds on the outcomes of the first. |
| Behaviour of concern |
Behaviours that indicate a risk to the safety or wellbeing of the person who exhibits them or those around them, and that suggest a need for support.[80] Behaviours may challenge individuals, their supporters and the services they are in, but may serve a purpose for the person, such as communicating their needs and responses to their environment.80 |
| Cognitive bias |
The unconscious assumptions made about a person that can directly impact the way in which health care is provided. |
| Disability Action or Service Plan |
A Disability Action or Service Plan sets out an organisation’s strategy for identifying and addressing practices that might result in discrimination against people with disability and promoting the recognition of the rights of people with disability. They detail how an organisation is making its workplace, products and services accessible and inclusive to people with disability, and inform the public how the organisation is approaching diversity and inclusion.[81] |
| Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) |
The DDA provides protection from discrimination on the basis of disability. It defines disability as including physical, intellectual, psychiatric, sensory, neurological and learning disability, physical disfigurement, and the presence of disease-causing organisms. |
| Easy Read |
Easy Read documents use clear, everyday language matched with images to make sure everyone understands. They help to reach people with disability, including people with intellectual disability, people with English as a second language and people with lower literacy levels. |
| Informed consent |
A person’s voluntary decision about their health care that is made with knowledge and understanding of the benefits and risks involved. |
| Medication review |
A systematic assessment of medication management for an individual patient that aims to optimise the patient’s medicines and outcomes of therapy by providing a recommendation or making a change. The review includes the objective of reaching an agreement with the person about their treatment, optimising the impact of medicines, minimising the number of medicine-related problems and reducing waste. Medication review may be part of medication reconciliation. |
| National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth) |
The NDIS Act established the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). It is based on the rights of people with a disability to participate equally in society, to receive reasonable and necessary supports for this participation, and to have choice and control over decisions in their life. |
| National Disability Insurance Agency |
An independent statutory agency that administers the National Disability Insurance Scheme under the auspices of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013. |
| National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards Commission |
The independent agency established to improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services under the auspices of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013. |
| The National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability |
Part of the Department of Health and Aged Care 10-year Primary Health Action Plan, released in September 2021. The roadmap is a collaborative, cross‑agency action plan to implement the systemic reforms needed to improve health outcomes for people with intellectual disability. |
| Polypharmacy |
The use of multiple medicines to prevent or treat medical conditions. It is commonly defined as the concurrent use of five of more medicines by the same person. Medicines include prescription, complementary and non prescription, over-the-counter medicines. |
| Positive behaviour support |
Individualised strategies that address the needs of the person and the underlying causes of behaviours of concern, while safeguarding the dignity and quality of life of people who require behaviour support.[82] |
| Reasonable adjustment |
Defined under the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 as actions taken to prevent indirect or direct discrimination on the basis of disability. |
| Supported decision-making |
The process of enabling a person who requires decision-making support to make and/or communicate decisions about their own life. The decision-making is supported, but the person makes their own decision.[83] |
| United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities |
Sets out the universal human rights of persons with disability. Australia is a signatory, along with 185 other countries. |
