Person Centred Risk Assessment Template for Australia

A Person Centred Risk Assessment is a comprehensive evaluation document that balances individual autonomy with necessary safety measures in disability and healthcare settings. This template ensures you can conduct thorough risk assessments while respecting the preferences, goals, and decision-making capacity of the person being assessed, in full compliance with Australian disability rights legislation.

When do you need this document?

You need this assessment when commencing new support services for individuals with disabilities, during regular service reviews, or when significant changes occur in a person's circumstances or support needs. It's essential when transitioning between care settings, introducing new support workers, or implementing assistive technologies. NDIS participants require this assessment for plan reviews and when accessing new funded supports. Healthcare facilities use this document when admitting patients with complex needs, while disability service providers must complete assessments before service commencement and during annual reviews. The document is also required when incidents occur that may impact future risk management strategies or when requested by regulatory bodies during compliance audits.

Key legal considerations

Your assessment must prioritize the individual's right to make informed decisions about their own risk tolerance while ensuring compliance with duty of care obligations. Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, you cannot make assumptions about capacity based solely on disability, and reasonable adjustments must be considered before implementing restrictive risk management strategies. Privacy protection under the Privacy Act 1988 requires secure handling of personal information, with clear consent for information sharing between support team members. The assessment must demonstrate that less restrictive alternatives have been considered before implementing any measures that may limit the person's choices. Work Health and Safety obligations require you to identify and manage risks to both the individual and support workers, while ensuring risk management strategies don't unnecessarily restrict the person's participation in community activities.

Legal requirements in Australia

Australian legislation mandates that risk assessments must be person-centered, culturally appropriate, and conducted with the active participation of the individual being assessed. Under the NDIS Act 2013, assessments must support choice and control principles, ensuring participants have maximum input into decisions affecting their lives. State disability services legislation requires regular review of risk assessments, typically annually or when circumstances change. You must ensure assessors have appropriate qualifications and that family members, advocates, or legal guardians are involved when requested by the individual. The assessment must identify both positive risks (opportunities for growth and independence) and safety risks, with strategies that promote the least restrictive options. Documentation must be accessible to the person being assessed, with plain language summaries provided when needed. Regulatory compliance requires that risk management strategies align with individual funding arrangements and don't exceed what is reasonable and necessary to achieve the person's goals.