Responding to harm
Conflict, distress and harm can occur in mental health settings. How services respond can have a significant impact on the wellbeing of consumers, families, carers, kin and staff.
Restorative practice provides a structured approach to preventing, responding to and repairing harm. It uses a range of informal and formal responses to support positive relationships.
What is restorative practice
Restorative practice brings people together to:
- discuss what happened
- understand the impacts of harm
- identify actions that support healing, accountability and repair.
It provides opportunities for people affected by harm to have their voices heard in a safe and supportive environment.
Why restorative practice matters
Restorative practice supports:
- consumer, family and carer voice
- respectful communication and relationships
- accountability and repair following harm
- learning and improvement within services
- more compassionate and person-centred care.
It can also contribute to trauma-informed, recovery-oriented and least restrictive approaches to care.
Learn more about our trauma programs and initiatives.
Evidence from Queensland
We funded an independent evaluation of restorative practice in mental health services at The Prince Charles Hospital.
The project explored how restorative approaches can be used in inpatient and community mental health settings.
The evaluation found benefits for consumers, families and staff, while highlighting the importance of leadership, workforce capability, adequate resourcing and implementation readiness.
Read Restorative Practice in mental health services at The Prince Charles Hospital: evaluation for key findings and recommendations.
For a shorter overview, read Restorative Practice in mental health services at The Prince Charles Hospital: evaluation – summary.
The future of restorative practice
We continue to monitor emerging evidence and opportunitie s to strengthen restorative practice in Queensland's mental health system.
Restorative practice offers one example of how services can support dignity, trust, accountability and recovery while responding constructively when harm occurs.