Lived experience perspectives of Supervised Treatment Orders

Supervised Treatment Orders (‘STOs’) are civil orders made by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (‘VCAT’). They provide oversight for treatment and restrictive practices of people with intellectual disability who meet five criteria. Concerns have been raised that such orders can result in indefinite detention and excessive restrictions. The experiences and preferences of people with intellectual disability who are subject to STOs have not formally been investigated. As part of a review of STOs in Victoria, Australia, six individuals with lived experience of STOs were interviewed about their experience of being subject to a STO. Data were analysed using descriptive qualitative analysis. STOs were viewed negatively, characterised by onerous restrictions and demands for personal responsibility with limited opportunity for increasing independence. Restrictions were not considered by participants as a transitional pathway to living safely in the community and were described as disproportionate and inflexible.