NDIS provider and worker registration submission
The National Disability Insurnace Scheme (NDIS) Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce (the Taskforce) is giving advice to government on a system that will regulate providers and workers in the NDIS.
The Taskforce is focused on how online providers, people who self-manage, and people who hire their own workers fit into this system.
The Independent Advisory Council (IAC) wrote to the Taskforce. When we say ‘we’, we mean the IAC.
Our recommendations
We wrote to the Taskforce, recommending that:
The new system helps participants by giving information and education, peer support, and building informal support, while also checking providers.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) should give support to participants to help them follow the rules for self-managing.
All workers and providers should have a minimum level of identity check so that they are visible to the NDIA and NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
Registration should have no cost. All costs for NDIS participants self-management are covered in their NDIS plan.
New policy should be made with NDIS participants to identify low cost and low risk purchases.
Participants should be able to be flexible and creative with their NDIS money.
If there are problems that stop people using their funding flexibly, solutions should be worked on with people with a disability.
More work is needed to define what risky roles are and what needs to be put in place to protect people.
Worker screening might need to be done differently for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in remote areas to ensure cultural safety.
Any risk framework needs to focus on human rights.
Existing resources should be used like the NDIS Workforce Capability Framework.
Areas where there is greater risk of harm to participants and need more oversight are:
young children
participants with no family or informal support, or public guardians as their decision makers
any restrictive practices
participants living in group homes
providers doing everything for one person
new participants to the NDIS.
There should be more training programs for workers and participants that everyone can use. Participants can say if workers have done them.
There should be more training programs for workers and participants that everyone can use. Participants can say if workers have done them.
Check-ins from the NDIA should happen with self-managing participants. The check-ins process needs improving.
Audit processes need changing, and participants should help to do them.
What we found in our research
Better rules for NDIS worker and provider checks are needed.
There is a need for participants to learn more about choosing and managing providers and staying safe.
More help is needed for self-managers.
Self-managers need more support to know how to manage their own NDIS plans, to follow rules, and manage risks.
It is not easy for government to know who workers and providers are.