The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an independent agency that provides funding and support to eligible individuals with disabilities in order for them to spend more time with family and friends, gain more independence, and gain access to new skills, jobs, or volunteer in their community. Overall, the NDIS allows eligible individuals with disabilities an improved quality of life they may have been unable to experience before. Since its inception in 2013, the NDIS has provided over 500,000 Australians with disabilities with the services and supports they require.
But how does one become a registered NDIS provider? In this article, we’ll discuss what being an NDIS plan management provider is and the standards that need to be met, what a provider does, how suitability is assessed, along with the benefits of becoming a registered NDIS service provider.
What is a registered NDIS plan management provider and what do they do?
An NDIS plan management provider is an individual or organization that delivers support, products, or services to an NDIS participant. Either the individual or organization needs to apply with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. In order to become a registered NDIS provider, one must meet the NDIS Practice Standards and adhere to the NDIS Code of Conduct.
Here are some helpful links that will go into detail about the conditions and requirements of registration:
What do NDIS service providers do?
Registered NDIS services providers are looking to deliver support and services to NDIS participants that enable them to have the same things in life as any other person—like somewhere to live, a job, a community of trusted friends and family, and hobbies.
There are fifteen categories in which provides support and services fall:
- Assistance with daily life
- Transport
- Consumables
- Assistance with social and community participation
- Assistive technology
- Home modifications
- Coordination of supports
- Improved living arrangements
- Increased social and community participation
- Finding and keeping a job
- Improved interpersonal relationships
- Improved health and wellbeing
- Improved learning
- Improved life choices
- Improved daily living
More detail is given in the Support Catalogue in relation to specific supports under each category, price arrangements, and price limits.
An overview of how the NDIS Commission assesses suitability.
The assessment requires that all providers and their key employees undergo the process as part of the registration application (and renewal) to determine their suitability to deliver NDIS support and services.
There are a number of questions on the registration application that cover the suitability standards. The NDIS commission takes each assessment on a case-by-case basis. You will not be informed of the suitability assessment outcome, but if issues and concerns are found, you will be given time to respond before the registration decision is made.
Here are several of the suitability criteria the NDIS looks for when assessing a provider:
- Whether or not you’ve been previously registered as an NDIS provider.
- Whether you’ve received a banning order.
- Whether you’ve been convicted of an indictable offense against a law of the Commonwealth or State or Territory.
- Whether you’ve been insolvent under administration.
- Whether you’ve been found to be fraudulent or dishonest in any administrative, civil, or criminal proceedings.
For full criteria and more information, click here.
The benefits of being a registered NDIS plan management provider
Becoming an NDIS plan management provider opens you up to a world of new experiences and people you may not have crossed paths with within your typical line of work. Here are the benefits of being a registered NDIS service provider:
- Connect and deliver support and services to a wide range of participants.
- Become a part of an innovative and competitive marketplace.
- Market your services confidently as a registered provider.
- Extend your online presence with your services being listed in the NDIS Provider Finder tool.
- Access to online business systems to help you manage your bookings and payments.
- Access to NDIS updates and other information.
- Access to exclusive supplemental training modules offered by the NDIS Commission.
What does it mean to us at EDHCS to be an NDIS provider?
Here at Equality Disability Health Care Services (EDHCS), we are proud to be a Sydney-based registered NDIS service provider. Our dedicated and trained team has more than twenty years of experience and works toward the purpose of supporting individuals with disabilities and promoting equality in all our disability and healthcare services.
Our ambition as an NDIS service provider is to spread our vision throughout our community. With our collected experience and knowledge, we strive to offer personalized and person-centered services where every individual can take control of their own life.
At EDHCS we offer a wide array of NDIS and health care services:
- High-intensity daily personal activities that help with household tasks and development skills – cooking, cleaning, and access to community activities
- Group activities – day trips to waterparks, amusement parks, national parks, beaches, and so much more
- Social activities – walking, swimming, movie nights, sports, and hobby groups
- Support coordination – helping participants coordinate and manage life stages and transitions
- Travel and transport – empowering participants to get around their community.
- Accommodation – helping participants find accommodations and supporting them in their new independent living quarters.
If you think you’d be a good fit for our community and services, click here to explore career opportunities or connect with us on our Instagram account.
