About NDIS providers

NDIS providers are organisations and people that supply supports and services to NDIS participants like your child.

NDIS providers can be companies, charities or not-for-profit organisations. They can also be individuals.

Registered NDIS providers and unregistered NDIS providers: what’s the difference?

Registered providers are registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, a government agency that regulates all NDIS providers.

Unregistered providers aren’t registered with the NDIS Commission.

The key thing about NDIS providers being registered or unregistered is that it affects who can use them. And this depends on how you manage your child’s NDIS funds.

• If you self-manage or plan-manage your child’s NDIS funds, you can use registered NDIS providers, unregistered NDIS providers or a mix of both.
• If the NDIA manages your child’s funds, you can use only NDIS registered providers.

Some but not all NDIS providers must register with the NDIS Commission. But being registered or unregistered shouldn’t affect the level of support or quality of service that your child gets from providers.

If your child is an NDIS participant, you can search for NDIS registered providers in the Provider Finder on the myplace portal. You can also go to the NDIS website to find registered providers in your state and territory.

Registered and unregistered providers: NDIS rules and requirements

Both registered and unregistered providers must:

• treat people according to rules in the NDIS Code of Conduct
• respond appropriately to complaints from people using their services.

The NDIS has extra quality and safety requirements for registered providers. They must:

• comply with NDIS Practice Standards
• employ, check and train their workers according to NDIS Commission standards
• report incidents to the NDIS Commission – for example, serious injury or abuse.

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and NDIS providers

The NDIS Commission makes sure all NDIS providers work according to NDIS rules and requirements. To do this, the NDIS Commission:

• makes sure NDIS providers know and follow the rules for quality and safety
• assists with and responds to concerns, complaints and serious incidents related to all NDIS providers.

The NDIS Commission can take action against registered or unregistered NDIS providers or workers who aren’t treating people the way that the NDIS Code of Conduct says they should. For example, the NDIS Commission can ban NDIS providers from working with NDIS participants.

The NDIS Commission can also take action against registered NDIS providers who aren’t following the NDIS Practice Standards.

Your child is entitled to good-quality, respectful and safe supports and services. If you or your child feel unsafe with your child’s registered or unregistered NDIS providers, or if you’re unhappy with their services, it’s always OK to say so. You can start by raising your concern with your child’s NDIS provider or you can make a complaint to the NDIS Commission.