About the framework

The NDIS Workforce Capability Framework describes the attitudes, skills and knowledge expected of all workers funded under the NDIS. It gives clear, practical examples and establishes a shared language of ‘what good looks like’ for participants when they receive NDIS supports and services. 

Who should use the Framework

The Framework is for anyone who needs to understand, direct, or participate in NDIS work.

• Participants can use the Framework when talking with their workers or service provider about what they want their support to look like or when giving feedback.
• Workers can use the Framework to understand what is expected of them in different roles and to help them map out their chosen development pathway.
• Job seekers can use the Framework to understand what is expected of workers, career pathways and how you can expect to be supported by service providers and their leaders.
• Supervisors and managers can use the Framework to understand their role and to support and give feedback to workers.
• Senior managers and leaders can use the Framework to establish an organisational culture, systems, policies and processes that nurture and promote a capable workforce.
• Educators and trainers can use the Framework to align training and assessment to deliver the capabilities needed. 

Objectives

There are five broad objectives to describe common expectations of work in the NDIS:

• Our relationship: Set up our relationship for success
• Your impact: Know your capabilities, role and impact
• Support me: Support me to pursue what’s important to me
• Be present: Be present and provide the support I need
• Check in: Work with me to evaluate and act on what is working and what is not.

Capabilities

Capabilities are grouped under the five objectives. They describe attitudes, skills and knowledge in terms of practical, observable examples of expected behaviours. The Framework also lists the essential knowledge required to support these behaviours. Capabilities are the foundation for building detailed descriptions of support activities and procedures, suited to different participant needs and delivery environments.

The Framework contains different sets of capabilities to support different types of work.

Core capabilities

The core capabilities lay the foundation for working in ways that listen to, respect and work alongside participants to support them to live the lives they choose. There are three different levels of core capabilities that reflect different types of work: general, advanced and ancillary.

Additional capabilities

Most workers will only need core capabilities but, depending on the needs of the participant, general and advanced support workers may require additional capabilities. These capabilities are shown under the objectives where the core capabilities don’t sufficiently cover the requirements.

There are two sets of additional capabilities:

1. Identity capabilities apply when greater depth of capability is needed to support participants who identify as:  
   • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
   • culturally and linguistically diverse, or  
   • LGBTIQA+.  
2. Specialised support capabilities apply when supporting participants who require specific types of support such as health-related support.

Organisational capabilities

In addition to worker capabilities, there are two sets of organisational capabilities that describe management and leadership capabilities to support a capable workforce. One applies to frontline managers and supervisors, the other applies to senior managers, business leaders and board members.

Find capabilities for a role

Use the NDIS Workforce Capability Framework