NDIS Commission sets 2025–26 priorities with focus on participant rights and safer services
A reduction in the use of restrictive practices and improved management of high-risk health concerns are among the key priorities for the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) in 2025–26.
The NDIS Commission will also strengthen regulatory oversight of unregistered NDIS providers, including sole traders, and take action to ensure providers have appropriately skilled and capable workers.
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner Louise Glanville said the 2025–26 regulatory priorities reflect the regulator’s commitment to upholding the rights of NDIS participants by improving quality and safety, supporting people with disability to live with independence and dignity.
“We expect providers to uphold the rights of people with disability in all areas, but especially where the risk to participants is high,” Commissioner Glanville said.
“Providers must deliver safe, high-quality services that empower people with disability to achieve their goals.
“Where there is serious non-compliance, the NDIS Commission will take firm action.”
The four regulatory priorities for 2025–26 are:
the reduction and elimination of regulated restrictive practices
strengthened oversight and regulation of unregistered NDIS providers and sole traders
provider obligations to support participants to proactively identify and manage high-risk health concerns
provider obligations to support, train and monitor appropriately skilled and capable workers.
The priority areas align with the NDIS Commission’s focus on ensuring human rights are central to disability supports and services.
“Practices that restrict the rights or freedom of movement of people with disability can be traumatic, dangerous and breach basic human rights,” Commissioner Glanville said.
“As a regulator focused on the human rights of people with disability, we prioritise and promote services that support dignity, inclusion and remove barriers to people with disability fully participating in society.
The NDIS Commission will also take strong action against providers who are not meeting their obligations to support participants to proactively identify and manage high-risk health concerns.
“Preventable deaths or dire health outcomes are completely unacceptable. We expect providers to identify and act on health risks early – lives depend on it,” Commissioner Glanville said.
Unregistered providers represent more than 90% of the market. Being unregistered does not shield providers from obligations under the NDIS Code of Conduct and the reach of the NDIS Commission.
“The community expects NDIS providers to meet high standards, regardless of their registration status,” Commissioner Glanville said.
“We will take decisive action against unregistered NDIS providers for serious breaches of the NDIS Code of Conduct.”
Poor work practices and insufficient staff training remain an issue. The NDIS Commission will prioritise action that ensures providers are meeting their obligations to support, train and monitor appropriately skilled and capable workers.
“Workers play a key role in delivering quality and safe supports to NDIS participants. Providers need to equip their workforce to do a good job,” Commissioner Glanville said.
The NDIS Commission’s regulatory priorities were informed by the current NDIS legislative framework, market insights and recommendations from various reviews.
More information on the regulatory priorities is available on the NDIS Commission website.
ENDS