Rights of people with disability

People with disability have the right to be safe. They also have the right to receive quality supports and services from NDIS providers and workers.

The NDIS Commission works to uphold the rights of people with disability. These rights include:

• the right to dignity and respect
• the right to live free from abuse, exploitation and violence.  

We do this by:

• empowering people with disability to exercise choice and control in the supports and services they receive, while making sure proper protections are in place
• providing information that helps people with disability and their families or advocates to make informed decisions about NDIS providers
• making sure concerns, complaints and incidents are managed effectively by the NDIS Commission and NDIS providers
• supporting a strong and viable market for disability supports and services. 

Provider and worker obligations to people with disability

The NDIS Code of Conduct supports the rights of people with disability in the NDIS to have access to safe and ethical supports and services.   

Your NDIS provider or worker needs to:

• provide you with quality supports and services that are safe
• deliver those supports competently and with care
• make sure you feel safe to raise concerns or complaints with them
• handle concerns or complaints about the quality and safety of your supports quickly and effectively
• respect your right to express yourself and make decisions for yourself
• respect your privacy
• act with integrity, honesty and transparency
• do everything they can to prevent you from experiencing violence, exploitation, neglect, abuse or sexual misconduct
• act quickly and effectively if you do experience incidences of violence, exploitation, neglect, abuse or sexual misconduct
• be fair with their prices or fees, for example:
  • not ask you to pay too much
  • not make you pay more for the same item or service than a person who isn’t an NDIS participant
  • give you a clear explanation when and why a fee is higher, such as for items that are customised for you.

Your provider or worker must also offer you interpreter services if you need this to access your supports.

For more information about providers and workers obligations under the Code of Conduct, see: 
 

Concerns about providers or workers

If you’re concerned that a provider or worker isn’t following the NDIS Code of Conduct, you should talk to your provider or with us. Concerns can be brought up by anyone, including:

• people with disability
• family members and friends
• carers
• workers
• providers.

Using unregistered providers and workers

Only self-managed or plan-managed NDIS participants can choose to get supports and services from unregistered providers.

If you’re planning to hire an unregistered provider, you’re encouraged to check that their workers have completed an NDIS Worker Screening Check.

You’ll need to apply for access to the NDIS Worker Screening Database to search for workers. 

Human rights guidance

The NDIS Commission has developed a human rights guidance paper and human rights guidance poster that describes: 

• how we think about human rights
• our 3 human rights duties:
  • a positive duty
  • a participation duty
  • a duty of candour
• our human rights action statements.

See the:

• Human rights guidance paper
• Human rights guidance poster
• Easy Read: Human rights guidance poster

In August 2024, the NDIS Commission’s Regulatory approach was updated to include our human rights duties and action statements.

Consumer rights for people with disability

When you buy goods and services, you have consumer rights under the law. This includes when you buy disability related or NDIS goods and services.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has information about your consumer rights as a person with disability:

• A guide to consumer rights for consumers with disability
• Video: Shop smart and use your rights
• Video: Smart shopping