NDIS registered providers have specific requirements to become registered and maintain their registration.
Registered provider businesses that are bought and sold need to report the details to the NDIS Commission. We assess if the new business and staff are suitable to deliver NDIS supports and services.
This page explains what you should consider when buying and business, and the tasks the seller and buyer need to do.
What to consider when buying a registered NDIS business
When you’re buying a registered NDIS business, you need to:
- Be familiar with the conditions of registration for all registered providers.
- Be able to comply with those conditions. This includes completing audits:
- when the registration is renewed
- mid-way through the registration period.
- Be aware of any extra registration conditions. These relate to any specific supports and services the business provides. The provider’s Certificate of Registration describes:
- any extra registration conditions
- the registration groups – also known as classes of support – they’re approved to deliver.
- Make sure your new workforce has the right qualifications and experience to deliver the supports and services on the Certificate of registration.
- Notify the NDIS Commission about the change of ownership and other details that have changed.
Can I buy a registered NDIS business and then update the Australian Business Number (ABN)?
No.
An NDIS registration is linked to a single ABN and is NOT transferrable to a different ABN. Once a registration is linked to an ABN, the ABN can’t be updated or amended.
If the business needs to be linked to a different ABN, you need to complete a new registration application.
Some business structures may not allow the ABN to be transferred to the new owner, such as a sole trader. You should get independent advice from the relevant authority about transferring the ownership of an ABN.
Buyer: Request access to the NDIS registered providers portal
You need to access the registered providers portal to report any new details to the NDIS Commission.
If you don’t have a portal user account you can request access. Follow the instructions in Getting access to the NDIS Commission Portal.
Seller: Approve the new owner’s access to the portal
The buyer will request access to the Registered providers portal. You need to approve the request. When there’s a request to approve, you’ll receive:
- an email, and
- a notification in the registered providers portal.
Practical tip: Make sure the buyer's portal access is approved before the seller loses their access.
Buyer: Notify the NDIS Commission about the change of ownership
Registered providers will notify the NDIS Commission about certain changes and events, including:
- change of ownership
- change to staff in specific positions.
A notification of the change in ownership should include:
- details of the new owner
- the new owners:
- qualifications
- experience in providing supports to people with disability
- the number of participants receiving supports and services
- how those participants are being:
- informed of the change
- supported to exercise choice and control in the change
- whether the change of ownership had any impact on service delivery
- how the sale came about and whether a consultant or broker services were used.
Follow the instructions in How to notify us of changes or events to report these details in the registered providers portal.
Buyer: Update key personnel details
NDIS registered providers need to keep their key personnel details up-to-date in the portal. It’s likely that a change of ownership will cause a change to the staff in key personnel roles.
Follow the instructions in Add or manage key personnel to update your key personnel details.
Buyer: Update business contact details
Follow the instructions in update contact details in my registration to report any changed contact details.
Buyer: Worker screening requirements
NDIS registered providers need to make sure staff in certain roles have an NDIS worker screening clearance. The roles that need to have a clearance are
- risk assessed roles – people that work directly with NDIS participants
- key personnel roles – people that make decisions about NDIS supports and services.
Practical tip: Check you're meeting worker screening requirements for NDIS registered providers.
Check any new staff that are in risk assessed roles or key personnel roles.
More information about worker screening is available at Worker screening for registered providers.
Buyer and seller: Maintain participant communication, privacy and choice
Participants need to have choice and control over who provides their supports and services. A change of ownership needs to be managed with integrity, honesty, and transparency.
When a registered NDIS provider changes ownership:
- Participants and their families, friends, or other supporters need to be informed about the change.
- Participants must not be automatically moved to the new owner. They need to be able to find a new provider if they want.
Participant privacy must be maintained during a change of ownership. See the NDIS Practice Standard Privacy and dignity.
Help
If you have questions regarding provider registration, email registration@ndiscommission.gov.au.
If you need technical help with the NDIS Commission Portals, you can:
- see our NDIS Commission Portal Quick Reference Guides
- use the NDIS Commission Portal technical help form.
If you need help logging in through myID, see myID help.
If you need help with Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM), see RAM help.