What is a registered NDIS provider?
A registered NDIS provider has:
- applied for registration with the NDIS Commission
- been audited against the relevant NDIS Practice Standards and assessed as meeting them
- undergone a suitability assessment by the NDIS Commission (of both the provider and its key personnel), and
- been issued a certificate of registration.
These providers are generally registered for three years.
Details of registered NDIS providers are published on the NDIS Provider Register.
See section 73E of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 for more information.
Is registration mandatory?
You must be registered to provide:
- specialist disability accommodation (SDA)
- specialist behaviour support services
- supports or services to NDIS participants with NDIA-managed funding, and
- plan management services.
You must also get registered if you plan to use regulated restrictive practices.
Residential aged care providers that deliver supports and services to participants must be registered with the NDIS Commission and comply with relevant NDIS Practice Standards.
Unregistered providers can deliver supports and services to participants, except for those listed above. Only participants who self-manage or plan-manage their NDIS funding can choose to get supports and services from unregistered providers.
Conditions of registration
The registration of a NDIS provider is subject to conditions. These conditions include:
- compliance with the applicable NDIS Practice Standards
- compliance with the NDIS Code of Conduct
- compliance with applicable state, territory and Commonwealth laws
- having effective systems and practices for managing complaints and managing incidents
- ensuring workers in certain roles, including key personnel, have NDIS Worker Screening clearances
- meeting notification requirements
- meeting quality audit requirements
- if applicable, meeting behaviour support requirements, including reporting the use of regulated restrictive practices to the NDIS Commission.
See section 73F of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 for a list of all registration conditions.
The NDIS Commission can impose additional conditions on a provider’s registration. These conditions are included on the certificate of registration and on the NDIS Provider Register.
Additional conditions
Personal support providers
An additional condition applies to registered NDIS providers who deliver personal supports to participants who live alone.
If the participant gets personal support from one worker only, the provider must:
- assess the risks to the participant, and
- monitor the quality of, and participant satisfaction with, the supports.
Learn more in our What does this mean for providers fact sheet.
Audits for new registered providers
New registered providers may be required to complete parts of a quality audit involving NDIS participant engagement. This must be completed within a certain timeframe from when the provider started delivering services to participants.
Who are key personnel?
People who are:
- responsible for executive decisions
- responsible for, or have authority or significant influence over, planning, directing or controlling provider activities.
This can include the CEO, executive staff, managers and/or board members.
See section 11A of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 for the full legal definition.