New Regulatory Changes for NDIS Platform Providers: What You Need to Know

Introduction and Key Changes

by Dianne Martinez 2024-09-25 16:04:31

New Regulatory Changes for NDIS Platform Providers: What You Need to Know

By Okie NDIS & SDA Finder

The NDIS Commission has announced significant new regulatory changes for platform providers delivering services in the NDIS market. These changes aim to enhance the quality and safety of supports for NDIS participants, following an inquiry that highlighted several concerns regarding how platform-based services operate.

The inquiry, titled “Own Motion Inquiry into how Platform Providers operate in the NDIS market,” was released by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission on 4 September 2023. It revealed that while innovation in digital services can improve the lives of people with disabilities, more must be done to ensure participant safety, including stricter controls over worker screening, service transparency, and pricing practices.

Key Changes for Platform Providers

The NDIS Commission is now requiring platform providers to:

Improve transparency: Platform providers must clearly explain what services are delivered for the prices they charge, ensuring NDIS participants understand any additional fees related to the platform.
Worker screening: All platform providers must ensure that their workers pass the NDIS Worker Screening Clearance, the only recognized background check for NDIS workers.
Service quality and safety: Providers must act with integrity and transparency, following the NDIS Code of Conduct. This includes informing participants about their right to contact the NDIS Commission to make complaints.

What Does This Mean for Platform Providers?

The Commonwealth Government announced that platform providers would soon be required to register under the new mandatory registration model as part of the transition to stricter regulatory arrangements. Providers are expected to work closely with the NDIS Commission and other regulators, including the ACCC and the Fair Work Commission, to meet these new requirements.

Additionally, the Commission is considering establishing a platform provider industry group to:

Set service benchmarks.
Collaborate on improving service quality and safety.
Facilitate discussions about emerging trends in the NDIS platform sector.

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Regulatory Actions on the Horizon

NDIS Commissioner Michael Phelan issued a strong message to platform providers, urging them to take immediate action to meet these new standards. Providers who fail to comply could face further regulatory actions, including the requirement to provide information prepared by the NDIS Commission to existing and potential users.

For NDIS participants, these changes are designed to improve transparency and ensure that all platform providers offer high-quality, safe services that meet the needs of people with disabilities.

For more detailed information on the NDIS Commission’s regulatory update, visit the NDIS Commission website.

Sources: NDIS Commission, ABC News