NDIS Consulting - Tasmania

16/02/2025

Monday News #4

The NDIS Quick Reference Guide page includes a QRG for auditors relevant to providers with a condition imposed around the closure of minor non-conformities post verification audit: Recording the closure of minor non-conformities in COS.

You will find the link to the FULL information here -

Using the NDIS Commission Portal Quick Reference Guides for providersGetting access to the NDIS Commission Applications PortalGetting access to NDIS Commission PortalAdd an auditor relationshipAdd or manage key personnelAdd or manage service areasRenewal of a registrationUpdate contact details in My...

16/02/2025

Monday News #3

The Residential Aged Care page has also been updated and contains the following information:


NDIS registration requirements for residential aged care providers
Prepare for registration
Applying to become a NDIS registered provider
Audits for residential aged care providers
Codes of conduct
Worker screening in residential aged care
Behaviour support and restrictive practices for residential aged care providers
Providers that automatically became NDIS registered providers in 2020
Younger people in residential aged care

Here is the page link to learn more;

https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/provider-registration/about-registration/residential-aged-care-providers-and-ndis

16/02/2025

Monday News #2

The Apply for Registration page has been updated under the ‘Prepare to apply’ and the ‘Get audited’ sections with more detailed information relating to audits.

Follow this page link to read more.

Providers have different registrations groups or classes of support specified as part of their registration conditions. The registration groups a provider has in the application or renewal process will determine the type of audit they will need to do.

16/02/2025

Happy Monday Everyone - hope you all had a relaxing weekend.......

Monday News #1

The Commission has updated the Quality Audit process page with much more detailed information around audits, including the following:


What to expect in a quality audit
Types of audits
Verification audit
Certification audit
Other audit types
Mid-term audits
Condition audits
Out of Cycle audits
Audit outcome
Ratings
Audit report timeframes
How the NDIS Commission assures the quality of auditors
Complaints about approved quality auditors
Participants and audits
What is a NDIS audit?
What does an audit mean for me?
How do you take part in a NDIS audit?
What will NDIS auditors ask you?
Opting out of audits

Here is the link for you to access any of the above information -

Before you become a registered provider, you need to be assessed against the relevant NDIS Practice Standards. This is done through an independent audit by an approved quality auditor.The type of audit you need depends on the NDIS supports and services you provide. Your organisation will undergo eit...

07/02/2025

Providers identifying as ‘Registered NDIS Providers’



NDIS providers that are not (yet) registered with the NDIS Commission should not be displaying on their website or in any other mediums, that they are registered NDIS providers. AQAs will be checking this as part of the audit and raising non-conformities where appropriate.



The NDIA and the NDIS Commission will take action against providers that misuse the NDIS logo and/or communicate false or misleading information to the public in purporting to be a registered NDIS provider, or similar. Further, the NDIA and the NDIS Commission having been working with the ACCC to identify advertising which may be in breach of the Australian Consumer Law. Providers must not make false representations regarding access to the NDIS, and consumers must be able to rely on statements being made by NDIS providers as being true and accurate.

07/02/2025

Non-conformities for Provisional Providers of Specialised Behaviour Support

On a similar note, providers applying to be registered for Specialised Behaviour Support (BS) (Module 2) are required to demonstrate that each participant accesses behaviour support that is appropriate to their needs which incorporates evidence-informed practice and complies with relevant legislation and policy frameworks. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (Quality Indicators for NDIS Practice Standards) Guidelines 2018 states, to achieve this outcome the provider should demonstrate that all NDIS behaviour support practitioners have been assessed as suitable to deliver specialised positive behaviour support, including assessments and development of behaviour support plans.

As BS is a mandatory registration group, provisional providers undergoing an audit may not be able to demonstrate conformity to this outcome as they may have dually submitted an application to become a Behaviour Support Practitioner which may be assessed in tandem with an application for registration. This may particularly occur where the Practitioner will be the deliverer of the BS services to participants. Alternatively, the provider may not have engaged a Practitioner and not intend to do so until their application for registration is determined.

In these particular scenarios, the NDIS Commission supports the Auditors discretion in application of the AQA Guidelines to allow the minor non-conformity to remain as a minor non-conformity. This is due to the non-conformity being unresolvable until the Behaviour Support Practitioner application is determined and/or service delivery has commenced, and not due to significant risk or failings on the part of the provider to warrant escalation to a major non-conformity. If, however, it was associated with other risks or issues identified by the Auditor a different approach may be required by the Auditor on a case-by-case basis.

This replaces any previous advice given on this matter.

07/02/2025

Non-conformities for Provisional Providers of Specialist Disability Accommodation

Providers applying to be registered for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) (Module 5) are required to demonstrate that, “each participant’s specialist disability accommodation dwelling meets the requirements of the design type, category and other standards that were identified through the dwelling enrolment process”. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (Quality Indicators for NDIS Practice Standards) Guidelines 2018 states, to achieve this outcome the provider should demonstrate that mechanisms are in place to ensure a provider’s enrolled SDA dwellings meet the design type, category and density restriction requirements of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Specialist Disability Accommodation Conditions) Rule 2018.

As SDA is a mandatory registration group, provisional providers undergoing an audit will not be able to demonstrate conformity to this outcome as they would not be able to enrol dwellings prior to registration approval by the NDIS Commission. Auditors should therefore issue a minor non-conformity with view to follow up for closure with the provider in required timeframes.

There are times when a registered NDIS provider with SDA may not have yet enrolled an SDA dwelling by their mid-term audit (or their next applicable audit). In these particular scenarios, where service delivery has not commenced, the NDIS Commission supports the Auditors discretion in application of the AQA Guidelines to allow the minor non-conformity to remain as a minor non-conformity. This is due to the non-conformity being unresolvable until service delivery has commenced, and not due to significant risk or failings on the part of the provider to warrant escalation to a major non-conformity. If, however, it was associated with other risks or issues identified by the Auditor a different approach may be required by the Auditor on a case-by-case basis.

This replaces any previous advice given on this matter.

07/02/2025

ASQA regulatory action – notices of intent to cancel qualifications

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), the national regulator for the vocational education and training (VET) sector in Australia, is undertaking serious regulatory action in respect to a number of Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), following a series of compliance investigations.

To ensure the integrity of the VET sector and to protect the public, ASQA is progressing regulatory actions to cancel the registration of some providers. Where these providers are found to have issued qualifications without the appropriate training or assessment ASQA is pursuing regulatory action to cancel the qualification or statements of attainment.

The department, ASQA, and other government agencies are collaborating to manage the potential impact on students, employers and workplaces.

It is important that AQA’s and their staff keep up to date with updates and further information available on the ASQA regulatory action webpage.

ASQA regulatory action following targeted compliance investigations.

07/02/2025

More people with disability appointed to the NDIA Board and NDIS Independent Advisory Council

The Australian Government has announced two appointments to the NDIA Board and five appointments to the NDIS Independent Advisory Council (IAC). These appointments bolster the number of people with disability and bring strong lived and professional experience into key leadership positions for the NDIS.

Minister Shorten said the Board appointments were made with the unanimous support of state and territory disability ministers, and the IAC appointments were in close consultation, ensuring the individuals had the requisite skills, experience and knowledge for their roles.

These appointments continue to strengthen the capability of the NDIA Board and strengthen the quality of advice to the Board from the IAC during this critical period of NDIS reforms.

07/02/2025

Putting participants back at the centre of the NDIS.

The Albanese Government is ensuring the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is fairer, easier to navigate and person-centred with fresh investments in planning for all participants and commencing design work towards a new early intervention pathway for children under 9.

This includes:

*the Government will deliver support needs assessments, so people with disability and their families do not need to pay
*part of the funding will go to a dedicated, multi-disciplinary workforce to deliver support needs assessment in the future, which will work with participants to understand their support needs and identify the right tool/s
*funding for consultation and design towards a new early intervention pathway for children under 9.

As part of the 2024-25 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO), $1 billion in funding has been allocated to improve the experience of NDIS participants, protect scheme sustainability and ensure it is here for future generations of Australians.

07/02/2025

Millions saved as NDIS fraudsters cut-short by government taskforce

In December 2024, the NDIA led a Taskforce investigation in partnership with 11 Fraud Fusion Taskforce (FFT) partner organisations with five search warrants executed in western Sydney. Close to 50 Agency investigators plus partners and law enforcement were on the ground to support the warrants and through coordinated efforts, the FFT was able to crack down on large scale fraud worth millions.

There are currently more than 500 active investigations, with around 120 fraud investigators focused on serious organised criminals, tax agents, allied health professionals and NDIS providers.

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) supported the ex*****on of warrants in three recent operations.

A range of matters identified during the investigations have already resulted in regulatory action being taken, with possible further action being undertaken by the NDIS Commission.

07/02/2025

Improvements on how providers prove their identity

From mid-2025 The NDIA are changing how providers prove their identity to use NDIS systems.

Currently, providers and their nominated staff use PRODA to prove who they are when they connect with the NDIA. This will change to myID with Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM) and will be a graduated change.

You can read more about this here;

We are strengthening how we check the identity of providers.