How To Get NDIS Registration

As a professional NDIS provider, you can enjoy an incredibly rewarding career, providing an array of support services to NDIS participants in need.

There are three categories for NDIS supports and services:

• Core — Support that helps participants with daily living activities
• Capital — Support for investments or funding for capital costs
• Capacity building — Support that helps participants build their skills and independence

Registering as a provider with the NDIS is not compulsory, yet providers who have registered enjoy a range of benefits not afforded to unregistered providers, including the ability to work with NDIA-managed participants, who often have more support funding available to them.

Wondering how to become an NDIS service provider? Here, we outline the steps you need to follow.

How to become a registered NDIS provider

Step 1: File an application

The first step in understanding how to become an NDIS provider is completing the application form, which can be accessed via the NDIS Commission website. There is no cost for submitting an application, and you have 60 days to complete it once you start.

As part of the application, you’ll need to enter some details about you and your organisation, including your contact details, key personnel, the support or services you wish to deliver and your suitability as a provider. This information will help decide which modules of the NDIS Practice Standards are required for your organisation.

Providers registering for lower-risk groups need to undergo the verification module of the Standards, whereas providers registering for higher-risk groups need to complete the core module, as well as one or more of the supplementary modules.

During the application process, you’ll need to complete a self-assessment against the relevant section of the Standards to explain how you meet the identified requirements.

After the form is completed, you can submit it. You’ll receive an email confirmation of your submission, along with an “initial scope of audit” document, which details the registration requirements for your organisation, and what you’ll need for the next step.

Step 2: Undergo an audit

The next step in registering as an NDIS provider is to undergo an audit. It’s your responsibility to arrange an independent, quality auditor who is approved under the NDIS.

Your auditor will use the information contained in the “initial scope of audit” to quote for their services and determine whether a “verification” or “certification” audit is needed. After checking that the scope of the audit is accurate, the auditor will commence the audit process.

As part of the process, the auditor will consider the size, scope and complexity of your organisation, answer any questions you may have and explain their findings in detail.

Step 3: Wait for an assessment

After the audit is complete, the auditor will submit the outcome to the NDIS Commission, who will then assess your application. In doing so, they will undertake a suitability assessment of your organisation, including its key personnel, from the information you submitted in your application.

Suitability assessments are all conducted on a case-by-case basis, and the outcome of it will ultimately be taken into account by the NDIS Commission when deciding whether to approve a provider registration.

Unfortunately, some patience is required at this stage — auditors have 28 days to submit their final report, and the Commission may also take time to approve the application.

Step 4: Outcome of the application

One of the final steps in how to apply for an NDIS provider registration is learning the outcome of your application! The Commission will contact you to notify you of their decision.

• If your application was successful:

Congratulations — you’ll receive a Certificate of Registration, which details the period of registration, the services and supports you’re registered to provide and any conditions. Conditions of registration, including the NDIS Code of Conduct and NDIS Practice Standards, must be complied with.

• If your application was unsuccessful:

You’ll be notified of the reason your application was not successful, and you can request a review within three months of this outcome.

Step 5: Ongoing NDIS compliance

As a registered NDIS provider, you have an ongoing obligation to maintain the integrity of the disability scheme by adhering to strict NDIS compliance requirements. The NDIS Commission continually monitors registered providers for compliance and is able to suspend, revoke or vary registrations due to non-compliance.

NDIS registration made simple with Healthcare Consulting

We hope that this post has helped answer your questions on how to become a registered NDIS provider. At Healthcare Consulting, we know that navigating NDIS registration can seem overwhelming.

We provide a range of consulting services designed to guide you through the provider registration process, including application assistance, compliance support, audit guidance, and policies and procedures support. We can also help you keep on top of your NDIS renewals.

We’ve helped countless organisations gain the confidence needed to set up a thriving NDIS business. Keen to learn more about how we can help you? Get in touch with our friendly team today!