Recommendation 17 of the Independent Review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme
2 May 2024
The Independent Review into the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS Review) handed down its final report in December 2023, making a recommendation for a risk-proportionate model for the visibility and regulation of all providers and workers of NDIS delivered support services (Recommendation 17).
This led to the formation of the NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce in February 2024, to examine issues related to a registration scheme proposed by Recommendation 17 and its actions 17.1, 17.2 and 17.3.
People with Disability Australia (PWDA) provides our response primarily based on extensive member consultation through the NDIS Review.
This submission addresses PWDA’s concerns relating to the design and implementation of a registration scheme for all workers and providers.
PWDA presents recommendations for alternate solutions to participant safeguarding.
Finally, we express concern that any registration scheme should not be overly difficult to ensure a range of service providers remain in the market.
Summary of Recommendations
Recommendation 1 – The NDIA commit to a co-design process to redesign and implement a plan management assessment that better assesses whether a participant might require supported decision-making or can make their own decisions.
Recommendation 2 – The Australian government commits to resourcing the NDIS Commission to meet its expanded responsibilities.
Recommendation 3 – The Australian government provides clarity around the governance and leadership structure of the NDIS Commission.
Recommendation 4 – The Australian Government commits to establishing a NDIS Commission leadership team that includes people with disability, and/or people with deep engagement and understanding of the issues facing the community of people with disability.
Recommendation 5 – The Australian Government investigates and implements, through the Fraud Fusion Taskforce, an alternative method to track financial transactions made to, or by, unregistered service providers.