The National Disability Insurance Scheme is a service provider supported by the National Disability Insurance Agency(NDIA). It provides funding to people with a disability, provided they are eligible, to meet their individual needs. Each NDIS participant or beneficiary has individual plans that contain their desired outcomes, the funding they have received, and the support they will use.
However, to become an NDIS provider, you must be registered and thus be suited to provide NDIS support and services. The NDIS service provider registration is a tedious process with lots of paperwork. However, these five steps will help you become a registered NDIS service provider.
Register As An NDIS Provider
The first step to becoming a registered service provider is registering with NDIA. Regardless of your state in Australia, provided you offer the following services, you must register;
- You are offering a plan managed by NDIA
- You offer specialist disability accommodation
- You are offering complex services like specialist behaviour support.
Start the registration process with steps you will have to follow and an NDIS checklist. During the registration application, you must prove that you aren’t in for the profits and complete a police check for working with children.
Get An Approved Quality Auditor
Once your application for registration is submitted, you will receive an initial audit scope from the NDIS Commission. The audit will contain specific registration requirements as per your application. It will state whether you need a certification or verification audit. Moreover, it will also explain what your organization will need to demonstrate to comply with the relevant NDIS Practise Standards. To proceed, you will have to get an approved quality auditor to help you undertake the audit. Remember, you must only select an NDIS-approved auditor.
Undertake The Audit
Those seeking to become registered NDIS providers must be audited against the NDIS Practice Standards. This is usually part of the NDIS Commission registration requirement. While undertaking the audit, there will be a verification audit and certification audit;
- The certification audit is the certification for higher risks and more complex services.
- Verification audit is for lower risk or fewer complex services. Registering through this audit will have you provide documentation against the four outcomes within the NDIS Practice Standards verification module.
Following the services you offer, it will determine which audit you undertake.
NDIS Commission Application Assessment And Decision Making
To become a registered NDIS provider, the NDIS commission has to assess your application, check the audit outcomes and then conduct a sustainability assessment of your organization and key personnel. These are individuals who hold executive management positions in your organization, and you must include all of them in your application. After the assessment, the NDIS will make a decision and later contact you to inform you if your application was successful, or if not, they will tell you why it was declined.
Receiving The Application Outcome
If the application is successful, you will receive a registration certificate. The certificate will contain:
- All the supports and services you are registered to provide.
- The conditions you must follow to keep your registration.
- The period of your registration.
However, for the unsuccessful applicants, you can contact the NDIS Commission and request a review within three months from the date of the decision. If, after review, your application is still unsuccessful, you can seek further review through the Administrative Appeals tribunal.
Becoming a registered NDIS provider is not simple; the processes and steps to follow are tedious and time-consuming. However, once you have the expert staff and the qualifications needed by NDIS to provide these services, together with these steps, you will get your registration certificate in no time. Remember to meet all the NDIS Plan Managers practice standards, or you risk failing to get the registration approved.