The latest update on registration

Last month, NDIS Minister Bill Shorten announced that NDIS registration with the Quality and Safeguards Commission will soon be mandatory for Platform providers, Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers, and Support Coordinators.

Since the announcement, we’ve received questions about what this means for our Direct Employ service. Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions.

What does it mean to be NDIS registered?

Currently, to be registered with the NDIS, a provider must meet certain requirements set out by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

These typically include providers who offer complex supports or work with Participants who have regulated restrictive practices, such as Traditional agencies.

These providers are directly responsible for meeting set requirements, which include:

• Monitoring incidents that occur during a support shift
• Completing audits with the NDIS
• Ensuring all Support Workers comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct

Is Carer Solutions a registered provider?

At Carer Solutions, we offer two services. Our Plan Management service is registered, whereas our Direct Employ service is not.

Do these changes affect using your Direct Employ service?

No, this announcement will not impact your experience or ability to continue utilising our Direct Employ service, as we are not a Platform provider, Supported Independent Living (SIL) provider, or Support Coordinator.

What is a Platform provider?

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission defines a Platform provider as: ‘A fee-based app or website a NDIS Participant may use to connect with workers to deliver their NDIS services and supports.’

What does this news mean for the future of Direct Employ?

The Government will soon begin consultations to implement broader changes to registration, as recommended by the NDIS Review and Taskforce.

We welcome these changes and are optimistic that they will include us. Our goal has always been to have our Direct Employ service registered; unfortunately, the current registration framework does not fully recognise the unique nature of what we offer (as a category in its own right). After all, we are still the only Direct Employ service in Australia!

We will keep you updated as things progress, but for now, it’s business as usual.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 1300 729 839.