Becoming An NDIS Provider

In the framework of the NDIS, service providers play a critical role to offer support and services that empower NDIS participants to work towards their goals. If you've decided on a career change or an expansion on your existing career, becoming an NDIS provider could be everything that you need to feel fulfilled in your work.

Providers have the option to be either registered with the Quality and Safeguards Commission as part of the NDIS or operate as unregistered entities.

Being a registered NDIS provider is usually the preferred option because of the benefits that come with it. Let's take a look at the benefits of being a registered NDIS provider and then we'll go into how you can get signed up. 

Benefits of Becoming An NDIS Provider

Some of the benefits of choosing to become a registered NDIS provider include:

• You get to work with a wide range of participants, including those with NDIA managed funding.
• You get to work within a growing industry.
• You can showcase that you are offering something delivered by a registered provider which offers authority.
• You get to put your business through NDIA affiliated business listing websites.
• You can expand your online visibility.
• You can offer an efficient service using online business systems in the My Place Provider portal.
• You can access supplementary training models that are provided by the NDIS Commission.

Becoming an NDIS provider is not always easy, but as long as you have the right information, the correct software for NDIS providers and the passion for the project, you’ll get your NDIS provider business off the ground in no time. 

How to Become an NDIS Provider

There are several different steps to becoming an NDIS provider, and those include the following listed below:

1. Start a new application. The very first step is to go to the NDIS Provider Application portal and start signing up. When you sign up as a registered provider through this portal, you'll provide essential information such as your organisation's contact details, corporate structure, and operational locations. You'll then choose the registration groups that your organisation can cover, which determines the applicable practice standards from the NDIS. From here you can conduct a self assessment against those practice standards that are relevant to the services and supports that your business will offer to participants that sign up. You can upload any necessary documents as evidence, but remember that you get 60 days to exit the portal and return, so you need to finish that application quickly.
2. Choose an approved quality auditor. Once you have gone through the application and submitted it online, you will be emailed by the NDIS Commission who will talk to you through an initial scope of the audit document. This summarises what your business needs for registration and clarifies whether you need to have a verification or certification audit. It's your responsibility to hire an approved quality auditor for this process, and you can reach out to multiple people for the quote that you need. Talk about what your business needs and negotiate on the rate to ensure that you get the best value for your business.
3. Go through the audit process once you have engaged with an approved quality auditor. They will look through your business and verify the accuracy of the audit scope. The methods that they use will differ between verification and certification because they take into account the size of the organisation, the scale, and the complexity of any services that you offer. Throughout the audit, they work alongside you to explain their findings and allow room for any queries or clarifications that you might have.
4. Review the application. When you review your registration application, you need to look through the audit results and conduct a suitability assessment, which is the NDIS Commission’s job. They will evaluate your suitability as an NDIS provider as well as the suitability of your key personnel. They'll consider the key personnel's history, your provider history, including anything from NDIS registrations to past convictions and banning orders. They'll also make a decision based upon their assessment and then they'll inform you of the outcome and reasons for approval or denial of your provider application.
5. They will then notify you of the outcome. The last step on how to become an NDIS provider is waiting for that outcome. If you are unsuccessful, you have the option to request a review from the NDIS Commission within three months. If you are successful, you will gain a registration certificate that details the services or supports that you are authorised to offer, as well as how long your registration lasts for and any specific conditions that you need to maintain it. Once you have become an NDIS provider, you can then get the right software.

You will be working with a range of people as an NDIS provider and understanding who you'll be working with is important. Let's take a look at the type of people that you will be working alongside

• Plant managers and support coordinators. They play a huge role in establishing and overseeing the links between beneficiaries of the NDIS and their support systems. They work with participants to enable them to make self-directed choices and access the right support.
• Community Partners. The NDIS Partners in the Community initiative plays a huge part in implementing NDIS on a grassroots level. To ensure the effective implementation, the NDIA collaborates with qualified and experienced community organisations that have the right insight and knowledge into the requirements of individuals with disabilities or delays.
• Early childhood partners. There are partners you may work with who specialise in the early childhood approach. This extends better and more tailored support to children under the age of nine who have disabilities or children under the age of 6 with developmental delays or concerns. In their role, they all are able to facilitate access to services and supports that are personalised to address the unique needs of the family and their child. This includes linking them to local community health programmes, play groups and other activities.

Alongside working with these individuals, you'll have access to an NDIS Provider toolkit.This offers structure funded support and information about provider roles. The disability insurance scheme across Australia stands for a monumental economic and social reform.

Choosing to become an NDIS provider gives more scope to participants and allows you to work in an arena that is wholly transformative. 

It’s not easy to navigate through the NDIS, but navigating through it brings about some substantial changes for both providers and individuals with disabilities. If you have a passion and you would like to work in this arena as a sole trader, then you're going to be in the right place by signing up as a provider.

The NDIS Provider Toolkit can give you a better and deeper understanding of the functionality of the NDIS. Ultimately, the whole idea is for the NIS to revolve around furnishing the necessary support for those who need it.

You should always remember that there are key resources out there and help support sections that you can use as a reference in the future. Whether you are starting out on the provider pathway or you want to advance along it, taking as much information as possible is going to change the game.

Get signed up today and you’ll be able to further your career in a way you’ve never done before. It’s a big change, but one that’s worth it.