NDIS registered providers are organisations, businesses and individuals who have gone through an audit and endorsed by the NDIS. They meet the NDIS’s quality and safety standards, which means you can feel more comfortable with their services.

Often, however, smaller organisations don’t have the time or money to go through this process. It’s common for providers in specialised roles to be non-registered, too.

They meet the NDIS’s quality and safety standards

NDIS registered providers meet the NDIS’s quality and safety standards to ensure they deliver high-quality supports to participants. These standards include meeting requirements around incidents management, complaints management, worker screening and behaviour support (where applicable).

The NDIS Commission also regulates registered providers to provide consistency of experience across the NDIS. The Commission promotes safety and quality services, resolves problems and identifies areas for improvement.

These requirements are outlined in the NDIS Practice Standards, which are also included in the NDIS Rules 2018. They set out expectations for how registered providers must deliver supports and services to participants.

They also include an auditing process, which helps to ensure providers are compliant with the NDIS’s quality and safety standards.

These processes are important to protect people with disabilities and to ensure that a service provider operates in a fair and ethical manner. It’s crucial to adhere to the NDIS Code of Conduct and uphold its core principles of respecting individual rights, freedom and self-determination.

They’re more qualified

Registered providers are more qualified than other providers, as they must meet the NDIS’s quality and safety standards. They also have extensive experience working with people with disability, so they’re able to offer you specialised support to help you achieve your goals and improve your life.

They can also provide more personal care, and ensure you’re using your funding wisely by assessing your individual needs and medical goals. They can also recommend activities and supports that help you live a more independent life, such as signing up for courses or workshops that develop your skills or enhance your employment prospects.

All registered NDIS providers undergo a quality audit. An approved quality auditor assesses them against the NDIS Practice Standards to ensure they’re complying with these requirements. The type of audit your organisation undergoes depends on your registration group. Generally, providers will need to undergo either a ‘verification’ or ‘certification’ quality audit. The auditor will conduct document reviews, site visits and interviews with NDIS workers and participants.

They’re more reliable

NDIS registered providers are those who have met the NDIS’s quality and safety standards to be able to deliver services under an NDIS plan. They could be large companies, charities, small not-for-profits or sole traders, and offer anything from plan management and support coordination to home help, community nursing, social support, therapy and car or house modifications.

It’s important to choose a provider that meets your personal quality and customer service standards. This is because they’ll provide the best support for you and your family, and work to help you reach your goals.

Our research shows that people generally prefer to use ndis registered providers because of the trust and credibility they bring to their services. Often, these are small businesses and small not-for-profits that have built their reputation and business through word of mouth and customer recommendations.

Some people also like the flexibility to use a combination of both ndis registered and unregistered providers under their plan. This can be a great option for people who have been using a small, local provider for years before the NDIS came along, and want to keep accessing them under the new funding model.

They’re more flexible

NDIS service providers are a great way to find a support provider, especially when you’re planning your NDIS plan. They meet the NDIS’s quality and safety standards, so you can be confident in their services.

They’re more flexible than other providers, too. For example, they can offer more variety in their services and have a wider network to access.

Moreover, they can also be cheaper than some other options. For example, an NDIS cleaner might charge $49/hour while a non-registered cleaner in your neighbourhood could cost $30/hour.

You can use an NDIS claim form to submit a payment request for an appointment. This will ensure your provider gets the funds before you get the service, so they don’t need to worry about chasing you for it later.

NDIS participants and plan nominees have been using unregistered providers for around two-fifths of their NDIS spending, even though they are smaller operators than registered ones. They say that these providers offer flexibility, innovation, choice, empowerment and social inclusion, while providing better value for money.