The writing is on the wall

Reform in the NDIS has been in focus since Bruce Bonyhady and Lisa Paul’s 2023 review. The scheme is one of Australia’s most significant social reforms, but managing participant needs while ensuring long-term sustainability is challenging. Bill Shorten’s decision to mandate registration for Support Coordinators, SIL providers, and platform operators directly responds to concerns about service quality, safety, and accountability.

Unregistered providers operate without oversight. Workers are not required to have police checks or a NDIS Worker Screening Check. While they only claim 10% of total NDIS fees they make up 90% of providers. Many of my colleagues find this lack of regulation worrying.

There are many paths to registration. One example being Occupational Therapists (OTs) who are required to be registered with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (OTBA) under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). This registration ensures that OTs meet national standards of practice and maintain the competencies required to provide safe, effective care.

Some critics argue that making registration mandatory will hurt smaller providers due to compliance costs. But the NDIS already factors in registration fees into its worker cost model. My argument is that registration could help create fair competition by helping providers build better businesses. If a provider can’t meet the minimum standards of safety and quality, they probably shouldn’t be delivering services to vulnerable participants.

At its core, this reform is about accountability. It’s about ensuring that the NDIS delivers the quality, secure support it promised to people with disability.

What are your thoughts? Are you surprised that many workers do not need mandatory checks? Are you in favour of tougher regulations to help protect our most vulnerable citizens?

I’m keen to hear your thoughts.

Barbara Lightburn

CEO and Founder