Understanding the NDIS: key agencies and their roles

Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (the NDIS) can be confusing. It’s a system that involves a lot of different agencies that each have similar sounding names. So, what’s the difference between them and what does each do? Here’s a brief breakdown of roles and responsibilities.

The NDIS (the National Disability Insurance Scheme)

The NDIS is the insurance scheme itself. It is an Australian Federal Government initiative that funds support and services for people with a disability that is both permanent and significant.

The NDIS provides funding directly to individuals (rather than giving funding to service providers).

The NDIS is available across Australia. It aims to help people with disabilities to achieve their hopes and dreams through greater independence, social participation, and employment opportunities.  

People with disability who are assessed and considered eligible to receive NDIS funding are called ‘NDIS participants’ (see below for more information).

People or organisations that provide services and supports to NDIS participants are called ‘NDIS providers’ (see below for more information).

The NDIA (the National Disability Insurance Agency)

The NDIA is the Australian Federal Government agency that is responsible managing and delivering the NDIS.

The NDIA assesses eligibility and administers funding for participants, develops individual plans and ensures the NDIS is effective.

The NDIA does not provide any direct supports and services. It manages and administers the NDIS.

NDIS participants looking for information about funding, eligibility, or plan reviews should contact the NDIA.

NDIS Commission (the NDIS Quality and Safety Commission)

The NDIS Commission is an independent regulator responsible for ensuring quality and safety within the NDIS.

The NDIS Commission registers and regulates NDIS providers and oversees provider quality. 

The NDIS Commission monitors provider compliance with the NDIS Practice Standards and NDIS Code of Conduct.

The NDIS Commission also handles complaints and incidents. 

NDIS participants

Participants are people with significant and permanent disabilities who have been assessed as eligible by the NDIA to receive NDIS funding.

Each participant has an individual NDIS plan with funding allocated for specific services and supports.

Participants can choose how their funding is managed – self-managed, plan-managed, or NDIA-managed (link to more information here).

NDIS participants should contact the NDIA for funding or plan reviews, the NDIS Commission for complaints about a provider, and search the NDIS Provider Portal to find services and supports.

NDIS providers

NDIS providers are businesses or individuals that deliver services and supports to NDIS participants.

Providers include therapists, support workers, transport services, and assistive technology suppliers.

NDIS providers can be registered (regulated by the NDIS Commission) or unregistered (operate without being registered but still providing high-quality, safe, professional support to participants).

Some NDIS providers – due to the type of supports and services they provide – must be registered to operate (link to more information here).

NDIS providers should contact the NDIS Commission for questions regarding registration and compliance.

Summary

NDIS	The funding scheme for people with significant, permanent disabilities
NDIA	Implements and manages the NDIS
NDIS Commission	Regulates NDIS providers and ensures quality and safety
NDIS participants	People with disabilities who receive NDIS funding
NDIS providers	Businesses or individuals delivering NDIS-funded services

 

If you’re an NDIS provider seeking more information about achieving registration via the verification pathway (available to providers of all sizes and types across Australia that deliver low risk/low complexity services and supports), contact QIP to find out how we can help:    W qip.com.au/ndis | P 1300 888 329 | E ndis@QIP.com.au