Everything you need to know about the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission

When it comes to the NDIS, one of the most important things is that participants are safe and receiving quality supports – and that’s where the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) comes in.

The NDIS Commission is an independent, unbiased agency that exists to protect Australians with disability.

We have been receiving questions about what it is and why it’s here, so we’ve put together this blog.

What is it?

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) is essentially the disability watchdog. As the name suggests, it’s an agency that aims to improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services.

The NDIS Commission has four main roles:

• Registering NDIS providers
• Responding to complaints
• Overseeing reportable incidents
• Providing behaviour support leadership

It used to be that all states and territories did their own thing when it came to quality and safeguarding. Now, for the first time, we have a single regulatory body responsible for ensuring all Australians living with disability receive a consistent standard of practice regardless of who they are and where they live.*

Why is it here?

To safeguard

The NDIS Commission acts as a safeguard to Australians who have a disability.

Safeguarding is important because abuse happens, and sadly, it is often the most vulnerable people who are at greater risk, such as those with disability.

Safeguarding helps protect people without a voice and who cannot protect themselves against those who may be harming them.

To ensure quality NDIS supports and services

The NDIS has radically transformed the disability sector. As the sector booms and goes through such a momentous change, it’s important that there is someone looking out for and listening to those at the centre of it – people with disability.

The NDIS Commission sets the standard for NDIS supports and services and holds organisations accountable.

What does it mean for me?

If you have a disability

The NDIS Commission is here to protect your safety, and make sure that the NDIS supports you receive are of a high quality.

It also means that you have a place to escalate any complaints that you may have with a provider. So if you have gone through your provider’s complaints process and haven’t been happy with how it’s been resolved, the NDIS Commission would be your next step.

If you work in the sector

There is now a national standard for the supports you provide. The NDIS Commission is about lifting the bar of disability supports, so that might mean some changes in policy and procedures.

The organisation you work for may require you to complete some additional training, or be changing some procedures.

Is it different to the Royal Commission?

There are so many commissions! But yes, the NDIS Commission is a different thing to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (Royal Commission).

Confused?

The Royal Commission is about looking in to issues and preventing them from happening again in the future.

The NDIS Commission is about helping and protecting people now.