DISABILITY REFORM: With Edward Birt – The shift to registration for NDIS providers

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This week Nicky talks to Ed Birt, Senior Policy Specialist at the Community Industry Group, about the shift towards a risk proportionate registration model for disability service providers that is coming to the NDIS.

In December 2023 the NDIS Review recommended a risk proportionate registration model where all providers are registered based on the level of risk and complexity of their services. Ed explains that presently only 6% of NDIS providers are registered. Registration means that providers are governed by the NDIS Practice Standards and regulated by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. In 2025 the NDIA is poised to introduce registration requirements for Supported Independent Living , Support Coordination and platform providers with other service types to follow.

Ed and Nicky explore the benefits of a regulated sector to support quality and safety for people receiving disability services and some of the present disparity that is a feature of the sector in terms of risks for people with disability, increased costs for registered providers and lack of oversight of unregistered providers.

Ed unpacks some of the challenges and risks associated with transitioning the market to greater regulatory oversight via registration and discusses how this will need to be undertaken in a well-planned, clear and collaborative fashion lead by government.

Link to NDIS Review Final Report Working together to deliver the NDIS. NDIS Review: Final Report (refer to page 214 for the recommended risk proportionate provider registration arrangements).