The NDIA is closely monitoring the outbreak of Coronavirus (now referred to as COVID-19) and is taking necessary steps to prepare if the government declares a pandemic. People with disabilities, especially those that are older and/or have complex conditions, are more vulnerable to the illness than the general population. As an NDIS provider, what can you do to ensure both participants and workers are safe?
Last year, the Government promised to develop an NDIS Participant Service Guarantee to be effective 1 July 2020. The aim of this Guarantee will be to simplify NDIS processes and remove legislative barriers in order to improve participants’ experiences with the scheme. To help develop the Guarantee, the Government commissioned an independent review of the NDIS Act.
Providers must have policies and processes to register for the NDIS and pass the audit. Having these are one of the first steps towards compliance for a provider. The next step towards compliance is to ensure employees understand and adopt the policies and processes. They should not simply be forgotten after a provider passes the audit.
It is a known fact that providers need policies and processes to register for the NDIS and pass the audit. They are necessary to meet the standards of the new National Quality and Safeguarding Framework. However, compliance for providers should not stop there.
The NDIS offers extra funding for providers delivering services in remote and very remote areas. We know it’s confusing to understand how locations are classified as remote and very remote, and how extra loadings are calculated. We have made a summary of the most important information you need to know about this topic.
The NDIS (Provider Registration and Practice Standards) Amendment (2019 Measures No. 1) Rules 2019 was just released. The Amendment will see some changes to the NDIS (Provider Registration and Practice Standards) Rules 2018. We have written a summary about what you should know from the Amendment.
There have been some minor changes to the NDIS Price Guide and Support Catalogue 2019-20. These changes are effective 1 December 2019. We have written a summary of the five changes you should be aware of.
On 14 November the Honourable Stuart Robert MP, Minister of the NDIS and Minister for Government Services, released his plan to deliver the final 20% of the NDIS. He announced the plan in a speech at the National Press Club in Canberra.
2019 was a year of significant growth for the NDIS. Almost 300,000 participants are now in the Scheme. 100,000 of these participants are receiving supports for the first time. This is a 10-fold uplift from just over 30,000 participants who had a plan at the beginning of Transition on 1 July 2016.
Mental Health Awareness Month is coming to an end, a very important month for Australians. One in five Australians aged 16-85 experience a mental illness in any year. The most recent ABS National Health Survey estimated there were 4.8 million Australians with a mental or behavioural condition in 2017-18.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Annual Report 2018-2019 has been released.[1] The report informs stakeholders about the NDIS Commission’s operations. It provides corporate information and documents performance.
July 2018 saw the introduction of a new independent agency, The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. The Commission is now operating in all states except WA. Its purpose is to improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services across Australia. The body has changed the way providers are audited and accredited. It is important to think about what it means for you.