The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plays a vital role in supporting Australians living with disability. For organisations and individuals who want to deliver services, becoming a registered NDIS provider is both rewarding and highly regulated. This guide walks you through the essentials of the registration journey.
1. Understand the Business Basics
Before applying, make sure you have:
- A clear business structure (sole trader, partnership, company, or not-for-profit).
- An Australian Business Number (ABN).
- A solid understanding of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission), the independent regulator of NDIS providers.
Learn more about the NDIS Commission
2. Identify Your Participants and Services
Think about who you want to support – for example, children, young people, or adults – and the type of supports you will deliver, such as daily living assistance, therapy, or behaviour support. This clarity is essential for aligning with the right registration groups and planning for compliance.
3. Define Your Service Area
Decide where your services will operate – locally, regionally, or across multiple states. Your geographic coverage affects staffing, logistics, and growth opportunities.
4. Select NDIS Registration Groups
There are more than 30 registration groups, each with specific standards and qualification requirements. For example, therapeutic supports require professional accreditation, while personal care services require different staffing and compliance standards. Choosing the right groups ensures you can legally deliver your intended supports.
Full list of Registration Groups
5. Put Compliance Systems in Place
All NDIS providers must demonstrate strong systems that protect participants and ensure quality services. These include:
- NDIS Worker Screening to ensure all staff meet safety requirements.
- A Complaints Management System to handle participant concerns.
- An Incident Management System to report, manage, and resolve issues.
- Policies for risk management, privacy and data security, and – where relevant – restrictive practices.
Tools like CTARS help care providers embed these systems and manage compliance with ease.
6. Submit Your Application and Audit
The registration journey begins with an online application to the NDIS Commission. After this, you must complete either:
- A Verification Audit – for lower-risk supports (e.g., plan management, therapy).
- A Certification Audit – for higher-risk supports (e.g., daily living assistance, behaviour support).
These audits are carried out by approved quality auditors, who test your systems against the NDIS Practice Standards.
NDIS Audit and Registration Process
7. Pass the Suitability Assessment
After your audit, the Commission assesses your organisation’s:
- Governance and operational history
- Financial solvency
- Leadership and management capacity
Only providers who demonstrate ongoing suitability move forward to registration.
8. Maintain Ongoing Compliance
Once approved, providers receive a registration certificate outlining their approved supports. To maintain compliance, you must:
- Follow the NDIS Practice Standards
- Uphold the NDIS Code of Conduct
- Undergo regular audits at the intervals set by the Commission
9. Understand the Costs
While applying is free, there are costs involved in becoming (and staying) a registered NDIS provider. These include:
- Audit fees (ranging from a few thousand dollars for sole traders under verification, to tens of thousands for larger organisations under certification).
- Compliance systems and policy development.
- Staffing and training costs to meet registration requirements.
The exact cost depends on the size and scale of your services.
Summary
Becoming a registered NDIS provider is a structured process designed to safeguard participants and ensure service quality. With the right planning, systems, and support in place, registration opens the door to growth, credibility, and the ability to deliver essential supports under Australia’s world-leading disability scheme.
