It is important that Sole Trader Disability providers are afforded every opportunity to grow viable businesses – so they can deliver quality services and supports to people with disability. Accordingly, this section covers the NDIS from a Sole Trader perspective to provide supports to help you.
Working with the NDIS
The NDIS offers a number of opportunities for sole traders wishing to deliver a support or product. Whether you are new to the sector or experienced, going out alone can be a daunting task.
This Working with the NDIS resource can be used to support your knowledge of:
- The disability market
- Working in the disability sector
- Registering as an NDIS provider
- Quality, safeguards, and standards
- Understanding the NDIS Price Guide
- Using the NDIS Portal
- Working with self-managed participants and plan managers
- Invoicing for NDIS services
- Making a claim from the NDIS
The journey to the NDIS
In 2013, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) started in Australia. The Scheme provides people with disability more choice and control over their funded supports. Entering into the NDIS means that people with disability can now choose which service providers they want to work with for their services. Participants in the NDIS will need to identify their service providers and sign an agreement with them.
Service providers will need to have systems in place to support self-directed services and individualised funding arrangements. Read more about the journey to the NDIS.
Upcoming resources
Sole traders can join NDP for just $75 per annum, providing access to information, a learning hub of resources, discounts on a range of goods and services, and connections with other practitioners and sole traders in the sector.
NDIS Readiness
Business Process Development Guide
Developed by NDS, this guide will assist leadership teams to determine their required business processes for operating in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) business environment. The guide covers the whole customer lifecycle. At each stage, there is a specific procedure required.
Read the Business Process Development Guide for Providers.
Costing and Pricing Learning Program
Developed by NDS in partnership with the Curtin Not-for-Profit Initiative, the aim of the Costing and Pricing Learning Program is to provide a suite of training and support resources for service providers that can be applied to the challenges of a changing funding environment. The tools are geared towards small and medium-sized providers. The Program can be found at www.cplp.nds.org.au/learning-program.
Becoming an NDIS Provider
Learn about what providers do, including the roles and responsibilities of the Disability Practitioners working in these roles:
- Plan Managers
- Support Coordinators
- Local Area Coordinators (LACs)
- Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI)
Find out more about eligibility and the requirements of becoming an NDIS provider.
Choosing to register as an NDIS provider is a critical decision as it impacts in many ways. It's important that prospective NDIS providers learn about all the benefits of being registered.
For NDIS Providers
NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators
The NDIS has defined the standards for service provision here.
Code of Conduct
All Disability Practitioners are expected to deliver safe and ethical services in accordance with the NDIS Code of Conduct. This code applies to both NDIS providers and Disability Practitioners (workers). The NDIS Code of Conduct can be found here.
There are many supports to help Practitioners understand their obligations:
Worker Screening
Disability practitioners might need to have an NDIS Worker Screening Check, depending on the type of role or job they have. Learn more here.
Incident Management and Reporting Incidents
The NDIS Commissions' role is to provide guidance to build the capacity of NDIS providers to prevent and respond to incidents. The NDSI Commission has powers to take action. All registered NDIS providers must have an incident management system in place to record and manage incidents. Incidents include allegations and must be reported to the Commission.
Positive Behaviour Support Capability Framework
The Positive Behaviour Support Capability Framework forms the basis for determining the suitability as an NDIS behaviour support practitioner. The self-assessment resource guide is located here.
Provider Application Packs
Access the application pack to register as an NDIS provider here.
Working as a Provider
Learn about creating service agreements, pricing, getting paid, promoting, and marketing NDIS provider services.
