With the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) underway in the disability sector, it is essential that our work integrates with the new quality and safeguarding arrangements being implemented by the Commonwealth.
A national approach to safeguards and quality
The NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework is a nationally consistent approach to help empower and support NDIS participants to exercise choice and control, while ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place. It establishes expectations for providers and their staff to deliver high-quality supports and services.
Regulatory roles
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission registers and regulates disability service providers who are delivering NDIS funded services. Our scheme regulates individual disability workers, no matter where the funding comes from for the services they deliver.
This means that all Victorians receiving disability services, including those funded by WorkSafe Victoria, the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) or privately, benefit from the same safeguards and protections.
Unfit workers
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has the power to ban providers from delivering NDIS funded supports. The Victorian Disability Worker Commissioner has the power to prohibit unregistered disability workers from providing disability services if they present a serious risk to the life, health, safety or welfare of a person or the public and meet the requirements of the Act to make a prohibition order.
We have cooperative arrangements with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission for the lawful exchange of information and referral arrangements when this is needed. This streamlines how the two commissions work together if there are complaints and notifications about Victorian disability workers who are providing NDIS funded supports.
