For disability support providers, NDIS incident reporting is something that, thankfully, doesn’t come up very often. But this means that when it does occur, it’s easy for staff to forget details or make mistakes.

A well-designed NDIS incident reporting system will keep you compliant and support your staff. Most importantly of all, it will help protect your clients.

What Counts as a Reportable Incident? 

Reportable incidents represent the most serious breaches of client safety and wellbeing. You must notify the NDIS Commission of both proven and alleged reportable incidents.

An incident is deemed reportable when it meets two conditions: 

One, it occurs in connection with disability support or services provision.

Two, it fits within the following categories:

• Death of a person with disability

• Serious injury of a person with disability

• Abuse or neglect of a person with disability

• Unlawful sexual or physical contact with, or assault of, a person with disability

• Sexual misconduct, committed against, or in the presence of, a person with disability, including grooming of the person with disability for sexual activity

• The use of a restrictive practice in relation to a person with disability where the use is not in accordance with an authorisation (however described) of a state or territory in relation to the person, or if it is used according to that authorisation but not in accordance with a behaviour support plan for the person with disability

What Do You Need to Do After a Reportable Incident? 

After any incident, but especially after a reportable incident, disability support providers must:

1. Ensure the immediate safety of the client, the disability support providers and caregivers, and anyone around them.

2. Respond to a disclosure by listening to the person disclosing the incident, recording and reporting the information, and reassuring and supporting the person with disability.

3. Protect the evidence.

4. Record and report the incident. If it is a reportable incident, this includes notifying the NDIS Commission.

5. Report any criminal allegations to the police, making sure they know that the person impacted is vulnerable, and supporting the person with disability in their interactions with the police.

The NDIS has also published guidance for support workers that you can share with your team.

How Long Do You Have to Notify the NDIS Commission of Reportable Incidents?

You must notify the Commission within 24 hours in the case of:

• Death of a person with disability

• Serious injury of a person with disability

• Abuse or neglect of a person with disability

• Unlawful sexual or physical contact with, or assault of, a person with disability

• Sexual misconduct, committed against, or in the presence of, a person with disability, including grooming of the person with disability for sexual activity

You must notify the Commission within 5 working days in the case of:

• The use of a restrictive practice in relation to a person with disability where the use is not in accordance with an authorisation (however described) of a state or territory in relation to the person, or if it is used according to that authorisation but not in accordance with a behaviour support plan for the person with disability

5 Essential Steps to a Compliant Incident Reporting System

• Create Your Incident Management Process

Your team needs to know exactly what to do following a reportable incident. This includes how to record and report the incident, who to report it to, and how to follow up. 

Use your NDIS software to store, manage and review incident reports, and make sure all team members are aware of their responsibilities and deadlines.

• Build Incident Management Forms 

Our guide to writing incident reports will help your support workers write better reports. But no matter how well you train your team, there’s always the risk of important details being left out. 

The NDIS Commission’s mandatory reporting process requires extremely thorough and accurate information. That’s why incident management forms and templates are essential. 

ShiftCare’s disability management software comes with built-in incident forms to keep your agency compliant. You can customise them for different types of incidents and clients.

• Test Your System 

Go through your system step by step to check that everything works as designed. Is there anything that could go wrong? How can you avoid that?

• Train Your Staff 

Regular training will ensure your support workers and admin team alike feel confident with the incident management process.

• Review Your System

Schedule an annual review to check the system still functions correctly. This will help you avoid issues such as key personnel having changed or custom incident form templates being outdated.

An NDIS Incident Reporting System That Will Keep You Compliant

ShiftCare’s NDIS software comes with customisable incident management forms so that if an incident occurs, your staff can swiftly and securely report it. You’ll have all the information you need to respond appropriately, provide adequate aftercare for clients and notify the NDIS. 

Try ShiftCare for free.

What are NDIS reportable incidents? 

NDIS reportable incidents are proven or alleged incidents resulting in serious harm to a participant in connection with disability services provision.

Where to send reports to NDIS?

Submit NDIS incident reports on the My Reportable Incidents page of the NDIS Commission Portal.