The NDIS is not only a transformative Australian social policy. It’s also a rewarding business opportunity.
At its heart, the scheme is about empowering people living with disabilities and their loved ones. But as a provider, you’ll need to decide: should you register with the NDIS, or operate as an unregistered provider?
What’s the difference between a registered vs unregistered NDIS provider?
Let’s explore what each path involves and how to choose the right one for your business.
What registration means under NDIS
Registered NDIS providers are officially recognised by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. They’ve completed a certification or verification audit and met the NDIS Practice Standards.
Registration under the NDIS also means, as a provider, you’re listed on the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission register with a unique registration number. To achieve this, you’ve been audited either under the verification or certification audit, which means you understand and abide by the NDIS Practice Standards.
With NDIS registration, you can:
· Deliver services to all participant types (NDIA-managed, plan-managed, or self-managed)
· Access the myPlace portal for faster claims
· Build credibility and meet national standards
· It also improves transparency and reduces risks as your systems must leave an audit trail.
NDIS registration means you are now adhering to national quality and safeguard standards and can work with all participant types
How to Become an Unregistered NDIS Provider
Some providers that are starting out may consider beginning as an unregistered NDIS provider.
Not ready to register just yet? You can still deliver services to participants whose plans are self-managed or plan-managed.
Here’s what you’ll need to do:
· Choose a business structure and secure insurance
· Define your services and ideal clients
· Follow the NDIS Code of Conduct
· Begin networking and promoting your services online and in the community
Unregistered providers don’t undergo audits or meet the full NDIS Practice Standards, however, they must still provide safe, ethical care. However, still being an NDIS business, you may want to consider NDIS software for small providers like ShiftCare.
Being a registered vs unregistered NDIS provider is your choice but ultimately there are pros and cons to both.
Registered vs unregistered NDIS provider pros and cons
Let’s start off with being an unregistered NDIS provider.
The pros of being an unregistered NDIS service provider include the fact that you or your business do not need to undergo audits by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. An unregistered NDIS service provider also does not need to meet NDIS practice standards.
Cons include not being listed on the official list of NDIS providers, making it harder for people to find you or your services. Market access is also limited to participants who are either plan-managed or self-managed, in that they can work with all types of businesses and people: NDIA-managed, plan-managed and self-managed participants.
The NDIA is the government agency responsible for running the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme)
If you don’t have access to NDIA-managed agencies, you’re losing about half of the total market of those who are actively looking for NDIS providers.
It’s therefore a pro to be a registered NDIS provider because of having access to NDIA-managed participants. You are also registered on the myPlace portal for faster payments for NDIA-managed clients. If you’re an unregistered NDIS provider, the invoice depends on the payment cycle of the participant or plan manager.
A con to being a registered NDIS provider is that there are price caps on your services. There are also many more rules in place, such as having to subscribe to audits, and being required to do incident reporting, worker screening, complaints handling and the like. You’re also subject to higher scrutiny as a registered NDIS provider.
Summary: Registered vs unregistered NDIS provider pros and cons
Unregistered NDIS Providers
Pros:
- No need to undergo costly audits
- Flexibility in how you set up and deliver services
- Fewer administrative burdens
Cons:
- Not listed on the official NDIS Provider Register
- Can’t work with NDIA-managed participants (around half the market)
- No access to the myPlace portal (which speeds up invoicing)
Registered NDIS Providers
Pros:
- Full access to all participant types
- Faster, direct NDIA payments via myPlace
- Higher visibility and trust
Cons:
- Subject to audits and reporting requirements
- Must adhere to NDIS price caps and compliance rules
- Increased scrutiny and documentation obligations
Types of services each registered vs unregistered NDIS provider can offer
Unregistered vs registered NDIS providers can provide different types of services.
Unregistered providers are limited in the supports they can offer.
They can provide:
- Core supports like daily personal activities and community access
- Therapeutic supports such as psychology or speech therapy(only to plan-managed or self-managed participants)
They cannot provide:
- High-intensity supports or clinical care
- Supported Independent Living (SIL)
- Individualised Living Options (ILO)
- Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
- Home modifications
Registered providers can offer all the above services and more, as long as they’re approved for those registration groups.
NDIS Compliance requirements
Some of the most important compliance requirements include:
· External audit and NDIS practice standards
A registered NDIS provider has to undergo full verification or certification audits at the beginning of service and recertification every three years, whereas an unregistered NDIS provider has no mandate to do this.
· Worker screening and reportable incidents
While an unregistered NDIS provider has optional screening and does not have to lodge incident complaints, a registered NDIS service provider must have all of their staff up to speed in screening checks, plus report incidents within 24 hours.
· Price cap compliance and direct NDIA claiming
A registered NDIS provider must follow NDIS price limits but can claim directly from NDIA budgets. An unregistered NDIS provider has flexibility in pricing with plan-managed or self-managed clients.
Support tools: ShiftCare works across both
For both registered and unregistered NDIS providers, ShiftCare is an NDIS provider software that works
For larger NDIS registered support providers that require compliance and risk management, ShiftCare can provide policy templates, varied audit views and cybersecurity assessments.
For those NDIS support providers that are new or starting out, ShiftCare also provides software for small providers. ShiftCare can even tailor their services to a company of just three people.
Ready to become an NDIS provider? Let’s talk!
ShiftCare is an easy-to-use care management software designed to streamline day-to-day operations and reduce administration burdens for NDIS providers, as well as Aged Care and Disability Support services.
Boasting powerful and intuitive features, ShiftCare offers key solutions to improving care management, rostering, HR, invoicing, NDIS compliance and so much more, enabling you and your team to focus on delivering a higher standard of personalised client care.
So, if you’re looking for the right care management system to help streamline your NDIS business, ShiftCare has got you covered.
Book a demo or get in touch with our team today to discover how ShiftCare can revolutionise your care management and give you back more time for what truly matters.
