Going into business is hard. Some people say taking the first step is the hardest step. The purpose of this post is to show you how to register as an NDIS provider.
Once you confirm your plans you can go ahead and submit your application via the online portal. You will need to fill in details relating to location, staff, business structure and contact details.
Once submitted, the NDIS commission will email you an ‘initial scope of audit’ which sets out the registration requirements relevant for your group. An approved quality auditor will then need to be engaged to provide you with either a verification or certification audit.
Again, if you know what your organisation is from the outset, you will have already worked out the relevant NDIS Practice Standards and how to demonstrate your compliance with the standards relatively pain-free.
Once the auditor completes their assessment, they submit their findings to the NDIS commission directly. Then, after considering the outcome of your audit and makes a final decision after conducting their own suitability assessment.
We know for most of you, this is all as clear as day and goes without saying, but knowing your business has trickle down benefits for later more complex business tasks too.
NDIS Provider Registration Checklist
The final checklist will always depend upon what types of NDIS services and support your organisation will be looking to provide.
There are 15 categories of supports and services that your organisation may deliver:
– Assistance with Daily Life
– Transport
– Consumables
– Assistance with Social & Community Participation
– Assistive Technology
– Home Modifications
– Coordination of Supports
– Improved Living Arrangements
– Increased Social and Community Participation
– Finding and Keeping a Job
– Improved Relationships
– Improved Health and Wellbeing
– Improved Learning
– Improved Life Choices
– Improved Daily Living
Your organisation may provide support services to help participants complete daily living activities or provide housing/living supports including home modifications and/or assistive technology. Your organisation may also provide plan management services.
If you’re looking to provide accommodation, you will need to know the difference between Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Short Term Accommodation (STA).
Your checklist for NDIS registration:
– Do you understand the NDIS’ mission and the role of registered providers?
– Do you know what NDIS participants need from you and your organisation?
– Can you meet the formal requirements for becoming a registered provider (a quality auditor can help with this)?
– Do you know your financials – how much you will get paid and how for the services you want to provide? Once you have answers to these questions, you can go ahead and start your online application via the link above.
After registering as an NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) provider, there are several key areas that require your immediate attention to establish a strong foundation for your business.
First and foremost, you will already be across compliance with all NDIS requirements and standards. Regularly familiarising yourself with the NDIS Practice Standards and the NDIS Code of Conduct will ensure your operations are always well-aligned. A robust compliance framework demonstrates your commitment and streamlines approvals for NDIS plans and funding.
Next you will need to decide and plan for how you will get paid for any NDIS support services.
Getting paid and growing your business as a service provider
Now that you have successfully demonstrated compliance and received your NDIS registration confirmation, you are ready to start becoming operational.
The most important outcome for your business is profitability. Planning for how you will get paid will affect your cash flow and budget, and management of payroll. This can often be determined by how your NDIS participant will manage their NDIS budget.
You must prepare for the following scenarios:
1. Self Managed Participants
As a provider, you will invoice and be paid directly by NDIS participants who are self-managing their plan. You will then provide them with a payment receipt so that they can deduct that expenditure from their plan (using the myPlace portal for NDIS participants online).
2. Plan-managed participants
If they have a plan manager who is assisting them, you will need to send invoices directly to this plan manager. The participant’s plan manager will then process the payment through the myPlace provider, paying your organisation.
You must include a valid ABN on your invoices (unless you have been deemed exempt from quoting an ABN).
3. NDIA-managed participants
If participants are NDIA-managed, you will need to register for and submit a payment request online via the myPlace provider portal. You must submit this payment request within 90 days of when the service was provided.
After your request is made, you will receive payment for services or support provided.
For this category of participants, you MUST create a service booking before providing service or support. Without a service booking you cannot submit any payment requests and will be not get paid for any support you have provided.
To successfully claim a payment, you will generally need the following:
- – Participant name and their reference number;
- – Date/s of service bookings;
- – Service/support item price and reference number
Making a payment request can be tricky for new providers working with participants in this category.
To set up your NDIS business for success you need to consider staff onboarding, rostering and payroll systems.
We expand on these ideas in our related articles touching on:
We hope this post has helped show you how to register as an NDIS provider.
In the meantime, submit your email below to request a FREE step by step guide on how to register your NDIS business (including info on MyPlace payments).
