The EFA Enquirer: 15 July 2024

In this edition

• Worker Screening Rules
• Victorian Providers – notifiable conduct
• Ask the Experts – Business Growth (Hien Tran BDO)

Important industry news

Worker Screening

Are you totally across the NDIS worker screening rules?

Do you know that states and territories have different processes for allowing workers to begin working in a risk assessed role for registered NDIS providers while they are waiting for their NDIS Worker Screening Check?

The NDIS Commission call this process allowing a worker to ‘work on application’. Some states and territories allow a worker to begin working in a risk assessed role once they have submitted an application for an NDIS Worker Screening Check, provided the worker is ‘in the process of obtaining a clearance’ as defined by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Practice Standards—Worker Screening) Rules 2018.

Workers in New South Wales (NSW), Western Australia (WA), Tasmania (TAS), the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Northern Territory (NT) can work on application.Workers in Queensland (QLD), Victoria (VIC) and South Australia (SA) cannot work on application.

It is important to ensure that your policies, procedures and systems reflect these requirements.

The NDIS Commission has more detailed information available here.

Victorian Providers – notifiable conduct

Did you know that under the Disability Service Safeguards Act 2018 (Vic), disability workers and employers must notify the Victorian Disability Workers Commission (VDWC) if they believe that a worker has engaged in in notifiable conduct and is putting disability service users safety at risk?

Notifiable conducts can include: intoxication while practicing, sexual misconduct, detrimental impairment, and significant departure from professional standards.

If the notification is in relation to a registered NDIS provider, the VDWC must then notify the NDIS Commission.

We suggest that Victorian NDIS providers review their policies and procedures to ensure this is addressed. More information can be found here.

If you require assistance ensuring you are meeting your compliance requirements, please call us on 1300 790 194 or email info@engelsfloyd.com for a complimentary consultation.

Ask the Experts

 Business Growth (Hien Tran BDO)

 Hear from an experienced NDIS Accountant – on how to grow your business

Growing a business is no easy task, but it can be done with the right strategies and execution plan. We sat down with Hien Tran, Partner in Business Services at BDO, a trusted adviser who partners with her clients to achieve their goals and vision   in implementing sustainable growth strategies for long-term success.

Here are a few takeaways from Hien:

Define your growth targets

Business owners often spend considerable time envisioning the future direction of their organisation. While having a goal is essential, it is a missed opportunity if that enthusiasm is not channeled into a structured, documented strategy and action plan.

Documenting your plan & growth targets enables you to share it with your team, fostering buy-in and support. This plan is crucial for establishing accountability and improving governance within the business.

Involving an independent third party in your strategic planning process can be highly beneficial. They do not need to know the business better than you, but they can challenge your thinking, offer objective advice on best practices, and ensure accountability, helping you and your team achieve your goals.

From a financial perspective, a good advisor can help you turn those goals into measurable impact by mapping business performance forecasts & budgets. This is a crucial step as it keeps you as business owner on track and accountable. As the old saying goes ‘what gets measured gets done.’

Refine your growth strategies

In order to create greater social impact through your NDIS business, there are a few key steps to get clear on so that you know exactly what levers to pull to capitalise that growth i.e., I would like to think about this as a business heath diagnosis:

Firstly, take stock of where your business is at – by looking at your current client base, locations, service offerings and types of disability you are currently providing.

Then, apply that to the overall NDIS market to find your position. This exercise will help identify gaps and opportunities which will then serve as an extremely useful roadmap for you to determine the next steps in your growth strategies:

• Market Penetration: these are usually seen as the ‘low-hanging’ fruit opportunities, by providing more services to your existing clients. The NDIS utilisation rate is just over 70%, meaning circa 30% of approved funds are not being spent. This also means needs identified in the NDIS budgets are not being met. So ask the question, what else can you provide to your existing clients?
• Product Development: this is about identifying new services that you can provide to your clients e.g., your organisation is not providing Day Options, is this something you implement and offer?
• Market Development: this strategy is about taking your services to new locations. You may consider conducting a market analysis to see which locations you are currently not servicing that you could branch out to with the greatest impact.
• Diversification: this is often the most challenging strategy as it requires NDIS providers to take new service offerings to a new market. This means that you will need to spend time considering the threats and opportunities matrix and conduct a thorough market research.

Reflect on your values

This is a particularly important step in building a legacy as the values that you as a NDIS provider operate on is the very foundation on which the organisation will thrive.

Remember, like attracts like and as an organisation built around people, you would want to attract the right employees. Fostering the right culture is critical.

Advance your brand (be a superstar provider)

Of course, it is easier said than done, but that’s why hard work pays off. It is about doing the right thing, each and every time.

Quality services & compliance will set you apart as a NDIS organisation, and with the support & expertise from the team at Engels Floyd Quality Consulting, you can get there. It will also help when you receive a glowing compliance audit report.

A strong brand will also make it a lot easier to build referral pipelines (you all know how important this is).

Understand your financial position & structure 

Last but certainly not least, understanding your structure and financial health is critical to building long-term success. A good advisor will help set you off on the right foot by getting the right structure in place (or fix it, if possible, although usually a lot harder and more costly than getting it right the first time). Again, a good advisor will help you identify opportunities to see through strong financial results, a healthy cash balance and plan for the future.

I often hear NDIS providers say, ‘we work very hard and are profitable but we don’t see it in our bank account.’ Well, isn’t that the question?

Contact Hien for a confidential consultation. She is happy to chat and add value. Hien Tran- Mach, Partner, Business Services BDO, Phone: +61 8 7324 6080 or email on Hien.Tran@bdo.com.au

Let us also know what other topics we can speak to Hien about and share through our newsletter.

Disclaimer

This article is intended for this newsletter only and not for any other purposes. The information contained in this document is for general guidance on matters of interest only and does not constitute financial or other professional advice.