The EFQC Enquirer: 17 June 2024

In this edition

• NDIS Provider and Registration Taskforce
• NDIS Review Bill passes the House of Representatives

NDIS Provider and Registration Taskforce

The NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce (the Taskforce) has been established to provide advice on the design and implementation of a new regulatory model proposed in the NDIS Review Final Report.

As you will be aware there is significant consultation taking place with the sector to discuss what the model could look like including: advisory groups, roundtables, webinars and submissions.

The taskforce is expected to provide the Minister, the Hon Bill Shorten a report by July 2024. More information on the taskforce is available here.

At this stage we would like to assure everyone that it is business as usual in meeting your NDIS quality obligations and undergoing audits.  We are running some technical workshops (listed above) that might assist you in meeting these requirements.

NDIS Review Act passed in the lower house

 The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024, tabled in parliament in late March, was passed by the House of Representatives on 5 June 2024 after a range of new parliamentary amendments were proposed by the Government.

These included:

• new transitional NDIS rules will set out supports and classes of supports that are or are not NDIS supports based on existing intergovernmental agreements and the current NDIS (Support for Participant) Rules 2013.
• clarify that co-design is central to the Government’s reform agenda
• clarify that no changes have been made to participants’ rights of review
• ensure participants will have a copy of their needs assessment
• ensure there are appropriate safeguards around new information gathering powers
• embed an independent 5-year review of the operation of the Bill.

The bill will be tabled in the Senate for consideration and when the legislation is formally passed consultation with be undertaken with the disability community to ensure a co-design process on updates to the NDIS Rules. Further information is available here.