In this edition
- Revealing our new brand!
- Upcoming Training
- Findings of platform providers Inquiry
- NDIS Explore Tool updated
- Updated Code of Conduct
Revealing our new brand!
We have some exciting changes happening at EFA, we are relaunching our brand with a new name “Engels Floyd Quality Consulting” and a website refresh which is coming soon.
Don’t worry, our team will still be delivering quality tailored support to NDIS providers in a way that best meets their needs as we have been doing since 2012. Our core mission and dedication to ethical and individualised client service will always remain the same.
Upcoming Training
We’re thrilled to announce our upcoming interactive online training workshop, presented by our incredible Technical Manager, Patty Wassenaar who has decades of auditing experience.
If you’re looking to stay ahead in the NDIS landscape, this workshop is tailor-made for you! Our upcoming workshop, Introduction to Internal Audits, will provide you with the essential information about planning and conducting internal audits.
This workshop will cover:
- Developing / managing audit program
- Audit planning
- Conducting the audit
- Reporting and corrective actions
You will also be provided with a workbook and mini toolkit providing some useful tools and information to help you with your internal audit program including templates such as audit schedules.
Introduction to Internal Audits!
10 November 2023 – 9am – 12:00pm AEDT
Register Here
Findings of platform providers Inquiry
The launch of the Own Motion Inquiry into Platform Providers in the NDIS Market in the NDIS Market by the NDIS Commission in February 2023 was a significant step in gaining a comprehensive understanding of how Platform Providers function in the NDIS market and their impact on participants. The findings reported in September 2023 offer valuable insights.
The key takeaways from the Report are as follows:
- Choice and Control: The report confirms that Platform Providers play a crucial role in offering people with disabilities greater choice and control when it comes to selecting and engaging support services. This aligns with the core principles of the NDIS.
- Transparency and Informed Decision-Making: However, the report also highlights the need for increased transparency. Participants should have access to clear information about the role of Platform Providers and the actual cost of services they engage through these platforms. This information is essential for making informed decisions about their support.
- Consistency and Safety: There’s a call for greater consistency in background checks and safety standards for individuals delivering services. Ensuring that service providers understand their responsibilities in delivering safe, quality support to people with disabilities is critical.
- Regulation: The report suggests the importance of a regulated environment to maintain quality and safety in the delivery of services.
The findings and recommendations in the report will see the NDIS Commission progress the following priorities:
- undertake work to better support participants to make informed decisions as consumers of Platform Provider services
- establish a consistent and best practice approach to safeguarding across all Platform Provider services
- seek to increase transparency around Platform Provider activities, starting with pricing
- regulate more directly the workforce of NDIS providers which the Platform Provider market has created
- address the privacy concerns identified.
NDIS Explore Tool updated
Explore Data is an interactive tool to help NDIS providers find information about participant type, reporting periods, location or support class and category.
The data is grouped into three sections: Participant Data, Market Data and Provider Data.
- Participant Data: is about NDIS participants, including total number of participants, average committed supports and average payments.
- Market Data: is about the NDIS market, including information on provider concentration, total payments, total committed supports, and utilisation.
- Provider Data: is about providers, including information on active providers, participants per provider, provider growth and provider shrinkage.
The NDIS Commission have updated the data from quarter four of financial year 2022-23 in their Explore Tool.
We encourage NDIS providers to explore this invaluable tool in conducting market research to inform strategic and business planning.
At EFA we have an NDIS business planning and marketing expert that is available to help you with business and market planning. If you are interested please contact us on 0478 616 207 or info@engelsfloyd.com for a complimentary consultation.
Updated Code of Conduct
The NDIS Code of Conduct promotes safe and ethical service delivery by setting out expectations for the conduct of both NDIS providers and workers.
The NDIS Commission has provided an updated Code of Conduct guidance document focused on cracking down on sharp practices such as price differentiation, where a provider charges NDIS participants a higher price for the same product, support or service compared with other customers.
There is also updated guidance for NDIS providers in conducting when advertising their business for sale and engaging in sale negotiations.
We encourage all NDIS providers to read the NDIS Code of Conduct guidance document and become aware of its contents. If you are in need of NDIS provider support in the areas of quality management, compliance or business planning please contact us on 0478 616 207 or info@engelsfloyd.com for a complimentary consultation.
