Hi All,
so i’m wondering how participants feel about providers mandatory registration feel,
My personal view
A registered provider has been through a very rigorous process for compliance, checks and training as well as NDIS Commission processing if my Company which in essence is me are compliant to assist NDIs participants to receive the best quality care under a compliance body.
I’m Curious to know what this will look for you if you have an independent support worker who may not be registered, what might your concerns be if they could no longer provide services for you.
I am unregistered. I know most of my participants actually left registered companies for quite a few reasons. Some of those include:
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Registered businesses refusing to negotiate pricing or short hour shifts as it is not viable for them to do so. Gaining and maintain registration is an expensive process that is prohibitive to both low budget participants and independents and small providers.
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Registration doesn’t guarantee good service or reliability. There are so many companies out there that practically complete audits for business owners for a price. The owners don’t necessarily understand the system or some of their own documentation they were audited on. It has become a bit of a money spinning box ticking exercise. So many registered providers were removed and banned in the recent rounds of audits as well. Some people are simply registering business names to sell to others on facebook and anyone can purchase for the right amount and they are suddenly registered skipping a lot of safeguards. There are some great registered businesses out there but they are getting lost in the mix. The same goes for independents, you can get some amazing ones, then you have the ones with no skills or experience asking for max rates to take people out for coffee.
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Quite a few of my participants also felt like they were just numbers to registered companies. They only got attention if they had big budgets and they were rarely sent staff who were a good match to them, some saw different staff every shift.
I personally feel there needs to be a registration system but not the current one and certainly not at the current cost. There are pro’s and con’s to all the business model types in this industry and every participant is going to go for the one that suits them best, regardless of registration status. The whole set up needs an overhaul starting with outlining an industry standard of best practice that everyone must follow. We have the guidelines at the moment but they are so vague and open to interpretation, a lot of businesses and independents, registered or not, are getting it wrong. NDIA should also create a compliance document package that is mandatory for any new NDIS business owner to purchase and comply with regardless of business structure. It would ensure unregistered companies had more uniformed compliance without any room for shoddy interpretation and it would make the audit process to become registered much more streamlined and eliminate the market for businesses selling “shake and bake” registration.
There also needs to be value for money. Several other business owners I know have let their registration lapse in the last 2 years because it was a financial burden that gave their businesses little to no advantages. There are so many cowboys with registration now that it doesn’t even give your business any kind of advantage with coordinators any more because they still have to sift through hundreds of cold call contacts a day and a lot of them are registered and sprooking the exact same tag lines.
The government wont get rid of independent support workers because the industry wouldn’t survive the shift but they do need to start making things more uniform, setting clearer guidelines about qualifications and experience and it would improve things if a separate price guide was developed that linked price limits to skills and qualifications for independents like the SCHADS award does. It would stop a lot of inexperienced people just picking up an ABN and hoping for the best at the expense of participants.
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I prefer registered providers because I know they’re held to a certain standard, but I know others who rely heavily on unregistered workers.
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I think registration is great for accountability, but if it means losing access to support workers who’ve been amazing for me, I’d be worried. There needs to be a balance.
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I hear you. Registration sounds good in theory, but it could really limit options for participants. Some of the best support I’ve had has been from smaller, independent providers who aren’t registered.
I’d be worried about losing the flexibility that comes with unregistered workers. Some of them have been so helpful for me in ways bigger providers can’t always be. I see the benefits of registration but hope there’s still room for independents.
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Hey There thanks for your input on this topic appreciate it 
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No problem. It is a very complex topic which is why the government hasn’t been able to come to any solid conclusions about what they want to do with it.
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Is there a chance that the support workers you connect with can collaborate with a registered provider so you don’t lose them?
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Hi Michael,
Have you found a difference in the care delivery between registered and unregistered providers?
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Hi @Bumblebee, thanks for raising such an interesting and thought provoking question! Personally, for myself, most support professionals I’ve engaged with tend to be unregistered. What I look at most is the individual professionals I work with and how they fit with me- I’ve even followed a few who have moved practices because I know they are the right fit for me and don’t want to lose them or try to find someone else.
As a small business owner just starting out, I’m discovering the barriers to registration, like there being a big cost involved in obtaining registration for example. So, while NDIS registration is a goal I’ll likely strive for in future, it will be a while yet before I’m in a position to pursue it.
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Dear Unregistered Independent Support Coordinators, Service Providers and Support Workers.
As the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) evolves, recent discussions indicate a move towards mandatory registration for all service providers. This shift aims to enhance service quality and participant safety within the NDIS framework.
ministers.dss.gov.au
We understand that the registration process can be complex and time-consuming, potentially diverting your focus from delivering essential services. At Krystal Community Care (KCC), we value the dedication of unregistered providers like you and recognize the vital role you play in supporting participants.
To ensure you can continue offering your invaluable services without interruption, KCC offers partnership opportunities designed specifically for unregistered providers. By partnering with us, you can:
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Maintain Service Delivery: Continue providing high-quality support to participants under KCC’s established registration.
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Access Resources and Support: Benefit from our comprehensive infrastructure, including administrative assistance, compliance guidance, and professional development resources.
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Ensure Compliance: Align with NDIS requirements through our registered status, ensuring seamless service provision to all participants.
Our partnership model is built on collaboration and mutual growth, aiming to empower providers like you to thrive within the NDIS landscape.
Together, we can continue to make a positive impact on the lives of NDIS participants.
Warm regards,
The Krystal Community Care Team
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Hey, Welcome to the forum.
Just out of sheer curiosity, what is the average percentage/fee you are charging other providers to partner with you and use your registration status?
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We are not registered yet and will be once it is cheaper to do so, with all the changes, I cannot justify spending thousands of dollars at the moment to do this. I run my company like I am registered as standards are everything. We are tiny with 5 staff and it just is not financially viable. The quality of what all providers do is not something that is measurable on a registered or non-registered way. It is about reputation and word of mouth. That is how we are growing. I never want to become too big that anyone we support could feel like a number. That is however something that happens when people put money over people. I have worked for registered providers and one of the main reasons why I left to work for myself was because they were more $ focused than client focused and didn’t work to standard.
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