To help answer that question, let’s discuss what being an NDIS Registered provider involves and how it can benefit you.
Being NDIS Registered means that you have demonstrated that you meet the compliance requirements from the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. You would have been found to be a suitable provider, have provided the appropriate documentation and evidence that shows you meet the National Practice Standards. You would have been Audited based on the risk level of services you are delivering (either as a Verification or Certification level) and as meeting all the requirements to be approved by the NDIS Commission.
If you have been successful with your NDIS Registration, you will receive a Certificate of NDIS Registration and have access to the MyPlace Portal. This Portal provides a lot of benefits to providers, as you can view all the information relevant to your registration, conduct business through the Portal, be referred clients and be able to make referrals to other providers.
Questions to help with the decision-making about whether you could benefit from being a Registered Provider.
· Could I offset the cost of NDIS Registration with expected revenue?
Registration is for a period of three years. So if you consider the income you will make over that period and if it means you are growing your business and will likely generate the income to offset the cost, then you will be ahead.
The cost of registration varies depending on the type of services (and risk level) you wish to offer and the size of your business (locations, employee and client numbers).
Approximate costing for NDIS Registration could be for a small business with one location and few clients:
Low risk services (for a Verification Audit) only would be approximately $1,000-$2,000 , and if there were
High risk services, it could be approximately $3,500 - $5,000 (or more depending on the circumstances of your business).
The best way to know what the actual cost would be is to complete your NDIS Registration Application and then approach an Auditor for a quote.
· Do I need to be a Registered Provider?
There are three services where NDIS Registration is required. These included:
Specialised Behaviour Support
Plan Management
Accommodation
Also, if Support Coordination is a Stated Service in an NDIS Participant's plan, then you will need to be registered to deliver that service.
You can deliver services to many NDIS Participants (who are Self or Plan Managed) without being NDIS Registered. However, you can’t deliver to all NDIS Participants, as some can choose to only use NDIS Registered Providers if they elect Agency Managed for their NDIS funding.
To explain further, there are three different options for NDIS Participants to manage their funding. If they choose a specific type (Agency Managed), it means you must be NDIS Registered to provide services to them.
Here’s an explanation of the three ways a client can choose to manage their funding.
Self Managing – Participants can choose the provider, regardless to whether they are Registered or not. The provider will invoice the participant directly for services.
Plan Managed - Participants may wish to have a Financial Intermediary (a Registered NDIS Provider who is called a Plan Manager) to manage their funding. Providers will invoice the Plan Manager for services provided to the Participant. The Participant can use non registered providers, as well as registered.
Agency Managed – Participants funding is kept with the NDIA. The only providers the Participant can use are those who are NDIS Registered. If you are not a Registered Provider, you will not be able to provide services to the Participant.
See the below Table that shows how the distribution of plan types has been changing over time. The data below is from the NDIS Quarterly Report to disability ministers – Q4 2020-2021[1].
· Gain more trust and credibility in the market now
If you want to get more traction in the marketplace through the credibility of being found easily and associated on the same list of other Registered Providers, perhaps Registration would suit your business. It enables you to display the NDIS Registered Provider logo, which is a symbol that helps to show you as having a credible and quality service.
· Begin by choosing what you want to register for
Once you are clear about the services you want to deliver and mapped those to the Registration Groups, you will know the sort of cost likely to be involved and how simple or complex your NDIS Registration will be.
· Increasing the Quality and Safeguards in your Business can lead to improved outcomes
If ensuring that you meet all the required NDIS Quality and Safeguards obligations is a priority for your business, you will do this as part of your registration process. You will understand what the NDIS standards are and it will help to ensure you have a higher degree of demonstrated quality and credibility in the sector. It will help to ensure you have the right policies in place to uphold the Quality and Safeguards and deliver a service which meets the expected standards.
· Your Business Plan and NDIS Registration
If you have a clear business plan (with your goals and financial projections), it will give you more insights as to whether NDIS Registration will suit your business. If you are clear about your goals, ideal client types and budget, you’ll have the information on which to base a well-considered decision if NDIS Registration will suit your business.
Next steps:
If you’d like assistance to work out if NDIS Registration suits your business, and how to go about it, or have any other questions, please get in touch with us today. You can book a free Assessment Call here, or email for more information info@nurturingndis.com.au or check out the website www.nurturingndis.com.au
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