What are the elements of the framework? Various elements will come together to form the quality and safeguards framework for the NDIS. In the consultation paper these elements have been grouped under three domains: developmental, preventative and corrective. Developmental The developmental domain is about own natural safeguards. building individuals’ A person who has a network of family and community support, understands how the system works, and has a sound knowledge of their rights will always be better protected by these natural safeguards than they would be by any safety-net built by governments. The NDIS aims to help participants become active consumers with choice and control over the supports they need, so they can live the life they want. This means participants need access to high-quality information that can give them the tools to choose the best providers of their supports. It is also critical to strengthen formal and informal support networks, such as family, friends and community. Preventative Some measures will also be required to ensure people with disability are safe from harm. These could include NDIA staff working with participants to identify risks and safeguards. Preventive measures would also encourage providers to deliver safe, highquality supports, such as assisting providers to build their capacity, including training of their frontline staff. Such measures would also include a requirement for providers to be registered with NDIA Corrective The corrective domain includes actions that participants and governments need to be able to take to respond to incidents after they have occurred. Key issues for the quality and safeguarding framework include how to handle complaints about supports that are paid for under the NDIS, and deciding how to handle serious incidents in the NDIS. Some challenging issues There are also five specific elements of the proposed quality and safeguarding framework that are expected to have a regulatory impact, that is they may create new or additional obligations on individuals, businesses and community-based organisations who provide supports. We are consulting specifically with stakeholders about how these functions could be achieved. They are: NDIA provider registration systems for handling complaints ensuring staff are safe to work with participants safeguards for participants who manage their own plans reducing and eliminating restrictive practices in NDIS-funded supports.
What are the elements of the framework? Various elements will come together to form the quality and safeguards framework for the NDIS. In the consultation paper these elements have been grouped under three domains: developmental, preventative and corrective. Developmental The developmental domain is about building individuals’ own natural safeguards. A person who has a network of family and community support, understands how the system works, and has a sound knowledge of their rights will always be better protected by these natural safeguards than they would be by any safety-net built by governments. The NDIS aims to help participants become active consumers with choice and control over the supports they need, so they can live the life they want. This means participants need access to high-quality information that can give them the tools to choose the best providers of their supports. It is also critical to strengthen formal and informal support networks, such as family, friends and community. Preventative Some measures will also be required to ensure people with disability are safe from harm. These could include NDIA staff working with participants to identify risks and safeguards. Preventive measures would also encourage providers to deliver safe, highquality supports, such as assisting providers to build their capacity, including training of their frontline staff. Such measures would also include a requirement for providers to be registered with NDIA Corrective The corrective domain includes actions that participants and governments need to be able to take to respond to incidents after they have occurred. Key issues for the quality and safeguarding framework include how to handle complaints about supports that are paid for under the NDIS, and deciding how to handle serious incidents in the NDIS. Some challenging issues There are also five specific elements of the proposed quality and safeguarding framework that are expected to have a regulatory impact, that is they may create new or additional obligations on individuals, businesses and community-based organisations who provide supports. We are consulting specifically with stakeholders about how these functions could be achieved. They are: NDIA provider registration systems for handling complaints ensuring staff are safe to work with participants safeguards for participants who manage their own plans reducing and eliminating restrictive practices in NDIS-funded supports.
fact_sheet_quality_and_safeguards.docx