Choosing the right NDIS providers to deliver your supports is an important part of the NDIS so that you can have the supports in place that you need and to work towards your goals. Your providers need to be the right fit for you to meet your unique needs.

When you’re ready to choose a provider, this checklist can help you work through what you need to know, before you make your decision and sign a service agreement.s

1. Search them up! Google is a great tool for research so make sure that you search the organisation, their history and any news coverage they have received over the past couple of years.
2. Online reviews. Use online reviews to understand what their current clients are saying about them. Are they happy? Do they have a 4-star Google rating or above? Also check out their rating and reviews on their social media channels.
3. Are they NDIS registered? While all providers must meet the NDIS Code of Conduct, registered providers are required to participate in regular external quality audits and are verified by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
4. What will they charge? Ask the provider how much they will charge for the supports that you need or have your LAC or Support Coordinator do this for you. The NDIS put price limits in place, so make sure that the provider isn’t charging more than they should based on the latest NDIS Pricing Arrangements.  The pricing arrangements determine the capped rate and are intended to ensure providers can pay for the costs associated with delivering services such as HR, payroll, management, coordination and so on.  Independent workers do not have these overheads and you may be able to negotiate a cheaper hourly rate with them.
5. Do they provide similar supports? Ask potential providers if they provide similar supports to others. This will give you a good indication of their level of experience to meet you needs. You can also ask your Support Coordinator or LAC to do this on your behalf.
6. Continuity of support. If your regular support person is not available, will they be able to provide a replacement? This is important to understand so that you have continued support when you need it.
7. Are they responsive? Is the provider responsive to your questions and do they get back to you in a timely manner? You will want a provider who keeps the lines of communication open at all times. You may need to have a contact person if you need support outside of your scheduled hours, or if a Support Worker doesn’t arrive.  Does the organisation offer an on-call service?
8. Tailored support. Find out if they provide tailored support as often a one size fits all approach isn’t the best. Your provider needs to be able to meet your unique needs and should be happy to adjust their services to achieve this – if required.

We’re here to help

Our team of Brisbane based Support Coordinators are here to help. If you have any questions about how to start the process of finding the right providers to meet your needs, we can help. We can either work through the necessary checks on your behalf or support you through this process to get the best outcome to meet your needs.

You can get in touch via our contact form, email us at enquiries@infocusdisability.org.au or call us on 1800 928 437.