Choosing an NDIS provider: what to look for

The NDIS gives you real choice over who supports you, which is the point, but choice is only useful with good information. Here is how to narrow the field.

Registered or unregistered

Providers can be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, which means they meet the Commission's practice standards and are audited. Whether you can use unregistered providers depends on how your plan is managed: agency-managed plans must use registered providers, while plan-managed and self-managed participants can use either.

Match the support to the goal

Good providers start with your goals, not their service menu. Ask how they would tailor support to what you are actually trying to do, whether that is living independently, working, studying, or staying connected to your community.

Questions worth asking

• Are you registered with the NDIS Commission, and for which support categories?
• How do you match workers to participants, and can I meet them first?
• What happens if a regular worker is sick or I want to change workers?
• How do you handle feedback and complaints?

Trust your read of the relationship

Support work is personal. A provider can tick every box on paper and still not be the right fit. You are allowed to change your mind.

NDIS providers on Our Mate are checked against the official register; the verification date appears on each listing.