Introduction to the NDIS Practice Standards

The NDIS Practice Standards are set by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. They describe the outcomes participants should experience and the quality indicators providers use to show they meet them. In this lesson you will learn how the standards are organised: a core module for providers delivering higher risk supports, supplementary modules for particular types of supports, and a verification module for lower risk supports. Key points: the standards focus on outcomes for participants, providers are audited against them, and they sit alongside the NDIS Code of Conduct, which applies to every worker.

Registered providers must be audited against the Practice Standards by an approved quality auditor. Providers of higher risk supports go through a certification audit, which includes talking to participants and workers and reviewing records, while providers of lower risk supports go through a verification audit. In this lesson you will learn how audits work, why auditors may speak with you, and how the Practice Standards relate to the NDIS Code of Conduct. Key points: the Code of Conduct applies to every worker, the Practice Standards apply to the provider, and your daily practice is the evidence.

The core module has four parts. Rights and responsibilities covers person centred supports, dignity and privacy, independence and informed choice, and freedom from violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination. Provider governance and operational management covers areas such as risk, quality, information, complaints, incidents, human resources, continuity and emergency management. Provision of supports covers access, planning, service agreements, responsive supports and transitions. The provision of supports environment covers a safe environment, participant money and property, medication, mealtime management and waste. This lesson gives you a plain language overview of each part.

The Practice Standards are met through everyday practice, not paperwork alone. In this lesson you will see how ordinary tasks, such as offering choices, following a support plan, writing accurate case notes, reporting incidents and supporting someone to make a complaint, show that we are meeting the standards. You will also learn that the standards are being reformed, with new modules being introduced, so our policies will change over time. Key points: follow our policies and procedures, keep good records, speak up about concerns, and check the NDIS Commission website or ask your team leader for the current version.

This case study follows Ayesha, a young woman who has recently moved into a shared home with support. Her housemates have long standing routines, and she wants to change the weekly menu and choose which worker helps with her personal care. The lesson shows how the rights and responsibilities part of the core module plays out in real life, including privacy, dignity, cultural needs and informed choice. It also shows how workers balance the wishes of several people living together. Key points: ask, listen, respect culture, and raise conflicts with your team leader.

This case study follows Walter, an older man with an intellectual disability whose mobility and memory have started to decline. His support plan was written two years ago and no longer matches his day. The lesson shows how the provision of supports part of the core module works in practice: noticing change, recording it, raising it, and helping the team review the plan and service agreement with Walter. It also covers why workers should not quietly change how they support someone without a plan update. Key points: notice, record, raise and review.

This case study follows Sione's mother, Mele, who is frustrated because workers keep arriving late and different workers turn up each week. Sione is a teenager with autism who finds change hard. The lesson shows how the governance part of the core module, including feedback and complaints management and continuity of supports, works in practice, and what a support worker's role is when a complaint is made. We look at how to respond without getting defensive and how complaints lead to real improvements. Key points: welcome complaints, pass them on and never take it out on the participant.