NDIS Code of Conduct

The NDIS Code of Conduct is a set of legally binding expectations made under the NDIS Act. It exists to protect the rights, safety and wellbeing of people with disability and to build trust in the supports they receive. In this lesson you will learn where the Code comes from, why it was introduced, and how it sits alongside our own policies and the NDIS Practice Standards. Key points: the Code is enforceable, it describes behaviour rather than tasks, and it works together with our policies rather than replacing them.

The Code applies to every NDIS provider and every person employed or otherwise engaged by one, including registered and unregistered providers, sole traders, contractors, volunteers, team leaders, managers and office staff. This lesson explains that coverage, lists the seven elements you will study in the rest of the course, and shows how the Code follows you into every setting where you deliver supports. Key points: if you deliver or help deliver NDIS supports, the Code applies to you, whatever your role, employment type or setting.

The first element asks you to respect each person's right to freedom of expression, self determination and decision making. This lesson explains what that looks like in practice: giving people real choices, supporting them to communicate their views, respecting decisions you might not make yourself, and using supported decision making rather than taking over. Key points: the participant is the expert in their own life, dignity of risk matters, and your job is to support decisions, not make them. If a choice raises a serious safety concern, talk it through and tell your team leader.

The second element asks you to respect the privacy of people with disability. Privacy covers personal information, such as health details, addresses and support plans, and also physical and personal privacy, such as knocking before entering a room and protecting dignity during personal care. This lesson covers both kinds and gives realistic examples of privacy breaches that are easy to make by accident. Key points: only share information on a need to know basis, never post or discuss participants on social media, keep records secure, and protect dignity during personal care.

The third element asks you to provide supports and services in a safe and competent manner, with care and skill. That means working within your training and role, following each participant's support plan and risk assessments, keeping your skills current, and saying so when you are not confident to do a task. This lesson gives examples of competent practice and of situations where a worker should stop and ask for help. Key points: never perform a task you have not been trained for, follow the plan, and report hazards and changes in a person's health.

Element four asks you to act with integrity, honesty and transparency. Element five asks you to promptly take steps to raise and act on concerns about anything that might affect the quality and safety of supports. This lesson covers honest record keeping and billing, conflicts of interest, gifts, and how to speak up about concerns through our internal processes or directly to the NDIS Commission. Key points: record what really happened, never accept gifts that break our policy, declare conflicts of interest, and raise concerns early. Workers who raise concerns in good faith are protected.

Element six asks you to take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to all forms of violence against, and exploitation, neglect and abuse of, people with disability. This lesson describes the main forms of abuse, including physical, emotional, financial, sexual and neglect, as well as restrictive practices used without authorisation. It explains warning signs to watch for and the steps to take if you witness or suspect harm. Key points: abuse is not always physical, neglect is abuse too, and you must act and report even when you are unsure.

Element seven asks you to take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct includes any sexual act or behaviour with or towards a participant while you are supporting them, even if the participant appears to agree, as well as grooming, sexual comments and sharing sexual material. This lesson explains professional boundaries, what grooming can look like, and how to respond. Key points: a sexual or romantic relationship with a participant you support is never acceptable, grooming often starts with small boundary breaches, and all concerns must be reported.

A breach of the Code can seriously harm participants and damage trust in our services. This lesson explains how the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission responds to breaches, including education, warnings, infringement notices, civil penalties and banning orders that can stop a person working in the NDIS. It also covers our internal response, which can include retraining, performance management and termination, and referral to police where a crime may have occurred. Key points: breaches have real consequences for workers and providers, and the Commission publishes banning orders.

Following the Code is less about memorising rules and more about the everyday choices you make on shift. This lesson brings the seven elements together through a short worked scenario, gives you simple questions to ask yourself when you are unsure, and explains where to get help, including your team leader, our policies and the NDIS Commission. Key points: when in doubt, put the participant's rights and safety first, ask for advice early, and report concerns. The lesson ends with a course summary before your final assessment.