An Early Christmas Present for Providers: Audit Changes from 1 January 2020

We had heard for some time that the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission was considering changes to the NDIS (Provider Registration and Practice Standards) Rules 2018. Well, the NDIS (Provider Registration and Practice Standards) Amendment (2019 Measures No. 1) Rules 2019 have arrived just in time for Christmas.

Some minor changes include incorporating the definition of a transitioned provider, an update to the worker definition and more detail on proportionate audit scope considerations. There has also been updates to notifying the Commissioner on certain changes, with this to occur as soon as practicable rather than the previously stipulated 28 days. We will examine the nitty gritty in our quality and safeguarding newsletter in due course, if this interests you feel free to subscribe. But the big change you will most likely be interested in is:

The requirement for ‘bodies corporate’ to be assessed using certification has been repealed. What does this mean? If you are providing only low risk registration groups, it looks like you will no longer be required to be certified because of your organisational structure. It was always a funny rule that we predicted would change at some stage but this responsiveness is pretty impressive. We have highlighted the registration groups affected. These providers should soon be able to be audited through the verification pathway. It is important to note that if you provide any additional registration groups not highlighted you will still be required to undergo certification.

The other change we can see is for certain providers to undergo a mid-term audit - The audit must commence no later than 18 months after the beginning of the period for which the provider’s registration is in force. So unless this is something in addition to surveillance audits, we interpret this to be reducing surveillance audits to 18 months, which (if true) is another big win for the pocket.

In order to fully understand the situation we will have to wait and see what changes will be made to the NDIS (Approved Quality Auditors Scheme) Guidelines 2018 and further deets from the Commission. These changes do not come into effect until 1 January 2020 and only apply to assessments that commence post that date so no doubt more info is on its way. Stay tuned!