National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) verification and certification
Ensure compliance with NDIS Practice Standards through DNV's trusted audits. Learn about verification and certification processes designed to uphold quality, safety, and reliability for NDIS providers across Australia.
Introduction
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) enhances the quality of life for Australians with significant disabilities by connecting them with essential support services. Recent updates, such as the NDIS Amendment Bill 2024 and the myNDIS app, aim to make accessing these supports even easier.
At DNV, we provide trusted NDIS audits to ensure providers meet the NDIS Practice Standards, helping to maintain high-quality care and fostering trust in the system. We keep a track of providers’ compliance requrements and take care of it on time, so that they can focus peacefully on caring for the participants. We liaise with the NDIS commission on a regular basis to ensure that the market meets highest standards of dynamic regulatory requirements. Our team of highly experienced auditors is proficient in various languages, which makes the audit process smooth and client centric. This multilingual capability ensures a seamless experience for diverse service providers, regardless of location or language barriers.
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission)
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) oversees the quality and safety of supports and services provided under the NDIS across Australia. Organizations offering disability services must register with the NDIS Commission and demonstrate compliance with the NDIS Practice Standards through certification or verification audits.
Since 2018, the NDIS Commission has progressively taken over the regulation of disability service quality and safety from state and territory governments, completing the transition nationwide by 2020. This unified framework has replaced previous local safeguards, ensuring consistent standards for all participants.
Key updates to the NDIS Practice Standards include requirements for mealtime management, severe dysphagia management and emergency and disaster preparedness. These standards prioritize participants’ safety and tailored support, particularly in critical areas like nutrition and emergency readiness.
At DNV, we align with these evolving standards by:
- Updating our audit criteria to reflect new requirements
- Providing comprehensive training to our auditors
- Guiding providers in implementing and adhering to the standards
By conducting rigorous assessments, DNV helps maintain the integrity of the NDIS, ensuring participants receive safe, high-quality, and reliable support. Our work supports not only participants but also their families and carers, contributing to a more inclusive and supportive society.
Types of NDIS assessments
As the Approved Quality Auditors (AQA) appointed by the NDIS Commission, we conduct two types of audits - verification and certification - to ensure NDIS providers meet the required standards of quality and safety. These audits are crucial in maintaining the integrity of the NDIS and ensuring participants receive high-quality, reliable support.
- Verification audits
Designed for providers delivering lower-risk or less complex supports, verification audits are conducted off-site. They focus on reviewing documentation and evidence of professional qualifications and registrations, human resource management, incident and complaints management and risk management. This “lighter touch” approach ensures that even smaller providers maintain essential standards without the need for extensive on-site evaluations. - Certification audits
Certification audits are more detailed and cater to providers offering higher-risk or more complex services. These audits include on-site assessments, interviews with staff, participants and their families, thorough reviews of policies, procedures and records. Providers are assessed against the core and supplementary NDIS Practice Standards, covering governance and operational management, risk management, provision of supports, and the support provision environment. This rigorous process ensures that providers with more complex service offerings adhere to the highest standards of quality and safety.
Assessment process
NDIS providers must participate in regular audits to maintain compliance with the NDIS Practice Standards and ensure ongoing quality and safety in service delivery.
- Initial audit: Conducted at the time of registration to assess compliance with the required standards
- Mid-term audits: Scheduled approximately every 18 months to verify continued adherence to the standards. Focus on identifying areas for improvement and ensuring sustained quality.
- Renewal audits: Required every three years at the end of the registration period. Provide a comprehensive reassessment of compliance and service quality.
- Additional audits: May occur if significant operational changes arise or if the NDIS Commission identifies potential compliance issues.
These regular assessments are essential for maintaining high standards and fostering trust in the NDIS system. DNV plays a key role in this process by conducting thorough, reliable audits that help providers deliver safe, effective, and high-quality support to participants. Our rigorous approach ensures participants, and their families can depend on the NDIS for consistent and trustworthy services.
