Quality and Safeguards Resource Library
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These resources provide support for providers to understand and meet registration conditions; engage with the NDIS Practice Standards, and drive continuous quality improvement to raise both the standard and safety of service delivery to NDIS Participants.
Current resources available:
Dysphagia, safe swallowing and mealtime management
Dysphagia is a medical term for any difficulty with swallowing
Information and advice in the Dysphagia, safe swallowing and mealtime management practice alert includes:
- Signs and symptoms of Dysphagia
- Provider obligations
- Recommended ways to support participants with dysphagia and what all staff should know
Medicines associated with swallowing problems
Certain medicines, commonly given to people with disability, can increase the risk of choking
Information and advice in the Medicines associated with swallowing problems practice alert includes:
- Considerations, including peak risk times and when to get a medical review
- Medicines associated with drowsiness that impact swallowing
- Medicines associated with swallowing problems, including Risperidone, Sodium valproate, and Olanzapine.
Polypharmacy
The Commission advises that 'polypharmacy is often defined as the use of five or more medications, or two or more psychotropic medications, at the same time'.
The Polypharmacy practice alert includes:
- What is polypharmacy
- The risks associated with polypharmacy
- How to seek a Home Medicines Review (HMR) for participants
- Recommended supports for participants receiving polypharmacy – including the frequency of reviews
- Provider obligations
Epilepsy Management
Supporting staff to understand epilepsy can help to reduce the risk for people with disability.
The Epilepsy management practice alert includes:
- What is epilepsy
- Risks associated with epilepsy
- Recommended ways to support participants with epilepsy
- Provider obligations, including the need to develop an epilepsy management plan in consultation with a medical practitioner
Transitions of care between disability services and hospitals
In Australia, transitions between hospitals and disability services can present a risk of harm to participants. Safe transitions of care require clear communication and coordination.
Information and advice in the Transitions of care between disability services and hospitals provider alert includes:
- The risks of mismanaging the movement of people with disability between places or services providing care
- Recommended ways to support participants admitted to hospital
- Guidance for when a participant leaves hospital
- How to support participants during transitions of care
- Provider obligations
Workshop 1:
These workshops are to support the professional development of behaviour support practitioners across Australia.
The first workshop will provide an overview of the importance of practice leadership in relation to Positive Behaviour Support and focus on training staff to effectively and consistently implement behaviour support strategies.
Watch Webinar:
Workshop 1: Behaviour Support Practitioners - Presentation Slides:
Workshop 2:
The second workshop of this series will focus on how to engage staff teams in reflective practice and how practitioners can reflect on their own practice.
Watch Webinar:
Workshop 2: Practice Leadership Workshop Presentation Slides:
Workshop 3:
The third workshop of this series will focus on how to collect meaningful data and measure outcomes.
Watch Webinar:
Workshop 3: Collecting Meaningful Data and Measuring Outcomes Presentation Slides:
Workshop 4:
The fourth workshop of this series will focus on supporting the person (and their support network) to be involved in all aspects of positive behaviour support
Watch Webinar:
Workshop 4: Involving the Person in Positive Behaviour Support Slides:
Business Analysis Tool
This is to support NDIS Providers and to ensure they check compliance requirements, be financially sustainable, and enhance outcomes for people with disabilities and organisational performance
NDIS Commission Requirement - Providers and the Audit Process
This webcast aims to assist viewers to develop an understanding of the audit process
NDIS Provider Guide
A guide that promotes human rights of people with disability and meeting NDIS Commission requirements.
The NDIS Commission requirements - Implications for workers and 'other personnel' Webcast
This webcast is designed to explain what staff need to be aware of in relation to their responsibilities under the NDIS Commission quality and safeguards requirements.
Supported Decision-Making and the NDIS
Supported decision-making (SDM) is the best practice approach to enhance the ability of people with disability to make their own decisions. This guide is for workers, volunteers, managers and directors/Board members of NDIS providers. Each section of the guide explains key aspects of supported decision-making as well as the implications for NDIS providers.
NDIS Commission requirements on Information Providers are required to provide all Participants
This fact sheet identifies a checklist of information the NDIS Commission has determined registered providers must give to all participants. It also includes some useful resources to support providers to meet their obligations.
NDIS Practice Standards - Interpretive Guide
This interpretive guide is for organisations preparing to re-register as an NDIS provider. The aim is to help providers that are required to meet Certification requirements with the NDIS Commission, to interpret and better understand the requirements of the NDIS Practice Standards Core Module and associated quality indicators. The guide provides both an explanation of what each indicator means and provides some examples of documentary evidence that may meet the requirement of the quality indicator.
Quality Management Guide
The Quality Management Guide is a resource for developing and implementing quality management for disability service providers. For organisations new to quality management, the guide provides a starting point and a step-by-step guide, while experienced providers may find it useful for checking their existing system.
Quality Management and Continuous Quality Improvement Webcast
The associated Quality Management and Continuous Quality Improvement webcast, provides a snapshot of the guide and could be used for staff training purposes.
Embedding Quality Webcast
The ‘Embedding Quality’ webcast provides organisations with strategies and resources to help expand quality processes beyond compliance with the NDIS Practice Standards. Promotes reflection on how to maintain a quality management system and embed quality practices across the organisation.
Organisational Internal Audit
This factsheet provides information about organisational internal audit programs, their purpose and how they might be designed, implemented and reviewed.
Recognising Restrictive Practices Workshop
This session discusses a human rights based approach to supporting people with disability, the NDS Zero Tolerance Framework and relevant resources, the importance of focussing on quality life, the misuse of restrictive practices, what the evidence says, practice leadership and reflective practice. Facilitated by the NDS Practice Support Network.
Watch Webinar:
Workshop: Recognising Restrictive Practices Workshop - Presentation Slides:
The NDIS Commission has a number of resources available on their website including:
NDIS Code of Conduct Films
These films cover the seven obligations of the NDIS Code of Conduct and are presented by members of the NDS Practice Support Network which comprises of skilled facilitators with disability and people with extensive experience working in the sector.
The purpose of these films is to promote and start the conversations between people who use supports, support workers, service providers, family and other supporters to help build a shared understanding of the NDIS Code of Conduct and what it means to you.
These films can be watched in sequence with opportunities for reflection and discussion in between each film. Alternatively, each film can be watched on its own if there is a particular obligation of interest, or perhaps something may be happening in your workplace that needs to be addressed.
Please note the films were recorded under COVID-19 conditions and you will experience some variation in film quality and audio.
Obligation 1
Act with respect for individual rights to freedom of expression, self-determination, and decision-making in accordance with relevant laws and conventions.
Presented by: Michaela Broderick
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Michaela describes herself as a bubbly individual who loves to challenge the perceptions of the disability sector and community as a person living with a disability. Michaela has fought the barriers to attend University to complete a Bachelor of Legal Studies. She is a Principals award reciprocate, an artist whose work has been purchased by NDIA. Michaela is an avid believer in choice and control and pioneers for young people living with a disability to know their rights and to live the life they choose. Michaela recently moved from Tasmania for a sea change to the sunny and exquisite Gold Coast where she does her artwork and cooks up her favourite meal. Michaela loves the outdoors and is looking forward to more travel. |
Obligation 2
Respect the privacy of people with disability.
Presented by: Leigh Creighton
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Leigh Creighton is a leader around social change in the Hunter. A ‘Living Life My Way’ ambassador and champion, a motivational speaker, LTD presenter and mental health ambassador, Leigh is a committed advocate for the rights and best interests of people with disability. Leigh’s passion is to make the world a better place for all human kind and his motto is ‘believe in yourself, go for your dreams and live every single moment to the fullest’. His experience in how he uses his NDIS Plan to live independently and to be part of his community. Leigh is committed to ensuring that the diverse voices of people with intellectual disability are heard - to be at the centre of everything. |
Obligation 3
Provide supports and services in a safe and competent manner with care and skill.
Presented by: Jessica Cochran
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Jess is 30 years old and lives with psychosocial and physical disabilities. Her primary conditions include C-PTSD and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. She has lived independently for three years now and loves the community but is looking forward to being able to access it on a more regular basis. She is a passionate advocate for disability rights believing that through her own journey she can use her voice to help raise awareness to help better services, accessibility, respect and awareness for people with a disability and their support networks. She also has a wide range of hobbies including modelling, singing, hand sewing quilts, girl guides, acting and sit down comedy. |
Obligation 4
Act with integrity, honesty, and transparency.
Presented by: Samson Hailu
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Samson has a lived experience of disability and is passionate about advocating for the human rights of people with a disability. Samson has completed a Diploma in Community Services. Creativity is a large part of Samson’s life. He makes hip hop music and is always on the lookout for creative opportunities in his space time! |
Obligation 5
Promptly take steps to raise and act on concerns about matters that might have an impact on the 6. Quality and safety of supports provided to people with disability.
Presented by: Meaghan O’Shannessy
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Meaghan studied an Arts Degree in Popular Culture including studying Japanese and Italian Language concurrently. She has over ten years experience facilitating training for the Finance and Insurance sector. More recently, Meaghan completed a Certificate IV in Disability. Meaghan is a consumer of Mental Health Services and has a wealth of lived and work experience in the Disability Sector. She is articulate and passionate about engaging people in conversations and addressing misconceptions of mental health diagnoses. Meaghan is proud to be a member of the National Disability Services Practice Support Network. In her spare time, Meaghan loves walking her two incorrigible black pugs, whom she has ambitions, one day, to train as therapy dogs. She enjoys keeping her body and mind sound through swimming in the bay, mindfulness meditation, and watching films with her 16-year-old son. |
Obligation 6
Take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to all forms of violence, exploitation, neglect, and abuse.
Presented by: Matthew Carey
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Matthew has been blind from birth but has not let his lack of sight hold him back from some great experiences! Some of which include; competing in athletics and swimming carnivals across Australia and New Zealand at school, being Program Director at FreshFM and raising funds for Eye Play Sport through public speaking events and has recently been married and moved to the Northern Territory. Matthew has a keen interest in politics, advocacy and social justice issues. Further to Matthew’s interests, he enjoys many sports, especially cricket, soccer and AFL football (Carn the Crows!) attending as many games as possible. |
Obligation 7
Take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual misconduct.
Presented by: Zel Iscel
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Zel Iscel was born blind in Turkey and arrived in Australia with her family at the age of six. She began her education with no English but learned quickly because she loves to talk! Zel became involved in disability advocacy while studying a BA in Politics and Government at Edith Cowan University. After completing her degree, Zel’s love of travel took her to London for a two year working holiday. Zel then returned to Australia to begin her career in disability working in state, national and international roles. Zel currently works as a user analyst specialising in technology for the blind and vision impaired. She also runs her own consultancy, Inclusive World, where she conducts tailored disability awareness trainings and provides advice on matters and projects relating to inclusion. |
NDIS Code of Conduct Facilitators guide
Additional Resources available:
For more information contact Mary Lou McPherson, National Practice Lead - Zero Tolerance Initiative, 03 8341 4300, submit enquiry/feedback
These films and resources were made possible by funding from the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
NDIS Code of Conduct Webinar
This session discusses the NDIS Code of Conduct using the Code of Conduct Films to help promote discussion and bring the Code into every day practice. It looks at opportunities to keep the Code front and centre in the workplace.
Facilitated by the NDS Practice Support Network.
Watch Webinar:
Involvement of Participants in the Governance and Operations of your organisation
This factsheet provides information about how providers afford participants with the opportunity to contribute to the governance of the organisation and have input into the development of organisational policy and processes relevant to the provision of supports and the protection of participant rights.
Resources currently in development:
- Complaint management
- Incident management
- Risk Management
- Worker screening
NDS will notify members when resources become available and are moved to the interactive drop downs above.
For any enquiries, please contact Jenny Klause, Sector Support Consultant, submit enquiry/feedback