The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) is reforming the way that social services are regulated through the introduction of new Social Services Standards and the development of a new independent regulatory body to oversee them. The new scheme will replace the current Human Services Standards and will include an element of worker and carer regulation.

These reforms are designed to consolidate a range of social services sectors, including state-funded non-NDIS disability, homelessness, family violence, children, youth and families and supported residential services, under a single framework and regulator. The new regulator will be independent and report directly to the Minister. This will provide separation from policy design, funding models and service agreement management which will continue to be administered by DFFH.

Disability services not funded by NDIS (eg. by DFFH or TAC), and those currently registered under the Disability Act (due to gazettal of their disability houses) are affected by the changes. ​

NDS is advocating for formal recognition of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Standards within the new framework, and for DFFH to consider the interaction between the new Worker and Carer Exclusion Scheme and current NDIS Worker Screening Checks. 

We are keen to hear any feedback from members about the proposed regulation.

Information session

DFFH is holding an information session for Victorian funded disability service providers and funded advocacy bodies to share the latest information about the reforms, and how these might affect your organisation. It will be chaired by Arthur Rogers, former Disability Services Commissioner.

Event details

Date: Monday, 21 June 2021
Time: 3.30pm – 4.30pm
Location: online

Register via Eventbrite by Friday, 19 June to receive the online event link and any updates.