What are My Responsibilities as an NDIS Participant?

As an NDIS participant, you have important responsibilities that help ensure you get the most from your supports while maintaining the integrity of the scheme. Understanding these responsibilities empowers you to make informed decisions and build a strong foundation for your NDIS journey.

Your obligations fall into four key areas that work together to create a system based on trust, transparency, and mutual accountability.

Responsibilities Related to Your Supports

Your first responsibility centres on ensuring your supports directly relate to your disability and align with your plan goals. This means every support you purchase must help you achieve the outcomes outlined in your NDIS plan.

You need to make sure supports are reasonable and necessary for your specific needs. Ask yourself whether each support genuinely helps address the functional impact of your disability and moves you closer to your goals.

Avoid duplicate supports by understanding what other funding sources might cover the same needs. The NDIS cannot fund supports that duplicate services provided by other government schemes like WorkCover, TAC, or DVA. You must check whether another scheme already covers a particular support before using NDIS funding.

Follow NDIS pricing arrangements unless you self-manage your plan. These price limits ensure fairness across the system and help your budget stretch further. If you are plan-managed or NDIA-managed, your providers must charge within these limits.

You have the right to choose your providers, but they must be appropriate for your needs and circumstances. Take time to research providers and ensure they have the right qualifications and experience to support your specific goals.

Responsibilities for Managing Funds

If you choose to self-manage your NDIS funding, you take on additional financial responsibilities.

Keep accurate records of all purchases and payments for five years. This includes invoices, receipts, pay slips, and bank statements. The NDIA conducts random audits and you must provide evidence that funds were spent appropriately.

Your records must include specific details:

• Provider name and ABN

• Date of support

• Description of support and how it relates to your plan goals

• Amount and price of support

Make payment requests accurately and on time. When claiming funds, ensure your payment requests match your invoices or receipts exactly. Claims typically process within 24-48 hours when submitted correctly.

Meet employer obligations if you directly hire support workers. This includes understanding employment law, paying superannuation, maintaining workplace safety, and providing appropriate worker screening checks. You become legally responsible for all aspects of the employment relationship.

Manage your budget to ensure supports provide value for money and stay within your funding limits. Track your spending regularly to avoid overspending in any category.

Responsibilities for Communication and Change

You must cooperate with NDIA reviews of your plan and funding. This includes participating in planning meetings, providing requested information, and engaging constructively with the review process. Your active participation helps ensure your plan continues to meet your needs.

Advise the NDIA of significant changes in your circumstances within a reasonable timeframe. Changes might include:

• Living arrangements or address changes

• Health condition changes

• Support need changes

• Financial circumstances including compensation payments

• Employment status changes

• Family composition changes

Use the Change of Circumstances form available online or contact the NDIA directly on 1800 800 110. The NDIA has 21 days to respond to your request and decide whether to vary or reassess your plan.

Disclose conflicts of interest that might affect your decision-making. A conflict exists when personal, financial, or business relationships could influence your choice of supports or providers. For example, if a family member provides services or you have a financial interest in a provider organisation.

Being transparent about these relationships protects both you and the integrity of the NDIS system. It helps ensure your choices truly serve your best interests rather than other considerations.

Putting It All Together

Your responsibilities as an NDIS participant create a framework for success in the scheme. By ensuring supports are appropriate, managing funds responsibly, and maintaining open communication, you build a sustainable approach to achieving your goals.

Remember that responsibilities come with rights. You have the right to choice and control over your supports, access to quality services, and fair treatment throughout your NDIS journey.

Take time to understand these responsibilities at the start of your NDIS experience. They may seem complex initially, but they become routine with practice. Consider working with a support coordinator who can help you navigate these requirements, especially in your first year.

Your active engagement with these responsibilities strengthens the NDIS for everyone. When participants understand and meet their obligations, it creates a system that works effectively and remains sustainable for future generations.

The NDIS succeeds when participants, providers, and the NDIA work together with mutual respect and shared accountability. Your responsibilities are not burdens but opportunities to take control of your supports and create the life you want to live.