What to Expect from Your NDIS Verification & Certification Audit
- Written by Sarah Williams
The National Disability Insurance Agency administers NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) in Australia. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission governs it. As a welfare support scheme of the Australian government, it provides funds to support people with disabilities. Many NDIS service providers seek NDIS verification and certification to run their organisation as per the standards laid by the NDIS Commission.
The scheme came into full force in the year 2020 after seven years of its legislation in 2013. It provides funding to disabled people in areas like education, employment, social participation, living arrangements, and independence. But, to provide these services, NDIA requires service providers.
To become a registered service provider, you need to undergo an audit or an assessment process. Let’s understand how the assessment process works and what you can expect from your audit reports.
How Does the Assessment Work?
The new service providers and the existing ones (to re-register) need to apply for an audit. The audit takes place as per the standard procedures of the NDIS Commission. There are certain conditions and eligibility criteria, in terms of service provision, that the Commission seeks.
The Commission conducts the assessment in two ways, one is verification, and the other is certification. You, as a service provider, need to meet the standards of NDIS for registration purposes.
Assessment 1- Verification
Verification is for the providers who deliver lower risk or fewer services. Verification audits are usually desktop audits and are conducted off-site. For new registrations, the NDIS generates an ‘initial scope of audit’ based on information submitted by the service provider. And the renewal applications receive a confirmation email.
In verification, you have to submit the detailed policies and procedures that you practice. The NDIS provider has to provide a complete self-assessed application corroborated with documents.
After the reviewing process, Stage 1 Report will be uploaded on the NDIS Commission portal. It may take at least two weeks for the reviewing process, after which the Stage 2 audit commences. For the second audit, you will receive a call accordingly before NDIS verification and certification.
Assessment 2- Certification
The NDIS providers who deliver highly complicated and risky support need to undergo certification audits. The auditing team assesses the service providers' operation management, quality of service delivery, and governance practices. It is an on-site assessment where the auditors visit the site in person and check the NDIS providers' service operations.
Interview of the service provider's staff, document verification, and reviewing compliance of the NDIS standards takes place. Following this, the document uploading on the NDIS portal commences, and a feedback mail is sent to the provider. Your qualification to work as a registered NDIS provider is determined solely by the NDIS Commission.
Validity Period
There is a three-year validity period for NDIS verification and certification. As an NDIS service provider, you must conduct an audit every three years before the expiry of your registration. This will ensure the renewal of verification and certification every three years.
The certified organisation (not verified) doesn't have to conduct a mid-term audit to ensure they are running in compliance with the standards of NDIS.
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