What is the NDIS?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a support program started by the Australian government to help people with a significant or permanent disability that prevents them from leading an independent life. It can be mental, physical or behavioural, and NDIS aims to help the participants live as independently as possible.
Once the participants get their NDIS plans approved by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), they need professional service providers to help them understand their plan to reach their goals until the next plan review meeting.
Service providers connect the participants to all the reasonable and necessary support they require and manage their funds more effectively. From February 2021, NDIS has a new guideline for the employees working as support workers for the participants, which says that they need to go through an NDIS worker screening check if they are performing risk-assessed roles.
Why Is It Mandatory For Providers?
The worker screening check is a way for NDIS to ensure that the employees do not cause any risk or harm to the participants. Safety is mandatory in any line of work but more so when it relates to health. Employees who are hired to perform high risk-assessed roles must be careful about the participant’s condition.
The screening check is crucial for all the workers who provide high risk services to NDIS participants, and the employer will decide what roles are considered high risk and what are not. If you are a self-employed NDIS provider, you will need to determine if your part is risk assessed or not and if it is, then you will have to go through the screening check.
It is also mandatory to consider this check as it is required as part of your audit when registering as a new NDIS provider or as part of your registration renewal.
Fronto Advisory is an advisory firm that provides valuable advice to its clients regarding NDIS policies and procedures in Australia.
What Do I Need To Apply For A Worker Screening Check?
If you are thinking of getting a worker screening check, the first thing you need to do is fill out the online application available at DoTDirect. Login to the portal and register yourself; after you are done, you need to select NDIS in the toolbar and start filling out the application. Once you submit your application, you will need to visit the Department of Transport Driver and Vehicle Service Centre to complete the process.
Here are the things that you will need to complete your application:
1. Employer ID Number
You will need an employer ID number to be eligible for this screening check. You cannot apply without having one, and if you do, your application will be rejected straight away.
2. Proof Of Identity
You will need to prove your identity to NDIA by providing relevant documents and evidence of identification.
3. Payment
You will need to pay the application fee by using either a credit card or debit card if you have applied online. If you intend to submit the application in person, there are other means to pay the fee.
4. A Smartphone
This requirement depends on the place where you are applying; you might need to provide a photo of yourself for verification.
5. Online Registration
It depends on the means of verification; if you are applying through an online portal, you will need to make an online account first. However, if you want to submit your application in person, you don’t need one.
How Long Does It Take To Clear The Check?
The duration of the application process varies from person to person; some applications take a few days to get approved. In contrast, some might take several weeks, but that doesn’t mean there is a problem with the application.
A delay can happen for various reasons, like having the same name or date of birth as someone, or your application might require verification from a different state that will cause a delay in the process. You don’t have to stop your work because of the uncertainty, as you can also continue to work as an employee with pending approval.
Seeking Advice?
Suppose you are looking for professional guidance regarding NDIS policies and procedures in Australia as part of your NDIS registration or audit check, Fronto Advisory has assisted businesses in that aspect and have transitioned sole traders to larger, more lucrative businesses.
Call them today or fill out a form and request a call back.