In Australia, garnering the support you need for both quality of life and financial support comes down to establishing a quality NDIS plan. But developing one of these can be tricky to navigate, and there’s a lot of jargon involved when you’re first entering the process.
During this time, it’s only natural to feel overwhelmed with the options in front of you, or the kind of language present on applications, provider content, and overall material. One of the biggest questions we are asked is the difference between a registered NDIS provider and an unregistered one. So in this post, we’ll tackle everything you need to know about these two options, and which one is the right choice for you.
What is an NDIS provider?
An NDIS specialist provider works within the field to provide services across aspects like:
- Cleaning
- Psychology
- Physiotherapy
- In-home and clinical care
- Nutrition and more.
Based on your needs, a plan will outline which of these support systems is available to you through a registered provider. But for them to be qualified for this certification, they must be registered with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). This means they go through a long process – sometimes even costly – to ensure they are deemed registered under Australian law.
Unregistered vs. registered NDIS service providers
Organisations like OnTrack Tasmania are equipped with all certifications granted by the NDIA. Because the process of becoming registered is quite complicated, a lot of businesses choose to go without this label – despite having all the skills and resources needed to provide the same level of service.
It’s important to note that the quality of the solutions provided by these two types of organisations isn’t determined by whether they are registered or not. Sometimes it comes down to having the time and money to go through the hefty process required of these industry professionals.
The biggest difference to you as a client is the way you’re managed through the NDIA and NDIS, because of these two varieties or organisations – there are three possible management styles available.
For example:
- Agency-managed: This means you are handled by the NDIA and can only use NDIS-registered providers. They claim their invoices directly through the NDIS. If you are using a provider that isn’t registered, you’ll need to switch to one that is.
- Self-managed: You are fully responsible for managing the payments and claims of your providers’ invoices. However, you can use both unregistered and registered professionals.
- Plan management: If you are allocated a plan manager, you can use both providers. This means that you can use the funding via NDIA to access your choice of professional, so there’s no need to make claims or manage invoices/payments.
How does this all fit into OnTrack Tasmania?
At OnTrack Tasmania we help those looking for support across the NDIS, allowing individuals to access better employment, housing and community opportunities.
Through a designated mentor, you’ll be granted the ability to grow your life goals and skills, and access a fully tailored NDIS plan. From there, we will help you to manage all of the spending that’s involved with the process and allow you to get the most out of your opportunities. You’ll also receive integral support to help develop life skills – like financial literacy, cooking, time management, and even managing guests – and to establish a better quality of life.
Independent living
- According to your specific plan, you may be eligible for independent living in our Hobart facilities.
- You’ll get a place to call ‘home’.
- We also provide short-term housing for those needing accommodation or respite (must be eligible).
Low-cost support
- Enjoy an optimised plan that lets you get the most out of your money.
- Our team will completely manage your budget for you, enabling you to get the best possible NDIS support for your spending limit.
- We offer three levels of care, depending on your needs.
Mentoring
- A designated mentor will be assigned to you who is like-minded in interests and able to meet your values.
- Forge new friendships and experience a community who ‘gets you’.
- Gain a better understanding of how to set goals, build confidence and upskill through a vibrant, engaging journey. We’ve developed our services to be fun.
Get started with an NDIS specialist provider now
If you’d like to get your plan underway, we’re ready and here to help you kick start the process. Contact our team on (03) 9007 0593 for a no-obligation discussion around how we can help you achieve your goals now.