How women can become a disability support provider

Did you know? Despite the fact there is a roughly even split between men and women with disabilities, only around 37% of all NDIS participants are women and girls.

Therefore, if you are a woman who wants to help other women access this service, becoming an NDIS provider is an excellent idea. Not least because you can potentially improve the daily lives of thousands of people who live with a disability - by providing them with the high-quality service they require.

That said, it is important to understand that the approval process for achieving NDIS registered provider status is quite lengthy and requires you to complete several steps.

For this reason, we've put together this guide outlining what it involves.

If you are aware of this process right from the outset, it should give you a firm indication of what you are getting yourself in for.

1. Find out all about the NDIS Business Model 

NDIS stands for National Disability Insurance Scheme. If you are serious about becoming a registered provider of related services for it, you will need to take the time to fully understand its objectives and how it operates.

Essentially, the scheme is an initiative that aims to give people living with disabilities the support and care they need from a trusted network of approved providers. It is only available to those who have a neurological, intellectual, sensory, psychosocial or cognitive disability that resulted from permanent impairment.

Any organisation that wants to achieve approved NDIS provider status must go through three main stages during the application process.

1. Register your business with the NDIS to become a recognised provider 

2. Deliver services and support in accordance with your client's individual plans and goals

3. Demonstrate your business meets best practice NDIS standards

You can find out more information by attending events such as Disability Expos.

2. Devise an NDIS Business Plan 

To be considered as an approved provider, your company must register with the NDIS. However, before it can do that, you will need to devise a business plan for it.

This plan should be a roadmap outlining how your business will deliver its services and convey its overall core objectives. It is an important piece of documentation as it provides the NDIS with a guide for assessing your suitability to be recognised under their scheme.

Your plan should clearly identify what services you offer, such as personal care or transportation. It should also convey who your target audience is and what resources you have available to meet their needs.

This should include what NDIS Software you will use to help you provide the best services possible to your clients and what finances you have in place.

Try to be as thorough as possible when creating this business plan and focus on meeting best practices as specified by NDIS standards.

3. Register with the NDIS 

When your business plan is complete, you can go ahead and register your company with the NDIS.

To do this, you will need an ABN, register your business with ASIC, and choose a specific legal structure, such as a sole trader, company, or partnership.

4. Apply to the NDIS Commission

After registering your business with the NDIS, you must apply to the NDIS Commission to become a recognised NDIS service provider.

They are responsible for assessing your company's suitability for becoming a recognised NDIS provider and granting official approval.

The entire process of approving your application is outlined on their website. However, it typically involves you completing self-assessments and external audits, which are designed to determine if you meet the high standards they demand to become an approved NDIS provider. 

While registration is free, you will have to pay for an approved professional to do the audit. Typically, this can cost between $1500 and $3000. So, it is worth getting quotes from a few different auditors prior to engaging one.

5. Wait for the NDIS Commission's Ruling 

After submitting your application, the NDIS commission will thoroughly evaluate it to determine whether it meets their standards for approval.

Unfortunately, there is no set timeframe for this. It could take as little as a couple of weeks or as long as six months, depending on the thoroughness of your application.

However, if you have been deemed to meet their criteria, the NDIS commission will grant you a certificate of registration. This approval will outline what services and supports you are eligible to provide and for what timeframe. It will also highlight any special conditions you must adhere to in order to retain your approval status.

If your application is not successful, you can ask for a review within a three-month period of the judgment being made.

Failing that, you could always take their feedback onboard, use it to strengthen your overall business model, and then reapply to become an NDIS registered service provider at a later time.