What is Key personnel?
Also known as: KMP, key management personnel
Key personnel are the people who make executive decisions for an NDIS provider, or who have authority or significant influence over planning, directing or controlling its activities. They typically include the CEO, directors, board members, executive staff and managers, and their suitability and conduct are regulated by the NDIS Commission.
The definition comes from section 11A of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013. It looks at the authority a person actually has, not only their job title.
Every key personnel role is a risk-assessed role for NDIS worker screening, so the people in those roles need a clearance.
Who counts as key personnel
Section 11A of the NDIS Act describes two groups:
- Members of the group responsible for the provider's executive decisions, such as the board and company directors
- Anyone else with authority or responsibility for, or significant influence over, planning, directing or controlling the provider's activities
In practice that means the CEO, directors listed with ASIC, board members, executive staff and managers.
Obligations that attach to key personnel
- Worker screening: a key personnel role is a risk-assessed role, so each person in it needs an NDIS Worker Screening Check clearance
- Suitability: the Commission considers the suitability of key personnel, and an event that changes a person's suitability must be notified
- Code of Conduct: key personnel of registered and unregistered providers must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct
- Incident timeframes: reportable incident deadlines run from when key personnel became aware of the incident, so workers need a clear path to escalate to them
Notifying changes
Registered providers must notify the NDIS Commission through the registered providers portal when key personnel change, such as a new CEO or company director, and when there is a significant change in governance arrangements. Notify when the change happens or as soon as possible afterwards.
Keep a current register of key personnel with their roles, start dates and screening clearances, and update it as part of every board or executive change.
Key personnel roles also belong in your written record of risk-assessed roles. Update that record within 20 business days when you create a new key personnel role or reclassify an existing one.
How Rostery helps
Rostery tracks worker screening clearances and their expiry for every staff member, including managers and executives in key personnel roles, so lapsed clearances are visible before an audit finds them.
Questions people ask
Are board members key personnel?
Yes. Members of the group responsible for the provider's executive decisions, including board members and directors, are key personnel under section 11A of the NDIS Act.
Do key personnel need an NDIS Worker Screening Check?
Yes. A key personnel role is a risk-assessed role, so people in those roles need a worker screening clearance.
When must I tell the NDIS Commission about a new CEO?
Registered providers should notify the Commission through the portal when the change occurs or as soon as possible afterwards.
Checked against the official sources on 2 October 2026. Rules change: confirm the current position with the agency before you rely on it.
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