What is NDIS Code of Conduct?

The elements of the Code

People who deliver NDIS supports and services must:

1. Act with respect for individual rights to freedom of expression, self-determination and decision-making
2. Respect the privacy of people with disability
3. Provide supports and services in a safe and competent manner, with care and skill
4. Act with integrity, honesty and transparency
5. Promptly take steps to raise and act on concerns about matters that might affect the quality and safety of supports
6. Take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to all forms of violence against, exploitation, neglect and abuse of people with disability
7. Take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct

The Commission also lists fair pricing as an element of the Code.

Who must follow it

• Registered NDIS providers, their key personnel and workers
• Unregistered NDIS providers, their key personnel and workers
• Providers delivering information, linkages and capacity building activities
• Providers delivering Commonwealth Continuity of Support Programme services for people over 65

This makes the Code the main safeguard for supports bought from unregistered providers by self-managed and plan-managed participants.

Fair pricing

Under the fair pricing element, providers must not charge NDIS participants a higher price for goods than they would charge someone who is not a participant, without a reasonable justification. The current rules on price differentiation apply to goods, not services, though the Commission has said further changes may follow for other supports.

Putting it into practice

Include the Code in worker induction, refer to it in position descriptions and supervision, and make sure workers know how to raise a concern and that doing so is expected. When a worker reports a concern, record what was raised, when, and what was done about it.