When you or someone you love relies on NDIS support, you want to know that every service is safe, respectful and accountable. The NDIS Commission’s new standards for 2025–26 are designed to make that a reality, placing participants and families firmly at the centre of care.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has released its Regulatory Priorities for 2025–26, introducing new standards designed to strengthen the safety, rights and wellbeing of NDIS participants.
These updates aim to lift the quality of care across the entire sector, ensuring every person living with a disability receives services that are safe, respectful, and responsive to their individual needs.
For participants and families, understanding these changes can help you make informed choices, know what good practice looks like, and feel confident your provider is meeting the highest standards of support.
Why This Matters to You
These updates are more than policy changes. They’re about strengthening your rights, improving communication between you and your provider, and making sure your care feels consistent and safe every day.
By understanding what the NDIS Commission is prioritising, you can feel more confident that your supports are being delivered by providers who are trained, accountable and focused on quality outcomes.
1. Reducing and Eliminating Restrictive Practices
One of the Commission’s biggest focuses this year is reducing the use of restrictive practices, such as physical restraint or seclusion, and supporting providers to find safer, more positive ways to respond to challenging behaviours.
Restrictive practices can affect a person’s dignity and sense of control, so they should only ever be used as a last resort and must follow strict authorisation rules under the NDIS (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018.
What this means:
- You have the right to understand what supports are being used and why.
- Any behaviour support plan (BSP) that includes restrictive practices must also include a clear reduction strategy.
- Providers must explain these plans in accessible formats such as Easy Read or Plain English so you and your family can stay informed and involved.
2. Greater Oversight of Unregistered Providers and Sole Traders
The NDIS includes many unregistered providers, but all providers, whether registered or not, must meet the same expectations for quality, safety and respect.
The Commission is increasing its oversight of unregistered providers and sole traders, particularly where there are risks to participant safety or human rights.
What this means:
- You can ask any provider or subcontractor about their NDIS Worker Screening status.
- Every worker who provides NDIS supports must comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct.
- Providers are responsible for ensuring that any contractors or partners meet these standards.
3. Managing High-Risk Health Supports
The Commission’s third priority focuses on preventing avoidable harm for participants with complex or high-risk health needs. This includes ensuring providers have strong clinical oversight and staff who are properly trained to recognise and respond to health issues early.
Examples of high-risk areas include:
- Mealtime management, especially where there are swallowing difficulties (dysphagia).
- Wound care, skin integrity, and infection control.
- Timely access to medical help when concerns arise.
What this means:
- Providers must have clear systems to monitor health risks and respond quickly.
- You should always know who is overseeing your clinical or high-intensity supports.
- You have the right to ask how your provider manages and reviews your health supports.
4. Building a Skilled and Capable Workforce
The Commission recognises that quality support starts with skilled, well-trained workers. Many incidents in the sector have been traced to gaps in staff training or supervision, so improving workforce capability is a key focus for 2025–26.
What this means:
- All NDIS workers in risk-assessed roles must have a valid NDIS Worker Screening Check.
- Workers should receive ongoing training in topics such as infection control, trauma-informed practice, communication and record-keeping.
- Providers are expected to monitor worker performance and provide supervision, mentoring and refresher training regularly.
What These Changes Mean for You and Your Family
These reforms are designed to make the NDIS safer, fairer and more transparent. Participants and families can expect:
- Better communication and choice: You’ll receive clearer information about your supports and your rights.
- Higher quality care: Providers will be held to stronger training, governance and clinical standards.
- Greater accountability: The Commission will focus on preventing incidents before they happen, not just responding afterwards.
Together, these changes aim to give participants and families more confidence in their providers and more control over how supports are delivered.
Questions to Ask Your Provider
The Commission encourages participants and families to ask questions about how providers manage safety, quality, and accountability. Here are a few you can use:
| Focus Area | Question to Ask | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Restrictive Practices | “How do you make sure restrictive practices are only ever a last resort?” | Shows your provider values human rights and transparency. |
| Workforce & Training | “What qualifications and ongoing training do your support workers complete?” | Demonstrates a commitment to quality and safety. |
| Health Supports | “Who oversees health supports such as mealtime or wound care?” | Confirms proper clinical oversight is in place. |
| Contractors | “Do all your staff and contractors hold valid NDIS Worker Screening Checks?” | Builds trust and ensures compliance. |
| Governance | “How do you measure and improve the quality of your services?” | Reflects accountability and continuous improvement. |
Asking these questions helps ensure you and your family have a clear picture of how your provider upholds safety and quality standards.
HealSoul’s Commitment to Quality and Safety
HealSoul welcomes the NDIS Commission’s renewed focus on participant rights and service quality. Our organisation is committed to aligning its practices with the 2025–26 standards through:
- Continuous improvement: Regular review of service quality, participant feedback, and staff development.
- Transparent communication: Providing clear, accessible information to participants and families about their rights and supports.
- Workforce development: Supporting ongoing learning to build skilled, compassionate and capable teams.
- Collaboration with families: Encouraging open dialogue to ensure every participant’s voice is heard and respected.
By maintaining these standards, HealSoul aims to deliver services that empower participants, support independence, and uphold every individual’s right to safe, high-quality care.
The NDIS Commission’s new standards represent an important step forward for the disability sector. For participants and families, they mean clearer expectations, safer services, and stronger protections for your rights and wellbeing.
HealSoul is committed to being part of this progress, ensuring that every service provided reflects care, respect, and excellence at every level.
References:
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission — Regulatory Priorities 2025–26
- NDIS (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018
- Restrictive Practices and Me — Easy Read Resources
- NDIS Code of Conduct
- High Intensity Support Skills Descriptors (NDIS Commission)
- National Disability Services — Regulatory Shifts Ahead: What NDIS Providers Need to Know
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