1 July 2020

National worker screening arrangements

The NDIS Worker Screening Check is an important safeguard that seeks to minimise the risk of harm to people with disability. The objective of nationally consistent NDIS worker screening is to ensure workers who pose an unacceptable risk of harm to NDIS participants are not engaged by registered providers to provide NDIS supports and services.

Commonwealth, state and territory disability ministers have agreed that the new NDIS Worker Screening Check will commence nationally on 1 February 2021. Amendments to the Worker Screening Rules (the Rules) have now been registered to reflect this.

From 1 February 2021, the NDIS Worker Screening Check will replace varying screening arrangements in all states and territories, introducing a nationally recognised clearance or exclusion for NDIS workers.

Until then, interim arrangements for worker screening are in place, as determined by states and territories. These arrangements require all NDIS workers, except those in WA (who are not yet under the NDIS Commission’s jurisdiction), to have an acceptable check in place to provide NDIS supports and services on behalf of a registered NDIS provider to people with disability.

Changes to transitional arrangements for Queensland and South Australia

Transitional arrangements for worker screening checks in Queensland and South Australia have also been changed, as follows:

• Queensland: A person who has applied for a check in Qld (either a yellow card or blue card) is now able to work while waiting for the outcome of that check.
• South Australia: The definition of an ‘acceptable SA check’ now includes a working with children check.

For more information about the NDIS Worker Screening Check and what it will mean for NDIS participants, workers and providers, visit the NDIS Commission website.