SIL Rule and Practice Standards; NDIS Commission writes to unregistered providers; new Code of Conduct video ...

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In this month's edition

• Message from the Commissioner and Associate Commissioner
• NDIS Commission puts unregistered providers on notice
• Changes to Supported Independent Living (SIL) Practice Standards
• Update: Data and Regulatory Transformation (DART) Program
• Guidance on monitoring and reviewing behaviour support plans now available
• New Code of Conduct video – preventing sexual misconduct
• ACCC fines fitness support company for alleged misleading advertising

Welcome to the June edition of NDIS Commission News.

From 1 July, it will be mandatory for all supported independent living (SIL) providers and digital platform providers to register with the NDIS Commission. The new Rule is available on the NDIS Commission website. SIL providers will also be required to comply with new SIL Practice Standards. The article below has more information.

The Reform Hub provides all the latest information and updates on what you need to do as a SIL or NDIS digital platform provider. It also shares what you need to know as a participant who receives these NDIS services. 

This is a milestone for the NDIS Commission. These reforms strengthen oversight and regulation of SIL and platform providers in response to emerging and longstanding quality, safety and integrity issues. They will enable the NDIS Commission to have greater visibility and control over who operates in the NDIS market. We want providers to meet clear and consistent standards so participants can feel confident about the supports they receive.

A reminder to providers required to do a mid-term audit as part of your registration requirements: please ensure your auditor submits the final report to us by the deadline.

Finally, remember you can forward this newsletter to anyone you know who would benefit from it, and encourage them to sign up online.

Louise Glanville and Natalie Wade
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner and Associate Commissioner 

The NDIS Commission is writing to 270,000 unregistered NDIS providers nationwide to reinforce that claiming NDIS funds comes with clear legal obligations, regardless of your registration status. Commissioner Louise Glanville and Associate Commissioner Natalie Wade are issuing the letter to businesses and sole traders identified as claiming payments from NDIS plans while operating outside the formal registration system.

While some providers are permitted to operate unregistered under the NDIS Act, all providers must comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct. Free guidance and education resources are available on the Code of Conduct page of the NDIS Commission website. New resources include an Easy Read version of the Code and a downloadable poster.

We regulate both registered and unregistered providers and have strong compliance and enforcement powers, including issuing bans and pursuing civil penalties. Stronger oversight of unregistered providers is a regulatory priority for the NDIS Commission.

Key takeaway

The NDIS Commission is writing to more than 270,000 unregistered NDIS providers nationwide to let them know their obligations under the NDIS Code of Conduct when working with NDIS participants.

From 1 July 2026, NDIS providers of supported independent living (SIL) will be required to comply with new SIL Practice Standards.

As mentioned in the May edition, these new SIL Practice Standards apply from 1 July 2026, together with:

• mandatory registration for SIL providers
• mandatory registration for NDIS digital platform providers.

The new SIL Practice Standards specify the quality and compliance expectations that need to be met by registered NDIS SIL providers delivering SIL supports and services to NDIS participants. The standards focus on the voice, rights and freedoms of participants in SIL environments. They also support participants to understand what quality service provision they should expect from registered SIL providers. 

The new SIL Practice Standards sit alongside the existing Core Module that applies to all registered providers. They focus on quality and safety in SIL environments, emphasising what good practice looks like in the home.

We partnered with Inclusion Australia in early 2025 to develop the SIL Practice Standards, which have been designed alongside people with disability.

Under the 4 new SIL Practice Standards, SIL providers must support participants to:

• make decisions about their daily life, routines, relationships and their home environment
• feel safe by preventing and mitigating risks in the home and community
• receive SIL support from skilled workers
• understand the terms and conditions of their service agreement and how it interacts with their tenancy agreement.

We’ve developed the Supported independent living – New rules for good and safe support Easy Read factsheet to help people understand the new SIL Practice Standards.

All the latest information and updates regarding the new SIL Practice Standards can be found on the Reform Hub.

Key takeaway

New SIL Practice Standards and mandatory registration for SIL and platform providers take effect from 1 July 2026. We will continue to publish useful resources on our Reform Hub.

Over the coming months, providers will start to see the first changes from our Data and Regulatory Transformation (DART) Program – a significant piece of work to modernise the systems you use to work with us.

These digital upgrades don’t change your regulatory obligations. The kinds of issues and complaints the NDIS Commission deals with stay exactly the same. What's changing is how you interact with us. We'll make sure you have clear guidance and time to get ready, before each change takes effect.

In the April edition, we shared some of the benefits of the new provider portal, and we thank everyone who came to a workshop and gave feedback to help shape it. We’ll let you know more about improvements to the portal as we get closer to it going live, including guidance and sessions to walk you through it.

Reporting an issue or complaint

Another change you'll notice is a new online form for reporting an issue or making a complaint. When it's ready this week, the updated form will offer:

• clearer navigation
• a streamlined approach to adding detail about your complaint, including attachments where you need to provide them
• a more intuitive design, with prompts to improve clarity and accessibility.

This will make it easier to report an issue. It will also make sure the information we collect helps us identify risks quickly and consistently, so we can better protect the quality and safety of NDIS participants.

Stay involved

If you'd like to take part in future engagement opportunities, you can register your interest. You can also find out more on the Digital transformation page of the NDIS Commission website.

Key takeaway

Changes from the DART Program are on the way, starting with a simpler online form for reporting an issue or complaint. We’ll guide you through each step.

New Policy Guidance on monitoring and reviewing comprehensive behaviour support plans is now available from the NDIS Commission. This resource helps specialist behaviour support providers and NDIS behaviour support practitioners understand our expectations, which are consistent with good practice and the requirements set out in the NDIS Act and relevant Rules.

Effective monitoring and review help ensure that behaviour support plans:

• reflect a person’s current needs and circumstances
• improve quality of life and support positive change
• reduce and eliminate the use of restrictive practices.

Key takeaway

Specialist behaviour support providers should review our new Policy Guidance to make sure their monitoring and review practices align with our expectations.

The NDIS Commission has released a new short video that's part of an educational series that will help providers better understand the NDIS Code of Conduct. It covers preventing sexual misconduct – one of 8 elements under the Code.

Romantic or sexual advances by NDIS workers toward participants are a clear misuse of their professional power and a breach of the boundaries and standards.

While people with disability have the right to sexual expression and independent relationships, sexual relationships between NDIS workers and participants are never appropriate due to the power imbalance involved.

As outlined in the Code of Conduct, providers are required to develop policy and guidance to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct, relating to the delivery of their supports and services. 

As an NDIS provider, meeting your obligations as outlined in the Code of Conduct is essential as we all work to support the rights of people with disability.

The video shows what this element means for providers through a real-world scenario that illustrates how the Code works in practice and emphasises that it’s essential for you to meet your obligations under the Code of Conduct.

Visit the Code of Conduct videos web page to watch the series.

Key takeaway

Please take a moment to watch a new short video on the Code of Conduct element – preventing sexual misconduct.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued fitness support company WeFlex Pty Ltd, an NDIS provider, with an infringement notice for allegedly making a misleading statement about NDIS funding in a social media advertisement.

The infringement notice follows concerns over a statement in the advertisement which ran on Facebook and Instagram between 21 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.

The ad targeted parents and caregivers, encouraging them to “get your NDIS child active” through personal training services for children and individuals with disabilities. It stated: “If you have NDIS funding, it’s covered”, when in fact NDIS funding will only cover personal training fitness services if these are approved under the specific terms of an individual participant’s plan.

WeFlex has paid a penalty of $19,800. 

You can read the full media release on the ACCC website.

Key takeaway

The ACCC has issued an infringement notice to an NDIS provider for making an allegedly misleading statement in social media advertising.

Resources for providers

Our website has a range of resources to support you deliver safe and quality services and comply with your registration:

• Provider registration
• Worker resources 
• NDIS Code of Conduct
• Worker screening 
• NDIS Practice Standards
• Reportable incidents
• Incident management
• Workforce Capability Framework

Resources for behaviour support practitioners

• Understanding behaviour support and restrictive practices – for providers
• Rules for behaviour support and restrictive practices