Local participants in the National Disability Insurance Scheme are set to have further protections in place, following the passage of new legislation in Federal Parliament.
Among the changes, there’ll be tougher penalties for serious misconduct and unsafe practices and increased powers to protect participants from abuse, neglect, exploitation and fraud.
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner Louise Glanville has welcomed the reform, saying it will support the national regulator to take more effective action to prevent harm and improve quality across the sector.
“These reforms strengthen our ability to identify and respond to risks, take timely enforcement action, and drive better practice across providers,” Ms Glanville said.
“They reflect extensive consultation with people with disability, families, advocates and providers, including those delivering supports in regional and rural communities.”
This legislation follows detailed consideration by the Parliament, including review by the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, and was informed by the NDIS Commission’s consultation and regulatory intelligence.
