Tips for choosing a support provider

Key points

• There are so many different providers out there that it can be difficult to know which one to choose for your supports
• To narrow it down and make sure your provider suits you, make a list of what you are looking for in a provider
• It’s also important to look at their credentials and client reviews

There are so many NDIS support providers out there for you to choose from that it can be hard to know where to start.

But choosing which provider to trust with providing your support is an important personal decision – one that you want to think carefully about and shouldn’t rush.

The provider you end up choosing should make you feel safe and comfortable and give you exactly the services you need so that you can achieve your goals.

Think about what you are looking for

You might want to start by writing down what you are looking for in a NDIS service provider and what is important to you.

Some questions that you might like to think about include:

• Do you want most of your supports to be through the same provider or are you comfortable with managing services from multiple providers?
• Do you want the same support worker to visit each time?
• Are you willing to see therapists and specialists at clinics or do you want them to be able to deliver the service in your home, or another location?
• How soon do you need the service provider to start your supports?
• Do you need the provider to be flexible and able to change the times and places support is provided to meet your schedule?
• For supports where you need to go to a location in the community, such as day programs, would you like the provider to offer you transport?
• Do you have personal or cultural values that you want your service provider or support worker to match?
• What are some personality traits you would like your support workers to have, if possible, so that you can get along easily with them and build rapport?

Once you have an idea of what you are looking for you can use the directory on this website to find providers in your area that meet your requirements.

The search function allows you to not only choose your location to search in, but also to search for key words that are linked to what you are looking for in a provider.

Do some research on potential providers

Finding out a bit more about the providers you are considering – beyond their face value profile – is an important part of choosing a provider that is a good match for you.

Look at the provider’s website, social media pages and online reviews to see what other clients are saying about them. If you know anyone who currently receives services from the provider or has in the past, you can also ask about their experiences with the provider.

Check out the provider’s credentials, such as quality certifications and industry awards, and double check with the NDIS Commission that they don’t have any past or present sanctions.

Have a look at the types of services they provide and whether these will meet exactly what you need – there’s no point in finding the perfect provider if they don’t actually offer the occupational therapy services you need, for example.

If you are a First Nations person, from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD)background or identify as LGBTQIA+, ask the provider whether they have any experience or qualifications in providing services that are inclusive of you.

For providers that don’t have any experience with culturally appropriate and diverse services you can also ask if they would be willing to do training in order to provide you with support.

Know the NDIS requirements

With NDIS funding it is also important to know how the management of your plan affects the types of providers you can use.

For any parts of your plan that are agency managed you can only claim for services from a registered NDIS provider. This means you will need to limit your search for providers for agency managed parts of your funding to only registered providers.

If your plan, or part of your plan, is plan managed or self managed you can also use those funds for non-registered NDIS providers, so you are not limited to only using registered providers.

What else would you like to know about the process of finding support providers? Tell us in the comments below.

Related content:
Your first plan
Understanding NDIS pricing
NDIS service agreements: what are they and do I need one?