Top 5 Compliance Mistakes NDIS Providers Make (And How to Avoid Them)
NDIS compliance can feel overwhelming — especially for smaller providers juggling day-to-day operations. At Ethospoint, we regularly help providers overcome the same common pitfalls that can lead to non-compliance, stress, and failed audits. Avoiding these top five mistakes will help strengthen your service, satisfy the NDIS Commission, and support safer outcomes for participants.
1. Incomplete or Missing Incident Records
Many providers skip recording low-risk or near-miss incidents, thinking they're not important. But the NDIS Commission expects all risks to be monitored — not just the serious ones.
Fix: Use a simple incident log. Review all incident reports monthly to spot trends and follow up.
2. Outdated Policies and Procedures
Generic or out-of-date policies are a red flag. Auditors want to see that your policies match your service delivery — and that you're actively using and reviewing them.
Fix: Tailor your policies to your registration groups. Set reminders to review and update them quarterly.
3. No Evidence of Staff Training
Having a training policy isn’t enough. You must document attendance, topics, and staff understanding — especially around compliance-critical areas like incidents and restrictive practices.
Fix: Keep sign-in sheets, training records, and feedback forms. Store digital copies for easy access at audit time.
4. Poor Documentation of Restrictive Practices
Even when used with good intentions, restrictive practices without proper authorisation or documentation put providers at serious risk.
Fix: Maintain a Restrictive Practices Register. Regularly review and document every case, with behaviour support oversight where required.
5. No Internal Audits or Self-Assessments
Some providers only focus on compliance when the Commission is knocking. That leaves too much risk unaddressed.
Fix: Do internal audits annually — or after major service changes. Use checklists aligned with the NDIS Practice Standards.
Avoiding these five compliance mistakes can dramatically improve your outcomes — for both audits and everyday service delivery. At Ethospoint, we support providers with clear, ethical compliance tools tailored to small and mid-sized teams.
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Top 5 Compliance Mistakes NDIS Providers Make
Or get in touch: info@ethospoint.com.au