Shannon Leslie Byrne
NDIS Commission Announces 2025–26 Priorities Emphasizing Participant Rights and Safer Services
Friday 22 August 2025
Reducing the use of restrictive practices and enhancing the management of high-risk health issues are key priorities for the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) in 2025–26.
The NDIS Commission will also enhance regulatory oversight of unregistered NDIS providers, including sole traders, and ensure providers employ skilled and capable workers.
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner Louise Glanville stated that the 2025–26 regulatory priorities demonstrate the regulator’s dedication to upholding the rights of NDIS participants by improving quality and safety, enabling people with disability to live with independence and dignity.
“We expect providers to uphold the rights of people with disability in all areas, particularly where participant risk is high,” Commissioner Glanville said.
“Providers must deliver safe, high-quality services that empower people with disability to achieve their goals.
“In cases of serious non-compliance, the NDIS Commission will take decisive action.”
The four regulatory priorities for 2025–26 are:
the reduction and elimination of regulated restrictive practices
enhanced oversight and regulation of unregistered NDIS providers and sole traders
provider obligations to support participants in proactively identifying and managing high-risk health issues
provider obligations to support, train, and monitor appropriately skilled and capable workers.
The priority areas align with the NDIS Commission’s focus on ensuring human rights are central to disability supports and services.
“Practices that restrict the rights or freedom of movement of people with disability can be traumatic, dangerous, and violate basic human rights,” Commissioner Glanville said.
“As a regulator focused on the human rights of people with disability, we prioritize and promote services that support dignity, inclusion, and remove barriers to full societal participation for people with disability.
The NDIS Commission will also take strong action against providers who fail to meet their obligations to support participants in proactively identifying and managing high-risk health issues.
“Preventable deaths or severe health outcomes are completely unacceptable. We expect providers to identify and address health risks early—lives depend on it,” Commissioner Glanville said.
Unregistered providers make up more than 90% of the market. Being unregistered does not exempt providers from obligations under the NDIS Code of Conduct and the jurisdiction of the NDIS Commission.
“The community expects NDIS providers to meet high standards, regardless of their registration status,” Commissioner Glanville said.
“We will take decisive action against unregistered NDIS providers for serious violations of the NDIS Code of Conduct.”
Poor work practices and inadequate staff training remain issues. The NDIS Commission will prioritize actions ensuring providers meet their obligations to support, train, and monitor appropriately skilled and capable workers.
“Workers play a crucial role in delivering quality and safe supports to NDIS participants. Providers need to equip their workforce to perform effectively,” Commissioner Glanville said.
The NDIS Commission’s regulatory priorities were informed by the current NDIS legislative framework, market insights, and recommendations from various reviews.