What safeguards are
Safeguards are rules to help protect you from harm, abuse, neglect or exploitation.
Some safeguards are in the Australian Consumer Law. They say you have the right to be treated fairly. You have rights when buying goods and services from a business or provider.
The law makes it clear you have the right to:
- be treated fairly
- be given accurate information before you buy
- cancel a faulty service
- a repair, replacement or refund if something goes wrong.
What safeguards are for
Safeguards help protect you and your NDIS plan.
Safeguards are important to protect your right to be safe and receive quality services from NDIS providers and workers.
We encourage you to consider the safeguards, strategies and support tools you have when we create or change your plan, and when you use your plan.
Your NDIA planner will work with you to identify risks and any safeguards that may be needed to help you. They’ll also talk to you about your plan management options.
They can help to check how you can improve existing safeguards you have in your life. This includes ways you can better protect yourself from risk as well as other safeguarding tools you might want to use.
Your my NDIS contact can also help with safeguards if you need.
What safeguards are like
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) is an independent government regulator helping safeguard NDIS participants. The NDIS Commission helps keep NDIS participants safe.
The NDIS Commission handles complaints about the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services. They promote safe practices and help improve the quality of providers' services. This helps make sure you receive quality supports.
The NDIS Commission makes sure NDIS providers are doing a good job. They make sure NDIS providers follow the:
- Code of Conduct – rules about the kind of behaviour expected
- practice standards – rules that explain what good quality, safe services are.
Your consumer rights
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has rules to protect your consumer rights. This is another type of safeguard.
Learn more about your consumer rights.
How to get help with safeguards
It is okay to speak up if you:
- feel unsafe with your provider
- are not happy with the quality of the services from your provider.
Speaking up can help improve services for you and other people.
You may want to talk to your provider first to see if they can put things right.
You can also contact the NDIS Commission: