The rules around who can deliver NDIS supports are changing, and for families across Greater Sydney, that is genuinely good news. But it also means there are things worth checking that you may not have thought to check before, particularly around NDIS worker screening and whether your provider is properly registered.
This is not about suspicion. It is about knowing what to look for so you can feel confident that the people supporting your family member are qualified, cleared and accountable.
Here is how to verify both, step by step.
Why the registration rules are changing
For most of the NDIS’s history, participants with self-managed or plan-managed funding could use unregistered providers. That gave families more choice, but it also meant some providers were delivering high-risk supports without any regulatory oversight from the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
Two major reviews changed the conversation. The 2023 NDIS Review and the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability both found that unregistered providers delivering complex supports created significant safety gaps. The Australian Government responded by introducing mandatory registration in phases.
Mandatory registration and what it means for participants
The key dates families need to know:
- 1 July 2026: Mandatory registration commenced for all providers delivering Supported Independent Living (SIL) and NDIS digital platform services. A new registration group (0138) and SIL-specific Practice Standards took effect on this date.
- 1 October 2026: All previously unregistered SIL providers must have applied for registration by this date, or stop delivering SIL supports. Providers who have lodged an application can continue operating while it is assessed.
- From 1 July 2027: The 2026-27 Federal Budget funded the expansion of mandatory registration to all high-risk supports, including personal care, daily living supports and services delivered in closed settings. The Government expects this reform will see 90% of all NDIS payments flow to registered providers (Minister for the NDIS media release, June 2026).
For families using a SIL provider in Sydney, the immediate step is straightforward: confirm your provider is registered or has applied before the October deadline. If they have not, the NDIS will help you find an alternative.
How to check a provider on the NDIS Commission register
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission maintains a public register of all registered providers. You do not need an account or login to use it.
Here is how to check:
- Visit the NDIS Commission website and navigate to the “Find a registered provider” search tool.
- Search by provider name, ABN or location. The register will show the provider’s registration status, the support groups they are registered to deliver, and the period their registration is valid until.
- Look at the registered support groups. A provider may be registered for some supports but not others. For example, a provider registered for “Participate Community” may not hold registration for “Assist-Personal Activities” or the new SIL group (0138). Make sure the registration covers the specific supports your family member receives.
- Check the registration period. Registration is not permanent. It has an expiry date, and the provider must renew before it lapses.
If you would rather not search the register yourself, you can ask the provider directly for their certificate of registration. A confident, well-organised provider will produce it without hesitation. If there is resistance or vagueness, that is worth noting.
ADCS is a registered NDIS provider in Sydney with registration across multiple support groups, including Assist-Personal Activities, Participate Community, Group/Centre Activities, Daily Tasks/Shared Living, and the new SIL registration group 0138.
How to verify a worker’s NDIS worker screening clearance
Provider registration tells you the organisation is regulated. NDIS worker screening tells you the individual person entering your family member’s home has been assessed as safe to work with people with disability.
An NDIS worker screening clearance is not the same as a standard police check. It is a national risk assessment, run by each state’s screening unit, that examines criminal history, professional disciplinary findings and other relevant records. The outcome is either “cleared” (they can work) or “excluded” (they cannot). Importantly, the clearance is continuously monitored for the full five-year validity period. If a new charge, conviction or finding arises during that time, the system triggers a review automatically.
Here is what to know as a family member or participant:
- There is no card or certificate. The NDIS worker screening clearance is entirely digital. It exists in the NDIS Worker Screening Database (NWSD), which registered providers access electronically.
- You can ask the provider to confirm clearance. While families do not have direct access to the database, you have every right to ask the provider to confirm that the worker assigned to your family member holds a current clearance. A registered provider is legally required to verify this before the worker starts.
- Ask for the clearance number and expiry date. A current clearance will have a status of “Clearance” and an expiry date in the future. If the provider cannot produce this information, do not proceed until they can.
- Clearances are portable. A screening clearance issued in any Australian state or territory is valid nationally. A worker cleared in Victoria can work in NSW without applying again.
In NSW, the screening application is managed through Service NSW. The clearance is valid for five years and costs $107 for workers ($80 for volunteers). The provider, not the worker, is responsible for verifying the clearance through the NWSD before the worker begins delivering support.
What to do if a worker cannot show their clearance
This does happen, and it does not always mean something is wrong. A worker may be new and their application still processing. But there are boundaries.
- A worker with a pending application should not be delivering support unsupervised in most circumstances. Some states allow conditional engagement while an application is being processed, but this varies and comes with restrictions.
- An expired clearance is not a current clearance. The first NDIS worker screening clearances began expiring from February 2026. If a worker’s clearance has lapsed and they have not renewed, they should not be working in a risk-assessed role.
- If a provider dismisses your question or cannot confirm screening status, escalate it. Contact your support coordinator and, if necessary, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission directly on 1800 035 544.
Your concern is legitimate. The screening system exists specifically to protect your family member, and asking about it is not rude. It is responsible.
What a fully registered provider looks like in practice
Before a support worker visits for the first time, a well-run provider should be able to produce three things without you needing to chase them:
- Certificate of registration showing current registration with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, including the relevant support groups
- Confirmation of NDIS worker screening clearance for every worker who will support your family member, including clearance numbers and expiry dates
- Evidence of insurance, including public liability and professional indemnity cover
Beyond documentation, you will notice the difference in how a registered provider operates day to day:
- They have a formal complaints process and can tell you how to use it.
- Their workers receive ongoing training, not just an induction.
- They conduct regular audits against the NDIS Practice Standards.
- They report incidents to the NDIS Commission as required by law.
- They maintain continuity of staff wherever possible, rather than sending different workers each visit.
These are not extras. Under the NDIS Practice Standards, they are the baseline for registered providers. If your current provider does not meet them, the registration reforms happening now give you a clear reason to revisit that arrangement.
For families in Greater Sydney navigating these changes, our article on whether your SIL provider is registered from October 2026 explains what the SIL-specific deadline means in practice. And our guide on the 7 NDIS changes happening between now and April 2027 puts the registration reforms in the context of the broader changes to the scheme.
FAQ and Tips
Can I check a worker’s screening status myself, without going through the provider?
Not directly. The NDIS Worker Screening Database is accessible to providers and employers, not to individual participants or families. However, you can ask the provider to share the worker’s clearance number and expiry date, and you can contact the NDIS Commission if you have concerns about a specific worker.
What is the difference between an NDIS worker screening clearance and a Working with Children Check?
They are separate checks run by different bodies for different purposes. An NDIS worker screening clearance assesses risk to people with disability specifically. A Working with Children Check assesses risk to children. If a participant is under 18, providers in NSW are typically required to hold both. ADCS is also a registered NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) service provider, which you can see on our child and young people safety page.
My provider says they are “in the process of registering.” Can they still deliver supports?
For SIL supports specifically, a provider that has lodged a registration application by 1 October 2026 can continue delivering SIL while the application is assessed. But “in the process” is vague. Ask for the application reference number and the date it was lodged. If they cannot provide either, treat it as unconfirmed.
Do self-managed participants need to use registered providers?
Currently, self-managed participants can still use unregistered providers for most supports. However, from 1 July 2027, mandatory registration is expected to expand to all high-risk supports regardless of how the plan is managed. Even now, using a registered provider gives you the assurance that workers are screened, audited and accountable to the NDIS Commission.
How do I find out what support groups a provider is registered for?
Search the NDIS Commission’s public register. The listing will show every registration group the provider holds. If you need daily living support, confirm the provider is registered for “Assist-Personal Activities.” If you need SIL, look for group 0138.
Checking your provider’s registration and your worker’s screening clearance takes a few minutes. It is one of the most practical things a family can do to make sure the people supporting their loved one are safe, qualified and held to a genuine standard.
If you have questions about ADCS’s registration, our worker screening processes, or how the 2026 changes affect your current supports, get in touch. We are happy to walk you through it.
