Mandatory NDIS Registration: Who Must Register From 2025

Mandatory NDIS Registration: Who Must Register From 2025

Mandatory NDIS registration is transforming the regulatory landscape for disability service providers in Australia. Following recommendations from the NDIS Review, the Disability Royal Commission, and the NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce, the Australian Government has confirmed that registration will become compulsory for entire categories of providers that have previously operated without it. If you deliver Supported Independent Living, run a platform connecting participants to workers, or provide support coordination, this reform directly affects your business. This guide explains exactly who must register, when the obligations take effect, what the registration process involves, and how to prepare well ahead of the deadline.

What Is Mandatory NDIS Registration?

Mandatory NDIS registration is a regulatory reform that requires previously unregistered providers in specified service categories to register with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Registration involves meeting quality standards through independent audit, passing worker screening checks, and accepting ongoing compliance obligations under the NDIS Act 2013.

Why Is Mandatory Registration Being Introduced?

The shift towards compulsory registration did not emerge in isolation. It is the direct result of years of evidence gathering through major national inquiries that identified significant safeguarding gaps in the unregistered sector. Understanding the policy background helps providers appreciate both the intent and the urgency of these reforms.

The Three Reviews That Drove This Change

Three landmark inquiries produced overlapping recommendations for mandatory registration. The NDIS Review Final Report, released in late 2023, identified that the binary divide between registered and unregistered providers created inconsistent quality and safety standards across the scheme. The Disability Royal Commission, which concluded in 2023, documented numerous instances of harm to participants receiving supports from unregistered providers. The NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce, established in February 2024, provided detailed implementation advice released in August 2024 — including a graduated, risk-proportionate registration model.

The Taskforce received over 700 submissions from people with disability, families, advocates, providers, and workforce representatives. The consistent theme across submissions was that participants receiving higher-risk supports — particularly those living in shared accommodation — needed stronger safeguards than the existing unregistered framework could provide.

The Government’s Response

In September 2024, the then-Minister for the NDIS announced the government’s intention to introduce mandatory registration for SIL providers, support coordination providers, and platform providers. Following extensive consultation — including public submissions from November 2024 to March 2025, targeted community consultations through July 2025, and a series of industry forums — the confirmed timeline was announced in December 2025. The NDIS Commission’s mandatory registration hub continues to be updated as implementation guidance is finalised.

Who Must Register: The Three Categories

The mandatory registration 2025 reform framework identified three primary provider categories for compulsory registration. The timelines and current status differ across these categories, reflecting the pace of consultation and policy development.

1. Supported Independent Living (SIL) Providers

From 1 July 2026, all providers delivering NDIS-funded Supported Independent Living supports must be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. This applies to every organisation delivering SIL regardless of their current registration status. If you are currently operating as an unregistered SIL provider, you must transition to full registration — including completing an independent quality audit against the NDIS Practice Standards — as part of this mandatory process.

The policy rationale is straightforward. SIL involves people with disability living in shared accommodation environments, often with high support needs and significant dependency on their providers. The Commission and government determined that the risk profile of SIL requires the full accountability framework that registration brings: quality audits, incident reporting through SIRS, worker screening, and ongoing Commission oversight.

A transition period will apply — providers will not need to hold full registration on 1 July 2026 itself. However, the transition window commences from that date, and providers must be actively progressing their registration during the transition period. Policy development and market readiness activities commenced in February 2026. The Commission has committed to providing further guidance on transition arrangements and timelines throughout early 2026. Monitor the NDIS Commission reform hub for the most current guidance as it is released.

New SIL-specific NDIS Practice Standards are being developed alongside the registration reform. This means that SIL providers will not simply be assessed against general Practice Standards — they will face a tailored standards framework addressing the specific requirements of shared living environments, workforce capability, and participant safety in accommodation settings.

2. Platform Providers

Platform providers — digital or technology-based services that connect NDIS participants with support workers, including online marketplaces — must also register from 1 July 2026. Platform providers have occupied an unusual space in the NDIS market: they facilitate the delivery of NDIS supports without directly employing workers, creating accountability questions when things go wrong for participants.

The NDIS registration reform for platform providers recognises that these organisations exercise meaningful influence over how participants access supports, even where they characterise their role as purely facilitating a marketplace. From July 2026, platform providers must demonstrate that their operations meet quality and safeguarding standards through the registration and audit process. This will fundamentally reshape the business model of providers operating in this space.

As with SIL, a transition period will apply, and the NDIS Commission will release further guidance on what registration specifically requires for platform providers — including how the audit scope will be defined for entities that do not directly deliver supports themselves.

3. Support Coordinators: Reform Currently Paused

Support coordination was originally included in the mandatory registration announcement of September 2024. However, the NDIS Commission has paused the mandatory registration reform for support coordinators while it considers further design work on this category.

This pause does not mean the issue has been abandoned. The Commission has thanked those who participated in consultations on support coordination registration and confirmed that reform in this area is still being actively considered. Providers delivering support coordination services should continue to monitor Commission announcements closely, as mandatory registration requirements could be reinstated with a confirmed timeline.

Importantly, even without mandatory registration, support coordinators already face significant compliance obligations. If you hold an existing support coordination registration, those obligations — including the quality audit process and adherence to NDIS Practice Standards — remain fully in force. Review our guide on NDIS support coordination best practices to ensure your services remain compliant regardless of how the mandatory registration reform evolves.

Plan Management: Tightened Requirements

While plan management is not subject to mandatory registration in the same way as SIL and platform providers, the NDIS registration reform has brought tightened requirements for plan management providers specifically. These changes reflect concerns about the financial management of participant funds by unqualified or inadequately supervised staff.

What Changed for Plan Management Registration

Plan management providers must now demonstrate that their staff hold appropriate qualifications and professional body memberships relevant to financial management and disability support coordination. Worker screening checks are required for all workers in risk-assessed roles within plan management organisations. Additionally, plan management providers must maintain evidence of these qualifications and memberships as part of their compliance documentation.

These tightened requirements mean that plan management providers face a more rigorous registration and renewal process than in previous years. Providers whose staff do not hold relevant qualifications — or whose policies do not reflect current requirements — may face difficulties at their next audit. Review our comprehensive NDIS plan management guide to ensure your operations meet current standards.

Worker Screening for Risk-Assessed Roles

The mandatory registration reform is closely linked to expanded worker screening requirements. The NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce recommended that worker screening apply to all workers in risk-assessed roles, regardless of whether their employer is a registered or unregistered provider. This represents a significant extension of screening obligations beyond the existing framework.

What Are Risk-Assessed Roles?

Risk-assessed roles are positions where a worker has more than incidental contact with NDIS participants in the course of their duties. These roles include, but are not limited to:

• Direct support workers delivering personal care, daily activities, or accommodation supports
• Behaviour support practitioners working with participants
• Support coordinators who have regular contact with participants
• Workers involved in delivering SIL, SDA, or other accommodation-based supports
• Any role with direct, unsupervised access to participants

Under the current framework, registered providers are already required to ensure workers in risk-assessed roles hold a valid NDIS Worker Screening Check. The reform extends this obligation to workers employed by providers who become subject to mandatory registration — meaning that when SIL and platform providers register from July 2026, their workers in risk-assessed roles must hold current screening checks as part of the registration conditions.

If you are preparing for mandatory registration, worker screening should be one of your first priorities. Screening checks can take time to process, and having workers who do not hold current clearances at the time of your audit will create compliance issues. See our detailed guide on NDIS worker screening requirements to understand the process and timeframes.

Screening for All Workers, Not Just New Hires

A critical point for providers transitioning to registration is that worker screening applies to your existing workforce, not just future hires. When you register, all workers in risk-assessed roles must hold valid clearances — you cannot simply screen new employees going forward and leave existing staff unscreened. This means providers with large workforces will need to initiate a screening program well before their registration deadline to ensure all applicable workers are cleared in time.

The Compulsory Registration Process: What It Involves

For providers facing compulsory registration, the registration process follows the same pathway as voluntary registration — but with the added pressure of a legal deadline. Understanding the process in advance allows you to allocate adequate time and resources.

Step 1: Determine Your Registration Groups

Your registration groups define which NDIS Practice Standards apply to your organisation and which audit pathway you must follow. SIL providers will almost certainly follow the certification pathway — a two-stage audit involving both desktop and on-site assessment — given the high-risk nature of accommodation-based supports. Platform providers may face different pathway determinations as the Commission finalises its approach to this category.

Identifying your registration groups accurately from the outset is essential. Adding registration groups later, or realising mid-audit that your scope is incorrect, creates delays and additional costs. Consult the NDIS Commission’s registration group guidance and, where necessary, seek advice from an Approved Quality Auditor before lodging your application. Our NDIS provider registration checklist provides a comprehensive overview of the groups and pathway requirements.

Step 2: Conduct a Self-Assessment Against Practice Standards

The self-assessment is your organisation’s structured evaluation of its own compliance against every applicable NDIS Practice Standard module. For providers coming from an unregistered background, this step often reveals significant gaps — in documentation, governance structures, incident management systems, and staff training records.

Do not approach the self-assessment as a formality. It is the foundation of your audit preparation and, if conducted honestly, your most powerful tool for identifying what needs to be fixed before an external auditor assesses you. Gaps identified during self-assessment that are unaddressed at audit become non-conformities. Non-conformities can delay your registration outcome and, in severe cases, result in a refused application.

Step 3: Build Your Policy and Documentation Framework

Registered providers must maintain comprehensive policies and procedures aligned to NDIS Practice Standards. For unregistered SIL and platform providers, building this documentation framework from scratch is typically the most time-consuming element of the transition. Key documents include:

• Incident management policy and SIRS reporting procedures
• Risk management framework and risk register
• Complaints management policy and register
• Worker screening and recruitment policy
• Staff training matrix and records
• Service agreements and participant consent procedures
• Governance documents, including meeting minutes and decision-making records
• Emergency management and continuity planning

Review your NDIS Practice Standards requirements for each applicable module to ensure your documentation framework covers all required areas. Incomplete documentation is consistently among the most common reasons for audit non-conformities.

Step 4: Engage an Approved Quality Auditor

Only NDIS Commission-approved quality auditors can assess compliance for registration purposes. Request your Scope of Audit document from the Commission portal — auditors require this before they can provide a quote. Obtain at least three quotes and evaluate auditors on their experience with your service types and their availability within your target registration timeframe.

For SIL providers, this is particularly important. As mandatory registration approaches, demand for AQA services will increase significantly as hundreds of previously unregistered providers simultaneously seek audits. Providers who delay engaging an auditor may find qualified auditors unavailable within their required timeframe. Engage your AQA as early as possible — at least six to nine months before you need your registration to be in place.

Step 5: Undergo the Audit and Address Non-Conformities

The audit assesses whether your organisation genuinely meets NDIS Practice Standards — not just whether you have the right documents on file. Auditors increasingly focus on outcomes-based evidence: how your systems actually protect and support participants in practice. Staff interviews, participant interviews, file reviews, and operational observations all contribute to this assessment.

If the audit identifies non-conformities, you must address them before the auditor can submit a recommendation to the Commission. Minor non-conformities must be resolved within 18 months; major non-conformities require resolution within three months, verified by the auditor, before the recommendation proceeds. Build adequate time into your registration timeline to address any audit findings. Review our NDIS compliance checklist to understand the full range of compliance requirements your audit will assess.

How to Prepare: A Practical Roadmap for Mandatory Registration

For SIL and platform providers facing the July 2026 deadline, the time to start preparing is now. The following roadmap provides a structured approach to the transition.

Immediate Actions (Now to Mid-2026)

1. Monitor NDIS Commission guidance releases: The Commission is releasing transition guidance progressively through 2026. Stay current by subscribing to Commission updates and checking the reform hub regularly.
2. Conduct a gap analysis: Compare your current operations against NDIS Practice Standards to identify the distance between where you are now and where you need to be for registration.
3. Begin worker screening: Identify all workers in risk-assessed roles and initiate their NDIS Worker Screening Check applications. Allow adequate processing time.
4. Develop your governance framework: Establish board or management structures, decision-making records, and risk management processes consistent with Practice Standards expectations.
5. Engage an AQA early: Contact approved quality auditors now to understand their availability for your projected audit timeframe and begin the scoping conversation.

Medium-Term Actions (Mid-2026)

1. Lodge your registration application in the NDIS Commission portal once transition arrangements are confirmed and the application pathway is open.
2. Complete your self-assessment and compile supporting documentation — policies, procedures, training records, incident registers, and governance documents.
3. Schedule and complete your audit within the transition framework timelines the Commission establishes.
4. Address any non-conformities promptly to avoid delays to your registration outcome.

Providers who treat the transition period as an opportunity to genuinely improve their operations — not just tick compliance boxes — will be best positioned for sustainable, long-term registration. Registration is an ongoing obligation, not a one-time event. The quality standards that earned you registration must be maintained throughout the registration period. Build robust systems from the outset rather than implementing a compliance overlay that cannot be sustained. Our guide on NDIS incident management provides a practical starting point for one of the most critical compliance systems you will need.

What Mandatory Registration Means for Participants

Does mandatory registration directly affect NDIS participants?

Mandatory registration primarily affects providers, not participants directly. Your NDIS plan, funding, and goals remain unchanged by the reform. However, the reform is designed to improve participant safety — particularly for people living in SIL arrangements — by ensuring all SIL providers are subject to quality audits, worker screening, and incident reporting obligations. Participants supported by providers who choose not to register and exit the market may need to transition to a registered provider. If your SIL provider has not communicated their registration plans, ask them directly.

What happens to participants if their unregistered SIL provider does not register?

If an unregistered SIL provider does not register by the end of the transition period, they will no longer be able to deliver NDIS-funded SIL supports. Participants in this situation will need to identify a registered provider. The NDIS Commission and NDIA are expected to provide guidance on managing these transitions to minimise disruption. Participants should speak with their support coordinator or plan manager if they are concerned about their provider’s registration status. See our guide on the NDIS plan review process for information on how to access plan flexibility if a change of provider is needed.

How Inficurex Helps Providers Prepare for Mandatory Registration

Transitioning to mandatory NDIS registration is a significant undertaking, particularly for providers who have previously operated without the documentation and governance infrastructure that registration requires. Inficurex’s NDIS management software is built for registered and registering providers alike — helping organisations build and maintain the compliance systems that underpin a successful audit outcome. From incident management and SIRS reporting to worker screening tracking, service agreement management, and progress notes documentation, Inficurex keeps your compliance evidence organised, current, and audit-ready. Whether you are preparing for your first registration audit or managing ongoing obligations after your initial registration, the right tools make the process significantly more manageable. Learn how Inficurex supports NDIS provider compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mandatory NDIS Registration

Who is required to register under the mandatory NDIS registration reforms?

From 1 July 2026, all providers delivering NDIS-funded Supported Independent Living (SIL) supports and all NDIS platform providers must transition to mandatory registration with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. A transition period applies, meaning providers will not need to hold full registration on 1 July 2026, but must be actively progressing their registration. Mandatory registration for support coordinators has been paused while further design work is completed.

When does mandatory NDIS registration take effect?

The transition to mandatory registration for SIL and platform providers begins from 1 July 2026. This follows the announcement by Minister for the NDIS Senator Jenny McAllister on 18 December 2025. The NDIS Commission is expected to release further guidance on transition arrangements and timelines throughout early 2026. Providers should monitor the Commission’s reform hub at ndiscommission.gov.au for the latest information.

What is the current status of mandatory registration for support coordinators?

Mandatory registration for support coordination providers has been paused while the NDIS Commission considers further reform design. This does not mean the issue has been abandoned — support coordination registration remains under active consideration. Providers of support coordination services should continue to monitor Commission announcements. Those who already hold support coordination registration must continue meeting all existing compliance obligations regardless of the pause.

Do platform providers need to register under mandatory NDIS registration?

Yes. Platform providers — digital services and online marketplaces that connect NDIS participants with support workers — must register from 1 July 2026. Platform providers will need to meet quality standards through independent audit, implement worker screening for risk-assessed roles, and meet ongoing reporting and compliance obligations under the NDIS Act. The NDIS Commission will release specific guidance on audit pathway requirements for platform providers as implementation details are finalised.

What worker screening requirements apply under mandatory registration?

Under mandatory registration, all workers in risk-assessed roles — positions involving more than incidental contact with NDIS participants — must hold a valid NDIS Worker Screening Check. This applies to the entire existing workforce, not just new hires. Providers transitioning to registration should initiate worker screening applications well in advance of their audit to ensure all applicable workers are cleared before the audit takes place. Screening checks can take several weeks to process, and delays can hold up registration timelines.

What NDIS Practice Standards will SIL providers need to meet?

SIL providers will be assessed against both the core NDIS Practice Standards modules and new SIL-specific Practice Standards that are being developed alongside the registration reform. These new standards will address the specific requirements of shared living environments, workforce capability in accommodation settings, and participant safety and rights in SIL contexts. The Commission will release the finalised SIL-specific standards as part of the transition guidance in 2026.

How long does the mandatory NDIS registration process take?

For SIL and platform providers registering for the first time, the full registration process — from initial self-assessment through audit to Commission approval — typically takes six to twelve months when conducted under normal conditions. Given that large numbers of providers will be entering the registration process simultaneously as the 2026 deadline approaches, providers should allow even more time. Starting the process at least twelve months before you need registration to be confirmed is strongly advisable.

What happens to unregistered SIL providers who do not register by the deadline?

Providers who do not register by the end of the transition period will no longer be permitted to deliver NDIS-funded SIL supports. They cannot claim NDIS payments for SIL services, cannot present as NDIS-registered providers, and participants they support will need to transition to registered providers. The Commission is expected to provide guidance on managing participant transitions to minimise disruption. Providers who are uncertain about their ability to meet registration requirements should engage with the Commission or seek professional advice as early as possible.