top of page
First2Care’s Response to the NDIS Legislation

3 minutes

25 October 2021


On October 7th, responses were due to the NDIA’s proposed legislation changes. First2Care made the most of the opportunity by responding with recommendations and comments that best reflect what we wish to see for our clients and providers.

This includes holding the Agency accountable for its compliance and enforcement priorities for the next year, which need to be equally prioritised in the legislation. Two NDIS priorities of particular interest here are prevention of harm, and management of conflicts of interest.

We addressed the following topics in our response:

• We agree that the NDIA should be putting effort into preventing harm by means of moving participant preference of management style from a default of agency managed to more of an ‘opt-in’ approach. As it stands, when a new plan is set up or a plan review happens, plans are automatically managed by the NDIA, unless the participant requests specifically to be plan managed or self-managed. We propose that this is unfair to participants’ rights to choice and control, and instead every participant should be able to comfortably weigh up all their options and choose freely.

• Organisations that currently provide both support coordination and plan management, described as joint organisations in our response, directly contradict the Agency’s own legislative Rules and Measures. This is because, as the Agency states, “there is a risk that that person may inappropriately influence the participant’s choice of providers of other supports specified in the statement of participant supports.” We believe that support coordinators who also provide plan management cause financial harm to participants and disregard participants’ autonomy as well as NDIS’ core principle of choice and control. These joint organisations give themselves the opportunity to ‘double dip’ into participant’s plans, paying themselves an excessive amount to provide a service that we believe to have severe conflicts of interest.

• There is no mention within the proposed legislation changes of reasonable and necessary criteria, which the disability community has been asking for clarification of for years. As a plan manager, we often hear from clients who are unsure of whether a support or service can be deemed reasonable and necessary. We always do our best to provide advice that is supportive of our clients’ needs, however the lack of regulation and guidelines from the Agency makes it difficult for clients to know this firsthand. This is a guideline that should be far less complex than it is in its current form. We suggest that this becomes legislated so no client misses out on supports that will help them achieve their goals and live a full and happy life.

• We believe that if there is limited understanding of the disability community’s needs and rights, the relevant legislation and its effectiveness will be just as limited. We will always stand up for our clients and providers and will keep you updated in our fight for a better NDIS for everybody.

First2Care Logo_Primary_White1.png

Quick Menu

The First2Care Newsletter

Acknowledgement Of Country

First2Care provides transparent NDIS Plan Management & is focused on supporting your choices. Live the life you want with First2Care by your side.


Our services provide Invoice Processing | Budget Support | Claims Processing | Administration | NDIS Compliance

Participants & Support Providers can stay up to date with NDIS updates, social events and announcements specially tailored for you!

First2Care respectfully operates on Meanjin land, as named by the Jagera people and the Turrbal people. We honour this privilege and responsibility with respect and humility to past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation. We acknowledge the wisdom, diversity and continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

  • icon-fb-firts2care.png
  • icon-twitter-firts2care.png
  • icon-insta-firts2care
  • icon-linkedin-firts2care.png
  • Odnoklassniki

© 2023 First2Care - Serving our participants & community since 2014.

Support Management Solutions Pty Ltd T/AS First2Care. Provider Registration No. 4050003364 First2Care.

All rights reserved. ABN: 24 601 046 155

bottom of page