Not every NDIS provider has to be registered. Participants who are self-managed or plan-managed can use unregistered providers. Registration is required to work with NDIA-managed participants, and to deliver certain higher-risk supports. Decide which participants you want to serve first, because that decides the audit type and the cost.
🇦🇺 Independent guide for new NDIS providers
Become an NDIS provider without the confusion.
A plain-English 10-step checklist, free downloadable guides and an AI assistant who answers your questions any time of day.
10clear steps
3free PDF guides
24/7AI assistant
Application is free on the official portalLinks to official NDIS and ABR pagesNo account neededProgress saved on your device
Watch: becoming an NDIS provider in 43 seconds
The whole journey at a glance, before you dive into the checklist.
Who this guide is for
Whether you are starting out or switching careers, the steps are the same.
Support workers going independent
You already do the work. Now you want to run it yourself and choose your own participants.
Small business owners
Adding NDIS supports to an existing business and need to know what extra it takes.
Allied health and community groups
Teams that want the audit, policies and agreements set up correctly the first time.
Your step-by-step checklist
Open a step, tick off each task and watch your progress grow. Everything is saved in your browser.
0%0 of 10 steps complete
You need an Australian Business Number. Sole trader, company and trust are all possible; the structure affects who must be screened and who administers your digital access later. The ABN application is free.
This is where most people get stuck. The chain is: myID (formerly myGovID) proves who you are, Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM) links you to your ABN, and the NDIS Commission portal then lets you apply. If RAM is not linked to your ABN, the portal login fails. Free cheat sheet in the Downloads section below.
Registration groups are the categories of support you will be approved for, for example daily personal activities, community participation or plan management. Pick only what you will deliver in your first year. More groups mean a bigger audit and a bigger bill.
Everyone in a risk-assessed role needs an NDIS worker screening clearance, and every worker needs the free Worker Orientation Module certificate. Screening takes the longest, so lodge it early. Auditors also ask for first aid and CPR certificates and qualifications that match your groups. Free course guides in the Downloads section below.
Auditors check that you have written policies that match how you actually work: incident management, complaints, risk, privacy, restrictive practices where relevant and more. You also need insurance that fits the supports you deliver, usually public liability and professional indemnity.
Log in through myID and RAM, complete the application and declare your groups and key personnel. The application itself is free. After you submit, the Commission emails you an initial scope of audit that tells you which audit you need.
Lower-risk supports need a verification audit. Higher-risk supports need a certification audit, which is bigger and costs more. You hire an approved quality auditor and pay them directly. Get at least three quotes and ask what evidence they will want to see.
Once you are registered, every participant needs a service agreement that explains what you will do, when, and for what price. Check how each participant's plan is managed (NDIA, plan-managed or self-managed) because it changes how you invoice.
Registration runs for a fixed period and the Commission can audit you again. Track expiry dates for screening, certificates, insurance and registration itself. Put them all in one calendar the week you are approved.
Free downloads and course guides
Print them or keep them on your phone. Each guide tells you exactly what to do next, so you never wonder "okay, now what?"
myID → RAM → NDIS cheat sheet
The 10-minute login chain: verify your identity, link your ABN in RAM, test the NDIS portal. Plus the 3 usual reasons it fails.
Next step: line up NDIS worker screening for everyone in a risk-assessed role.
Download PDF ↓Course guide: Worker Orientation Module
The free ~90 minute course every NDIS worker completes. Where to start, how to save your certificate, and the name-matching check auditors do.
Next step: lodge worker screening applications. They take the longest.
Download PDF ↓Course guide: First Aid + CPR
Which units to book (HLTAID011 and HLTAID009), typical cost, how long they last and how to have them ready for audit day.
Next step: finish policies and insurance, then submit your portal application.
Download PDF ↓Want the paperwork done for you?
The guide and Kimi are free. If you would rather not write it all yourself, the Document Pack gives you every document ready to sign and send.
$1,490once-off · consultants typically charge $3,000 to $5,000
- Complete policies and procedures pack for your registration groups
- Service agreement template ready to use
- Audit evidence checklist so nothing is missed
- Registration group advice for your first application
- Delivered in 3 business days with one revision round
The NDIS application itself is free. You are paying for document preparation only. Government fees, insurance and the auditor are paid by you directly at cost, and the NDIS Commission makes the final decision on every application. We cannot guarantee approval.
1
Order and pay. Tell us about your business and the supports you offer.
2
15-minute intake call. We confirm your registration groups and how you work.
3
Documents in 3 days. Sign, send and keep moving through the checklist.
Order the Document Pack
Fill this in and your email app opens a ready-to-send request. We reply within one business day.
Common questions
How much does it really cost?
Most small providers spend about $3,000 to $6,000 all up. The ABN and the application are free. Worker screening is roughly $100 to $140 per person, insurance roughly $800 to $2,000 a year, and the audit is the big one at around $2,000 to $4,000 or more. Figures vary by auditor, state and audit type.
Do I have to be registered?
No. You can work with self-managed and plan-managed participants unregistered. Registration is needed for NDIA-managed participants and for some higher-risk supports.
What is the difference between a verification and a certification audit?
Verification audits suit lower-risk supports and are smaller. Certification audits apply to higher-risk supports, look at more evidence and cost more.
How long does it take?
Plan on two to four months end to end. Worker screening and the audit booking are usually the slowest parts, so start those early.
Why can't I log into the NDIS portal?
Almost always RAM. Your myID must be linked to your ABN in Relationship Authorisation Manager before the portal will let you in. Our free cheat sheet walks through it.
What do I get from the Document Pack?
A complete set of policies and procedures, a service agreement template and an audit evidence checklist, tailored to your registration groups and delivered in three business days with one revision round.
Is Plain NDIS part of the NDIS?
No. Plain NDIS is an independent guide. We are not the NDIS, the NDIA or the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and nobody can guarantee approval. The Commission makes the final decision.
Are the course guides copies of the official courses?
No. They show you where to complete each official course, how to get your certificate and what to do next. The courses themselves are completed on the official platforms.