About this resource
Registered providers must notify the NDIS Commission of reportable incidents connected with their supports: a death, serious injury, abuse or neglect, unlawful sexual or physical contact or assault, sexual misconduct, and the use of a restrictive practice that is unauthorised or not in line with a behaviour support plan. Most must be reported within 24 hours of key personnel becoming aware, with a 5-day report within 5 business days. This guide walks through the decision and the timeframes in a format suited to a staff office wall.
Purpose
To help workers and team leaders recognise reportable incidents and act within the required timeframes.
Who it is for
Primary profession: NDIS providers and support coordinators. Also relevant for disability support workers, positive behaviour support practitioners, community services and case workers.
Client or participant group: Team leaders, key personnel and support workers in registered NDIS providers.
Practice setting: Supported independent living homes and other registered NDIS services, including after hours.
Suggested uses
- Displaying in the staff office of a SIL home
- Induction and refresher training
- After-hours on-call support
- Team discussion after an incident
Instructions for practitioners
- Use this guide in induction and refresher training, alongside your own incident procedure.
- Make sure workers know who the key personnel are and how to reach them at any time.
- Check the NDIS Commission's current guidance whenever you are unsure.
- Record every incident in your incident register, whether or not it is reportable.
Accessibility considerations
One-page flowchart with large text, suitable for printing as a poster.
Scope and limitations
A practical record-keeping tool. It is not legal advice and does not by itself show that a provider meets the NDIS Practice Standards. Check it against the current Practice Standards, NDIS rules and your registration groups, and adapt it to your own policies. If you are unsure whether an incident is reportable, contact the NDIS Commission. In an emergency, call 000.
Higher-risk topic: use only within your training, supervision and organisational procedures.
Research basis
The NDIS incident management rules require registered providers to record, respond to and learn from incidents, keep incident records for 7 years and notify the NDIS Commission of reportable incidents within set timeframes: most within 24 hours of key personnel becoming aware, with a further report within 5 business days.
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (Incident Management and Reportable Incidents) Rules 2018 (Cth). https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2018L00633/latest/text
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Reportable incidents. https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/providers/registered-ndis-providers/reportable-incidents
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced. Written for Practitioner Plus from the NDIS Practice Standards and NDIS rules listed in the research basis; no third-party template was used. It is not an NDIS Commission form.
