About this resource
The NDIS incident management rules set out what providers must record about each incident: a description including the impact on the person, whether it is a reportable incident, when and where it happened, the people involved and witnesses, the assessment, the actions taken to support the person, consultation with them, whether they received the findings, any investigation and who made the record. Records must be kept for 7 years. This register follows those details and adds a review section so each incident leads to learning.
Purpose
To record, track and learn from every incident, and show that reportable incidents were notified on time.
Who it is for
Primary profession: NDIS providers and support coordinators. Also relevant for positive behaviour support practitioners, disability support workers, community services and case workers.
Client or participant group: Registered NDIS providers: directors, quality and compliance staff, house and team leaders.
Practice setting: Registered NDIS providers, including supported independent living homes.
Suggested uses
- Recording all incidents, not only reportable ones
- Tracking 24-hour and 5-day reportable incident reports
- Monthly incident review and trend spotting
- Audit evidence for incident management
Instructions for practitioners
- Make everyone safe first and get urgent help where needed.
- Record every incident promptly, including near misses.
- Decide whether it is a reportable incident and, if so, notify the NDIS Commission within the required timeframe.
- Support and consult the people affected, and tell them how the incident was handled.
- Review incidents regularly for causes and patterns, and add improvements to your continuous improvement register.
Accessibility considerations
Landscape register plus a one-page review form.
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. For reportable incidents, follow the NDIS Commission's current guidance and portal requirements.
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. Inquiries into supported accommodation found that abuse and neglect are more likely in closed cultures where residents' voices are not heard; protective cultures, relationships with people outside the service and early responses to conflict are important safeguards.
- 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. (2023). Own Motion Inquiry into aspects of supported accommodation: Executive summary. https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/own-motion-inquiry-aspects-supported-accommodation-executive-summary-report
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Reportable incidents. https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/providers/registered-ndis-providers/reportable-incidents
- Robinson, S., & Chenoweth, L. (2011). Preventing abuse in accommodation services: From procedural response to protective cultures. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 15(1), 63–74. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744629511403649
- Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. (2023). Final report. https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/publications/final-report
What is included
A 4-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.
