NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission


The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, also referred to as the NDIS Commission, is a statutory agency of the Australian Government responsible for improving the quality and safety of the National Disability Insurance Scheme through regulation of scheme providers, the promotion of quality and safety, dispute resolution, and scheme review. The NQSC replaces state-by-state NDIS quality legislation, gaining responsibility on a rolling basis from 1 July 2018 to 1 July 2020.

Purpose

The NQSC was created in December 2017 to "improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services." The Commission exists as part of a federal agreement between the Australian Government and states and territory governments, the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework. It aligns the various quality and safeguard programs each state and territory developed during the initial rollout of the NDIS, benefiting from additional federal investigative and regulatory powers. Fundamentally, the NQSC has the role of managing the complains, quality and safeguarding processes of the NDIS and for regulating NDIS service providers and workers. The Commission, however, does not regulate the National Disability Insurance Agency, which operates the scheme proper.

Rollout

The NQSC has gained responsibility for the quality and safety of the NDIS on a rolling basis, scheduled to end on 1 July 2020, when the Commission will gain responsibility for the NDIS in Western Australia. The Commission gained responsibility for the NDIS in New South Wales and South Australia on 1 July 2018. Starting 1 July 2019, it also gained responsibility in Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory. The NQSC was created under the through the .

Structure

The NQSC is led by its Commissioner, Registrar and Chief Operating Officer. These three roles are supported by the Senior Practitioner, the Complaints Commissioner, Deputy Registrar, and General Counsel. The NQSC as an independent government agency falls under the control of the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, The Hon. Stuart Robert MP.

Commissioners

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner is Graeme Head, supported by Robert Griew, the Complaints Commissioner. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner has overarching control over the NQSC and has the concentrated legislative powers of the Commission. Head was appointed as the NQSC Commissioner in December 2017, having previously worked in public health and environmental protection for the NSW Government and the federal Department of Health, as well as the Sydney Catchment Authority.