How to Find and Choose an NDIS Provider

Your NDIS plan gives you funding — but the outcomes you achieve depend heavily on the providers you choose. The right provider understands your goals, communicates clearly, and delivers supports that genuinely help you build independence.

With 1,000 providers listed in our directory across Australia, the choice can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks the process into clear steps so you can find providers who are the right fit.

Before you start searching, you need to understand how your plan is managed. This determines which providers you can access:

NDIA-managed (Agency-managed): The NDIA pays providers directly. You can only use registered providers. The NDIA handles all invoicing and payments.

Plan-managed: A plan manager handles your invoicing and payments. You can use both registered and unregistered providers. The plan manager is funded from a separate budget line and does not reduce your other funding.

Self-managed: You manage your own budget, pay providers, and claim reimbursement. You can use both registered and unregistered providers. You have the most flexibility but also the most administrative responsibility.

If your plan is NDIA-managed and you want access to unregistered providers, you can request plan management at your next plan review — it does not reduce your other funding.

There are several ways to find NDIS providers:

• Ability Directory — search by location, service type, and funding compatibility with real provider details
• NDIS Provider Finder — the official NDIA tool for searching registered providers by location and support type
• NDIS Commission Register — verify a provider's registration status and any conditions
• Your support coordinator — if your plan includes support coordination, they can help connect you with suitable providers
• Local Area Coordinators (LACs) — NDIA-funded coordinators who help participants navigate the system
• Word of mouth — other participants, disability support groups, and community organisations

Start with location and service type, then narrow down based on your specific needs.

Before committing to any provider, verify these essentials:

NDIS registration status: Check on the NDIS Commission's provider register. Registration means the provider has been independently audited against the NDIS Practice Standards and their workers have been screened.

Worker screening: All workers in risk-assessed roles must hold an NDIS Worker Screening Check, valid for 5 years and nationally portable. Ask to see evidence.

Qualifications: For allied health supports (OT, speech pathology, psychology, physiotherapy), verify the practitioner holds current AHPRA registration in their profession.

Insurance: Providers should hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Registered providers are required to; unregistered providers should as a matter of good practice.

NDIS Code of Conduct compliance: All providers — registered and unregistered — must comply with the 7 requirements of the NDIS Code of Conduct, including acting with respect, providing safe supports, and preventing abuse.

When you contact a provider, ask:

• Are you NDIS registered? If not, are you working towards registration?
• Do your workers hold NDIS Worker Screening Checks?
• What qualifications and experience do your staff have?
• What does a typical session or support look like?
• How do you involve me in setting goals and reviewing progress?
• What are your fees? Do you charge at or below the NDIS price limit?
• What is your current wait time for new participants?
• Do you offer telehealth, in-home visits, or centre-based supports?
• What happens if I want to change or cancel a service agreement?
• Can you provide references or connect me with other participants?

A good provider will answer these openly. If a provider is evasive about fees, qualifications, or registration, consider that a warning sign.

Be cautious if a provider:

• Refuses to provide a written service agreement — service agreements are strongly recommended and protect both parties
• Cannot explain their fees clearly — all NDIS providers must charge within the NDIS price limits (or agree separate rates for self-managed participants)
• Pressures you to sign up immediately — you are entitled to take time and compare options
• Discourages you from using other providers — you have the right to use multiple providers and change at any time
• Won't confirm their registration status or worker screening — transparency is a basic requirement
• Asks you to pay cash or avoid claiming through your plan — this is a serious red flag
• Makes decisions about your supports without consulting you — your goals and preferences must drive service delivery

If you experience any of these issues, you can lodge a complaint with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission on 1800 035 544.

A service agreement is a document between you and your provider that sets out:

• What supports will be delivered and how often
• The cost of supports and how they will be charged
• How changes or cancellations are handled (including notice periods)
• How either party can end the agreement
• How complaints or issues will be resolved

Service agreements are not always mandatory, but the NDIA strongly recommends them. They protect you by ensuring both sides are clear on expectations. You can negotiate terms — a service agreement is not a take-it-or-leave-it document.

Keep a copy of all your service agreements. If a provider refuses to put things in writing, consider that a red flag.

One of the most important things to know: you are not locked in. You can change providers at any time, for any reason. Your NDIS plan funding stays with you, not with the provider.

If a provider is not meeting your needs:

• Talk to the provider first — sometimes issues can be resolved through a conversation
• Check your service agreement for notice periods (usually 14 days, sometimes 7)
• Give written notice to end the agreement
• Find a new provider and set up a new service agreement

If you have a support coordinator, they can help you transition between providers. If you believe a provider has caused harm, report it to the NDIS Commission.

When you have a shortlist of providers, compare them on:

• Fees and transparency — are they clear about what they charge and why?
• Wait times — how long until you can start receiving supports?
• Location and delivery — do they come to you, or do you go to them? Do they offer telehealth?
• Experience with your disability type — not all providers have the same expertise
• Cultural fit — do you feel comfortable and respected?
• Communication style — do they explain things clearly and listen to your preferences?
• Flexibility — can they adjust the time, frequency, or type of supports as your needs change?

Currently, 15% of providers in our directory are accepting new participants. 14% offer telehealth options, which can be particularly useful in regional and remote areas.