Thank you to all who attended the Perth NDIS Provider Forum:
Compliance, Sustainability & Strategy
A Strategic Forum with interactive workshop for NDIS Providers
Key Topics included
✅ NDIA Payment Holds & Provider Compliance – Examining legal risks, recent Federal Court rulings, and practical steps to safeguard provider cash flow.
✅ Navigating Mandatory Registration for SIL, Support Coordination & Platform Providers – Understanding new regulatory requirements and their impact on provider operations.
✅ Balancing Quality & Regulatory Compliance (Workshop Format) – Practical approaches to maintaining service excellence while meeting compliance obligations.
✅ NDIS Director & Governance Obligations – Strengthening accountability, risk management, and ethical leadership in the evolving NDIS sector.
This forum ensures providers gain critical insights and expert guidance to navigate compliance challenges effectively, protect financial sustainability, and maintain high-quality service delivery.
The audience included;
NDIS providers, Directors, Compliance officers, and Financial managers committed to operational excellence and risk mitigation.
Workshop details:
Agenda
8.15am - 8.30am
Arrival and Registration
8.30am - 8.40am
Welcome and Introductions
8.45am - 9.30am
NDIA Payment Holds & Provider Compliance: Navigating Legal Risks and Safeguarding Cash Flow
Presented by Amber Crosthwaite: Lavan
Recent Federal Court rulings have reinforced the NDIA’s authority in scrutinizing provider payments, emphasizing strict compliance with the NDIS Act and accurate record-keeping.
However, cases such as Affinity Care Services Pty Ltd v NDIA and Northern Disability Services Pty Ltd v NDIA also highlight the limitations of this oversight, raising concerns about procedural fairness and delayed payments.
With over 1,000 active payment holds affecting thousands of claims, delayed payments are no longer an isolated issue—they pose serious financial risks to providers and disrupt essential services for participants. This session is designed exclusively for NDIS providers, offering critical insights to help you:
✅ Understand key legal takeaways from recent cases and their impact on providers
✅ Identify common compliance pitfalls that lead to NDIA payment holds
✅ Strengthen internal processes to minimize risk and protect cash flow
✅ Explore effective strategies for challenging unreasonable NDIA decisions
Join fellow Providers as we navigate the evolving compliance landscape and equip you with the knowledge to safeguard your financial stability while maintaining high-quality service delivery.
9.30am - 10.10am
Navigating Mandatory Registration for Platform Providers, SIL, and Support Coordination
Presented by Sharon Floyd : Engels Floyd Quality Consulting
Topic: Meeting the Mandate: Registration Requirements for NDIS Providers
Synopsis:
This workshop delves into the new mandatory registration requirements for platform providers, Supported Independent Living (SIL), and Support Coordination under the NDIS framework. It provides a clear roadmap for navigating the new compliance landscape, highlighting the significance of these changes in strengthening participant safety and provider accountability.
Key Takeaways:
• Understand the Mandate: Clarify the scope and purpose of mandatory registration requirements.
• Step-by-Step Compliance: Learn the processes for audits, registrations, and ongoing compliance specific to platform providers, SIL, and support coordinators.
• Strategic Planning: Equip your team to proactively plan and prepare for successful registration.
10.15am - 10.30am
Break
10.30am - 11.00am
Balancing Quality and Regulatory Compliance - Elevating Quality and Safety While Meeting NDIS Standards
This session explores how organisations can simultaneously enhance service quality, safeguard participant well-being, and meet the strengthened NDIS Commission’s regulatory requirements. Attendees will gain insights into fostering a culture of quality across all organisational levels and ensuring providers are audit ready at all times,
Key Takeaways:
• Audit Confidence: Learn strategies to consistently pass audits and remain ‘audit ready.’
• Addressing Non-Conformance: Identify common compliance gaps and how to address them effectively.
• Risk Mitigation: Practical steps to ensure compliance while minimising risks.
• Building Trust: Implement best practices to maintain participant confidence and service excellence.
11.00am - 11.30am
NDIS Director and Governance Obligations
Topic: Staying Informed on NDIS Key Personnel Responsibilities
Synopsis:
This session provides an essential overview of current and upcoming legislative responsibilities for NDIS directors and key personnel. With new statutory duties and enhanced penalties introduced under NDIS Bill No. 2, this workshop ensures attendees stay informed and prepared to meet these strengthened regulatory obligations.
Key Takeaways:
• Key Roles Demystified: Understand the responsibilities of NDIS directors and key personnel
• Compliance Essentials: Explore statutory and common law obligations, including those governed by ASIC and Work Health and Safety standards.
• Case Studies: Review real-world examples of NDIS breaches and their consequences to glean practical lessons.
• Regulatory Preparedness: Stay ahead of legislative changes to safeguard your organisation and participants.
11.30am - 12.30pm
Q & A and close
Overall Outcomes for Attendees:
By the end of this workshop, attendees will understand ;
• Regulatory Clarity: Gain comprehensive insights into legislative updates, registration mandates, and compliance protocols.
• Operational Excellence: Equip your organisation with strategies to embed quality and compliance into daily practices.
• Risk Management: Learn practical tools to safeguard participant trust while meeting evolving regulatory requirements.
Presenters
Amber Crosthwaite
Lead partner in Lavan’s Aged Care, Seniors Living & Disability Services team.
Amber is an experienced commercial lawyer who specialises in providing legal strategy and advice to operators, providers and developers in the following sectors:
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Retirement Villages
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Lifestyle Villages
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Disability (including ILO, SIL and SDA)
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Community Housing
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Not For Profits (NFPs).
Amber has a particular focus on regulatory compliance, general commercial advice, sales/acquisitions and property development in the above sectors.
Amber is a strong advocate for her sectors and, in addition to hosting regular thought leadership and stakeholder engagement events for her clients, she is a regular contributor to the Business News on issues impacting these sectors.
Sharon Floyd
Director Engels Floyd Quality Consulting
Sharon is Director of Engels Floyd Quality Consulting - a leading NDIS consulting company with a reputation for integrity and professionalism. Engels Floyd has trained all of the (1100+) NDIS auditors on behalf of the NDIS Commission, which means they know the NDIS registration requirements back to front.
Sharon has over 30 years experience with specialist expertise in all things quality and compliance - particularly NDIS. Sharon's career also includes being awarded an Australia Day award for excellence in audit processes, and management of a leadership program for people with disability.
Bronwyn Herbertson
Herbertson Hill Quality Auditing
Bronwyn Herbertson is a Human Services Sector specialist, with a wide range of experience, knowledge and training.
She has high level management and governance experience along with being a solicitor and having post graduate certificates, being appointed an NDIS and ISO auditor and providing consultancy support.
She has worked across the disability, aged care, youth and child safety, domestic and family violence and Not For Profit communities sectors.
Bronwyn has a passion for continuous improvement, quality assurance and governance and enjoys assisting organisations and individuals to be the best they can be.