8.40am - 8.55am 

Registration and arrival  

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9.00am - 9.15am

Welcome and introductions  

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9.15am - 9.45am 

​Why Revenue doesn't equal profit: The Financial Metrics every NDIS Provider should be tracking

Sukhy Bansal

ERS Advisory

Strong revenue does not always translate into a financially sustainable NDIS business.

With rising workforce costs, payroll obligations, pricing pressures and increasing regulatory expectations, providers need greater visibility over the financial drivers that impact profitability and long-term viability.

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This practical session explores the key financial metrics every NDIS provider should be monitoring to make informed business decisions and maintain financial sustainability.

 

Delegates will gain a clearer understanding of labour costs, payroll compliance, gross margins, cash flow, budgeting and financial controls, and how these measures influence operational performance and profitability.

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The session will also highlight common financial risks facing providers and provide practical strategies to strengthen financial governance, improve decision-making and build a resilient organisation in an increasingly challenging operating environment.

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Key Topics

• Why revenue alone is not a measure of business success

• Understanding labour costs, payroll compliance and workforce profitability

• Gross margin, operating margin and key financial performance indicators

• Cash flow management and financial forecasting

• Budgeting, cost control and financial governance

• Financial risks, compliance obligations and maintaining a sustainable NDIS business

 

9.45am - 10.15am 

SCHADS Award 2026: Workforce Compliance, Cost Pressures and Cross-Sector Risk in NDIS and Aged Care

Andreia Lemos 

BDO 

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Workforce compliance under the SCHADS Award continues to present one of the most complex and financially significant challenges for providers operating across NDIS and aged care in 2026.

 

As regulatory scrutiny intensifies and workforce models become more dynamic, organisations are increasingly exposed to underpayment risk, misclassification, and inconsistent application of industrial obligations across service streams.

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This session provides a practical and strategic examination of how the SCHADS Award is being applied in complex care environments, particularly where providers operate across both disability and aged care frameworks.

 

It will clarify key areas of overlap and divergence between SCHADS and evolving aged care award conditions, highlighting where organisations are most vulnerable to compliance gaps.

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Attendees will gain actionable insights into interpreting classifications and allowances, managing rostering and shift arrangements, and aligning payroll systems with award requirements. The session will also explore common compliance failures identified through audits and disputes, and outline practical approaches to strengthening internal governance, reducing financial exposure, and maintaining sustainable workforce models.

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Designed for senior executives and operational leaders, this session equips providers with the knowledge and strategies needed to navigate workforce compliance with confidence, protect organisational viability, and respond effectively to increasing regulatory and financial pressure.

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​10.15am - 10.30am 

Q & A  and panel  

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10.30am -  10.45am 

Morning tea 

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10.45am - 11.15am 

The NDIS Bill Has Passed. Here's what changes, When — and What's still not answered.

David will provide  a practical, no-fluff briefing on the NDIS Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 — now law, with a 2-year implementation runway that has real gaps.

We will unpack
●    What the Bill actually changes, and what it doesn't
●    The key sequencing and timelines providers need to plan around
●    What it means for providers, participants and families
●    The 5 things worth tracking over the next 90 days
 

​11.15am - 11.40am​

NDIS Integrity, Compliance & Fraud Risk Management

David Moody 

Management Governance Australia 

With the continued strengthening of NDIS integrity measures in 2026, providers are expected to demonstrate robust systems for financial accountability, ethical billing, and operational transparency. 

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This session provides an in-depth examination of compliance risk, fraud exposure, and governance obligations under the evolving integrity framework.

Attendees will gain practical guidance on implementing internal controls, preparing for audits and reviews, responding to regulator enquiries, and reducing the risk of funding recovery, sanctions, or reputational damage.

The session focuses on prevention, preparedness, and defensible operational practices.​

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11.40am - 12.15pm 

Protect Your Bottom Line:  The Provider’s Role in Preventing Restrictive Practice Breaches

Mark Hunn 

NDIStress

Understand how NDIS providers can reduce organisational risk, strengthen compliance, and avoid significant financial penalties associated with restrictive practice breaches — with fines potentially exceeding $300,000.

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Restrictive practices are no longer viewed solely as a clinical, behaviour support or frontline service issue.

Under the evolving NDIS regulatory environment, providers are increasingly being held accountable for the governance, oversight, reporting and management of restrictive practices across their organisation.

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With heightened scrutiny from the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, stronger compliance expectations and the potential for significant civil penalties, providers must ensure they have robust systems, governance frameworks and workforce practices in place to identify, reduce and appropriately manage restrictive practices.

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This session will explore the latest regulatory expectations, emerging compliance risks and the practical steps providers can take to protect participants while safeguarding their organisation from financial, operational and reputational harm.

Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of where provider liability sits, what regulators are looking for, and how proactive governance can minimise risk and strengthen organisational resilience.

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Attendees  will leave with a practical understanding of how to reduce restrictive practice risks, strengthen organisational compliance, and prepare for increasing regulatory scrutiny in the NDIS environment.

 

12.15pm - 12.45pm

Lunch 

12.45pm - 1.15pm  

Workforce Compliance: Managing your greatest Compliance Risk -  What every NDIS Provider needs to know in 2026

In 2026, workforce compliance has become one of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission's key regulatory priorities.

Providers are expected to demonstrate not only that workers are appropriately screened and trained, but also that they have effective workforce governance, documented competency, ongoing supervision, and evidence-based compliance systems aligned with the NDIS Practice Standards.

Auditors are increasingly examining how organisations implement these requirements in practice—not just whether policies exist.

This session provides a practical update on the latest workforce compliance expectations and the steps providers should take to strengthen governance, reduce risk, and prepare for audits.

 

Delegates will gain practical guidance on building an audit-ready workforce while ensuring safe, high-quality supports for participants.

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Key Topics

2026 workforce compliance updates and regulatory priorities

Worker Screening Checks and ongoing workforce monitoring

Competency, training and mandatory induction requirements

Workforce governance and management accountability

Supervision, performance and evidence of capability

Preparing for audits and demonstrating compliance under the NDIS Practice Standards

Common workforce compliance risks and how to avoid them

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1.15pm - 1.45pm 

Insurance under pressure: Managing Risk, Claims and Liability in NDIS Services

Jeremy Thornton

Insurance Advisernet 

Insurance costs and policy conditions continue to evolve as provider risks increase.
This session explores the key insurance exposures facing NDIS providers, including public liability, professional indemnity, cyber, workers' compensation and management liability.

Delegates will gain practical insights into reducing risk, managing claims and ensuring their insurance program supports business continuity and compliance.
 

​​​​​1.45pm - 2.15pm  

Buying or Selling an Existing NDIS Business

Mergers, acquisitions, and exits within the NDIS sector require careful navigation of financial, legal, and compliance risk.

This session examines the full lifecycle of buying or selling an NDIS business, including valuation drivers, due diligence priorities, regulatory considerations, and transition planning.

Attendees will gain a clear understanding of common transaction risks, compliance red flags, and strategies to protect service continuity, workforce stability, and funding integrity during ownership change.

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2.15pm -  3.30pm 

Panel and Q & A  

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3.30pm - 4.30pm 

Networking and depart