Hot topic: Will all Australian SLP practices have to register with the NDIS Commission? 

Breaking news:

On 2 August 2024, the NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce Advice was released, with their views on mandatory registration.

SLP views were heard:

“The Taskforce acknowledges there are a number of allied health practitioners who are not required to register with AHPRA, including…speech pathologists. Some of these practitioners operate in a self-regulated environment (e.g. for National Alliance of Self Regulating Health Professions (NASRHP)). These frameworks may be accompanied by a certification process and Code of Ethics. We have heard that members of these bodies would prefer to not be required to operate under duplicate accreditation and registration requirements, through mandatory registration with the NDIS Commission.”

Existing CPSP self-regulation arrangements may count as NDIS registration:

“The Taskforce recommends consideration be given to the appropriateness of extending a recognition of those registration schemes to self-regulating allied health professionals. Any such assessment would need to consider the requirements of the self-regulated environment and other relevant matters. This recommendation is in relation to registration only and does not apply to worker screening.” (Our emphasis.)

Why it matters:

SLPs are well-regulated in Australia with certification processes, professional standards that mirror AHPRA standards, and a robust Code of Ethics with complaint processes.

Mandatory NDIS registration would increase compliance costs and red tape, duplicate existing rules, and discourage some SLPs from offering NDIS-funded services, reducing participant choice and control.   

Go deeper:

Read the NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce Advice.

Watch this space:

We now await the Government’s response to the Taskforce advice.

This article also appears in a recent issue of Banter Booster, our weekly round up of the best speech pathology ideas and practice tips for busy speech pathologists, speech pathology students and others.

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