Required registration for Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Digital platform Digital providers and businesses will start on July 1, 2026. Produced by a taskforce almost entirely made up of industry members, this state-shifting recommendation has been under government consideration since mid-2024. These new rules significantly strengthen oversight in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) market. In addition, they ensure that people with disabilities can access the best possible care and support.
Commissioner Louise Glanville emphasized the importance of these changes, stating they would provide authorities with “greater visibility and control over who operates in the NDIS market.” The register will not be a one time registration process, but rather providers will have to constantly uphold quality parameters set in stone or be held accountable.
The decision comes at a time of rising concern with the safety and well-being of all people with disabilities. An ugly truth was brought to light by the disability royal commission. Those operating without regulation are exposed to much greater levels of risk than other Australians.
Current Landscape of NDIS Providers
As of the end of 2024, only 8 percent of service providers were registered with the Quality and Safeguards Commission (QSC). That’s the equivalent of 21,387 individual registered providers versus a mind-boggling 245,762 unregistered individuals operating under the scheme. It is not illegal for these types of providers to not register. Yet, they are exempt from audits and risk assessment, and exempt from reporting incidents, such as any deaths or abuses. All of this raises deep and troubling concerns about participant safety.
The NDIS is one of the biggest fiscal expansions in Australian history. In only two years, total annual payments to SIL participants surged from $12.3 billion to $15.9 billion. As of September 2025, 36,641 participants were actively receiving SIL supports. Take September quarter alone—we spent $4.2 billion on these much-needed services. This major infusion of cash only highlights the need for a strong regulatory safety net to be in place.
Perspectives Within the Disability Community
Overall, the introduction of a complaint-driven mandatory provider registration has received largely negative responses from the disability community. Advocates like George Taleporos have long pushed for the development of a participant-driven system that affords greater choice and control over the participant’s experience. He stressed that any form of registration would have to come with a “very transparent government guarantee.” This is important to ensure that people living in customized settings are not harmed by unintended consequences.
Dr. Taleporos highlighted that without proper registration, participants may be forced “to use providers who are more costly and less able to meet our needs.” I think this idea stems from a larger worry about the compromise between guaranteeing personal agency and quality control.
As such, Michael Perusco, CEO of the Community Housing Industry Association, has echoed calls within the sector for improving safeguarding measures. He believes that “registration is a basic requirement in most other sectors without restricting choice and the disability sector should be no different.” Perusco reiterated that “providers who are committed to delivering high-quality supports will adjust to a fairer regulatory approach and continue to deliver services.”
Government and Advocacy Responses
Jenny McAllister, a key figure in advocating for these changes, remarked, “These providers will need to either shape up or ship out.” She continued to encourage the adoption of new rules that will raise standards for the delivery of services in these life-saving settings. This sentiment illustrates a shifting tide—a new consensus that regulation is necessary to protect our most vulnerable populations.
Hireup, Australia’s largest NDIS-registered online provider platform also welcomed the announcement. They are dedicated to working with the federal government to ensure these new regulations are implemented in a way that works.
The first mention of mandatory registration was by former minister Bill Shorten during the 2014 inquiry. This all illustrates how fast the landscape is changing for NDIS providers. The varied opinions on this matter signal an ongoing dialogue within the disability community regarding the best path forward to ensure safety and quality care.
