NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME ACT 2013

Table of Provisions

• Long Title
 

CHAPTER 1--Introduction

PART 1--PRELIMINARY

• 1 Short title  
• 2 Commencement  

PART 2--OBJECTS--AND PRINCIPLES

• 3 Objects of Act  
• 4 General principles guiding actions under this Act  
• 5 General principles guiding actions of people who may do acts or things on behalf of others  
• 6 Agency may provide support and assistance  
• 7 Provision of notice, approved form or information under this Act etc.  

PART 3--SIMPLIFIED--OUTLINE

• 8 Simplified outline  

PART 4--DEFINITIONS

• 9 Definitions  
• 9A Approved forms  
• 10B Definition of NDIS worker screening law  
• 11 Definitions relating to compensation  
• 11A Definition of key personnel  

PART 5--MINISTERIAL--COUNCIL

• 12 Ministerial Council functions etc.  
 

CHAPTER 2--Assistance for people with disability and others

• 13 Agency may provide coordination, strategic and referral services etc. to people with disability  
• 14 Agency may provide funding to persons or entities  
• 15 Agency may provide information  
• 16 Agency may assist in relation to doing things under Chapter  
• 17 National Disability Insurance Scheme rules  
 

CHAPTER 3--Participants and their plans

PART 1A--PRINCIPLES

• 17A Principles relating to the participation of people with disability  

PART 1--BECOMING--A PARTICIPANT

• 18 Person may make a request to become a participant  
• 19 Matters relating to access requests  
• 20 CEO must consider and decide access requests  
• 21 When a person meets the access criteria  
• 22 Age requirements  
• 23 Residence requirements  
• 24 Disability requirements  
• 25 Early intervention requirements  
• 26 Requests that the CEO may make  
• 27 National Disability Insurance Scheme rules relating to disability requirements and early intervention requirements  
• 28 When a person becomes a participant  
• 29 When a person ceases to be a participant  
• 30 Revocation of participant status  

PART 2--PARTICIPANTS----PLANS

Division 1--Principles relating to plans

• 31 Principles relating to plans  

Division 2--Preparing participants' plans

• 32 CEO must facilitate preparation of participant's plan  
• 33 Matters that must be included in a participant's plan  
• 34 Reasonable and necessary supports  
• 35 National Disability Insurance Scheme rules for statement of participant supports  
• 36 Information and reports for the purposes of preparing and approving a participant's plan  
• 37 When plan is in effect  
• 38 Copy of plan to be provided  
• 39 Agency must comply with the statement of participant supports  
• 40 Effect of temporary absence on plans  
• 41 Suspension of plans  

Division 3--Managing the funding for supports under participants' plans

• 42 Meaning of managing the funding for supports under a participant's plan  
• 43 Choice for the participant in relation to plan management  
• 44 Circumstances in which persons must not manage funding  
• 45 Payment of amounts payable under the National Disability Insurance Scheme  
• 46 Acquittal of NDIS amounts  
• 46A Protection of NDIS amounts  
• 46B Garnishee orders  

Division 4--Varying and replacing participants' plans

• 47 Variation of participant's plan--change of participant's statement of goals and aspirations  
• 47A Variation of participant's plan on request of participant or CEO's own initiative  
• 48 Reassessment of participant's plan on request of participant or CEO's own initiative  
• 49 Reassessment of participant's plan before plan's reassessment date  
• 49A Reassessment of participant's plan in circumstances specified in plan  
• 50 Information and reports for the purposes of varying or reassessing a participant's plan  
 

CHAPTER 4--Administration

PART 1--GENERAL--MATTERS

Division 1--Participants and prospective participants

• 50J CEO to comply with requirements in relation to prospective participants or participants  
• 51 Requirement to notify change of circumstances  
• 52 Requirements relating to notices  
• 53 Power to obtain information from participants and prospective participants to ensure the integrity of the National Disability Insurance Scheme  
• 54 Written notice of requirement  

Division 2--Other persons

• 55 Power of CEO to obtain information from other persons to ensure the integrity of the National Disability Insurance Scheme  
• 55A Power of Commissioner to obtain information from other persons to ensure the integrity of the National Disability Insurance Scheme etc.  
• 56 Written notice of requirement  
• 57 Offence--refusal or failure to comply with requirement  

Division 3--Interaction with other laws

• 58 Obligations not affected by State or Territory laws  
• 59 Interaction with Commonwealth laws  

PART 2--PRIVACY

Division 1--Information held by the Agency

• 60 Protection of information held by the Agency etc.  
• 62 Offence--unauthorised use or disclosure of protected Agency information  
• 63 Offence--soliciting disclosure of protected Agency information  
• 64 Offence--offering to supply protected Agency information  
• 66 Disclosure of information by CEO  
• 67 National Disability Insurance Scheme rules for exercise of CEO's disclosure powers  

Division 2--Information held by the Commission

• 67A Protection of information held by the Commission etc.  
• 67B Offence--unauthorised use or disclosure of protected Commission information  
• 67C Offence--soliciting disclosure of protected Commission information  
• 67D Offence--offering to supply protected Commission information  
• 67E Disclosure of information by Commissioner  
• 67F National Disability Insurance Scheme rules for exercise of Commissioner's disclosure powers  

Division 3--Information generally

• 67G Protection of certain documents etc. from production to court etc.  
• 67H Part does not affect the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 1982  

PART 3A--NDIS--PROVIDERS

Division 2--Registered NDIS providers

• 73B Requirement to be a registered NDIS provider  
• 73C Application to be a registered NDIS provider  
• 73D False or misleading information or documents in application  
• 73E Registration as a registered NDIS provider  
• 73F Registration is subject to conditions  
• 73G Conditions specified in certificate of registration  
• 73H Conditions determined by NDIS rules  
• 73J Registered NDIS providers must comply with conditions of registration  
• 73K Extension of period for which registration is in force  
• 73L Variation of registration  
• 73M Application for variation of registration  
• 73N Suspension of registration  
• 73P Revocation of registration  
• 73Q Record keeping by registered NDIS providers  
• 73R Record keeping by former registered NDIS providers  
• 73S Grants of financial assistance in relation to registration  

Division 3--Quality assurance

• 73T NDIS Practice Standards  
• 73U Approved quality auditors  

Division 4--NDIS Code of Conduct

• 73V NDIS Code of Conduct  

Division 5--Complaints management and resolution

• 73W Complaints management and resolution system--registered NDIS providers  
• 73X Arrangements relating to the management and resolution of complaints  

Division 6--Incident management--registered NDIS providers

• 73Y Incident management system  
• 73Z Reportable incidents  

Division 7--Protection of disclosers

• 73ZA Disclosures qualifying for protection  
• 73ZB Disclosure that qualifies for protection not actionable etc.  
• 73ZC Victimisation prohibited  
• 73ZD Right to compensation  

Division 8--Compliance and enforcement

• 73ZE Monitoring powers  
• 73ZF Investigation powers  
• 73ZG Use of equipment to examine or process things  
• 73ZH Use of electronic equipment at other place  
• 73ZI Person with knowledge of a computer or a computer system to assist access etc.  
• 73ZJ Compensation for damage to electronic equipment  
• 73ZK Civil penalty provisions  
• 73ZL Infringement notices  
• 73ZM Compliance notices  
• 73ZN Banning orders  
• 73ZO Variation or revocation of banning orders  
• 73ZP Enforceable undertakings  
• 73ZQ Injunctions  
• 73ZR Appointment of inspectors and investigators  

Division 9--NDIS Provider Register

• 73ZS NDIS Provider Register  

PART 4--CHILDREN

• 74 Children  
• 75 Definition of parental responsibility  
• 76 Duty to children  
• 77 Revocation of determinations under section 74  

PART 5--NOMINEES

Division 1--Functions and responsibilities of nominees

• 78 Actions of plan nominee on behalf of participant  
• 79 Actions of correspondence nominee on behalf of participant  
• 80 Duties of nominees to participant etc.  
• 81 Giving of notices to correspondence nominee  
• 82 Compliance by correspondence nominee  
• 83 Nominee to inform Agency of matters affecting ability to act as nominee  
• 84 Statement by plan nominee regarding disposal of money  
• 85 Right of nominee to attend with participant  

Division 2--Appointment and cancellation or suspension of appointment

• 86 Appointment of plan nominee  
• 87 Appointment of correspondence nominee  
• 88 Provisions relating to appointments  
• 89 Circumstances in which the CEO must cancel appointment of nominees  
• 90 General circumstances in which CEO may cancel or suspend appointment of nominees  
• 91 Suspension etc. of appointment of nominees in cases of physical, mental or financial harm  
• 92 Other matters relating to cancellation or suspension of appointment  
• 93 National Disability Insurance Scheme rules may prescribe requirements etc.  
• 94 CEO's powers of revocation  

Division 3--Other matters relating to nominees

• 95 CEO's powers to give notices to participant  
• 96 Notification of nominee where notice is given to participant  
• 97 Protection of participant against liability for actions of nominee  
• 98 Protection of nominee against criminal liability  

PART 6--REVIEW--OF DECISIONS

• 99 Reviewable decisions and decision - makers  
• 100 Review of reviewable decisions  
• 101 Effect of later decisions before review completed  
• 102 Withdrawal of request for review  
• 103 Applications to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal  
 

CHAPTER 5--Compensation payments

PART 1--REQUIREMENT--TO TAKE ACTION TO OBTAIN COMPENSATION

• 104 CEO may require person to take action to obtain compensation  
• 105 Consequences of failure to comply with a requirement to take action to obtain compensation  
• 105A Matters relating to claims etc. by CEO  
• 105B Recovery of amounts relating to claims etc. by CEO  

PART 2--AGENCY--MAY RECOVER COMPENSATION FIXED AFTER NDIS AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN PAID

• 106 Recovering past NDIS amounts from certain judgements  
• 107 Recovering past NDIS amounts from consent judgements and settlements  
• 108 Debts resulting from section 106 or 107  

PART 3--RECOVERY--FROM COMPENSATION PAYERS AND INSURERS

• 109 CEO may send preliminary notice to potential compensation payer or insurer  
• 110 Offence--potential compensation payer or insurer  
• 111 CEO may send recovery notice to compensation payer or insurer  
• 112 Preliminary notice or recovery notice suspends liability to pay compensation  
• 113 Compensation payer's or insurer's payment to Agency discharges liability to participant  
• 114 Offence--making compensation payment after receiving preliminary notice or recovery notice  
• 115 Liability to pay the Agency if there is a contravention of section 114  

PART 4--CEO--MAY DISREGARD CERTAIN PAYMENTS

• 116 CEO may disregard certain payments  
 

CHAPTER 6--National Disability Insurance Agency

PART 1--NATIONAL--DISABILITY INSURANCE AGENCY

• 117 National Disability Insurance Agency  
• 118 Functions of the Agency  
• 119 Powers of the Agency  
• 120 Charging of fees  
• 121 Minister may give directions to the Agency  
• 122 Agency does not have privileges and immunities of the Crown  

PART 2--BOARD--OF THE AGENCY

Division 1--Establishment and functions

• 123 Board of the National Disability Insurance Agency  
• 124 Functions of the Board  
• 125 Minister may give the Board a statement setting out strategic guidance for the Agency  
• 125A Matters to be considered in performing functions  
• 125B Rules about management of risk and performance of Board's functions  

Division 2--Members of the Board

• 126 Membership  
• 127 Appointment of Board members  
• 128 Term of appointment  
• 129 Acting appointments  
• 130 Remuneration and allowances  
• 131 Leave of absence  
• 132 Outside employment  
• 133 Resignation of Board members  
• 134 Termination of appointment of Board members  
• 135 Other terms and conditions of Board members  

Division 3--Meetings of the Board

• 136 Convening meetings  
• 137 Presiding at meetings  
• 138 Quorum  
• 139 Voting at meetings  
• 140 Conduct of meetings  
• 141 Minutes  
• 142 Decisions without meetings  

PART 3--INDEPENDENT--ADVISORY COUNCIL

Division 1--Establishment and function

• 143 Establishment  
• 144 Function of the Advisory Council  
• 145 Advice of the Advisory Council  

Division 2--Members of the Advisory Council

• 146 Membership  
• 147 Appointment of members of the Advisory Council  
• 148 Term of appointment  
• 149 Acting appointments  
• 150 Remuneration and allowances  
• 151 Leave of absence  
• 152 Disclosure of interests to the Minister  
• 153 Disclosure of interests to the Advisory Council  
• 154 Resignation of members of the Advisory Council  
• 155 Termination of appointment of members of the Advisory Council  
• 156 Other terms and conditions of members of the Advisory Council  

Division 3--Procedures of the Advisory Council

• 157 Procedures of the Advisory Council  

PART 4--CHIEF--EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND STAFF ETC.

Division 1--Chief Executive Officer

• 158 Establishment  
• 159 Functions of the CEO  
• 160 Appointment of the CEO  
• 161 Acting appointments  
• 162 Remuneration and allowances  
• 163 Leave of absence  
• 164 Outside employment  
• 165 Disclosure of interests  
• 166 Resignation of the CEO  
• 167 Termination of appointment of the CEO  
• 168 Other terms and conditions of the CEO  

Division 2--Staff etc.

• 169 Staff  
• 170 Services of other persons to be made available to the Agency  
• 171 Consultants  

PART 5--REPORTING--AND PLANNING

Division 1--Reporting

• 172 Annual report  
• 173 Giving certain information to the Ministerial Council  
• 174 Quarterly report to the Ministerial Council  
Subdivision B--Reporting by the Agency
• 175 Giving information requested by Commonwealth, State or Territory Ministers  
Subdivision C--Reporting by the Minister
• 176 Giving certain information to the Ministerial Council  

Division 2--Planning

• 177 Corporate plan  

PART 6--FINANCE

• 178 Payments to the Agency by the Commonwealth  
• 179 Payments to the Agency by the host jurisdictions  
• 180 Application of money by the Agency  

PART 6A--ACTUARIAL--ASSESSMENT OF FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

Division 1--Scheme actuary and annual financial sustainability report

• 180A Nomination of scheme actuary  
• 180B Duties of scheme actuary  
• 180C Rules for performance of scheme actuary's duties  

Division 2--Reviewing actuary

• 180D Nomination of reviewing actuary  
• 180E Duties of reviewing actuary  

Division 3--Assistance of scheme actuary and reviewing actuary

• 180F Agency to assist scheme actuary and reviewing actuary  

PART 7--MISCELLANEOUS

• 181 Taxation  
 

CHAPTER 6A--NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission

PART 1--COMMISSION--ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNCTIONS

• 181A Establishment of the Commission  
• 181B Commission's functions  

PART 2--NDIS--QUALITY AND SAFEGUARDS COMMISSIONER

• 181C Commissioner  
• 181D Commissioner's functions and powers  
• 181E Commissioner's core functions  
• 181F Commissioner's registration and reportable incident functions  
• 181G Commissioner's complaints functions  
• 181H Commissioner's behaviour support function  
• 181J Charging of fees by Commissioner  
• 181K Minister may give directions to the Commissioner  
• 181L Appointment of the Commissioner  
• 181M Acting appointments  
• 181N Remuneration and allowances  
• 181P Leave of absence  
• 181Q Outside employment  
• 181R Other terms and conditions  
• 181S Resignation  
• 181T Termination of appointment  

PART 3--STAFF--ETC. OF THE COMMISSION

• 181U Staff of the Commission  
• 181V Consultants  
• 181W Persons assisting the Commissioner  
 

CHAPTER 6B--NDIS worker screening database

• 181X Simplified outline of this Chapter  
• 181Y NDIS worker screening database  
 

CHAPTER 7--Other matters

PART 1--DEBT--RECOVERY

Division 1--Debts

• 182 Debts due to the Agency  

Division 2--Methods of recovery

• 183 Legal proceedings  
• 184 Arrangement for payment of debt  
• 185 Recovery of amounts from financial institutions  

Division 3--Information relating to debts

• 186 Power to obtain information from a person who owes a debt to the Agency  
• 187 Power to obtain information about a person who owes a debt to the Agency  
• 188 Written notice of requirement  
• 189 Offence--refusal or failure to comply with requirement  

Division 4--Non-recovery of debts

• 190 CEO may write off debt  
• 191 Power to waive Agency's right to recover debt  
• 192 Waiver of debt arising from error  
• 193 Waiver of small debt  
• 194 Waiver in relation to settlements  
• 195 Waiver in special circumstances  

PART 2--GENERAL--MATTERS

• 196 Method of notification by CEO  
• 197 CEO not required to make a decision  
• 197A Method of notification by Commissioner  
• 197B Commissioner not required to make a decision  
• 198 Protection of participant against liability for actions of persons  
• 199 Protection against criminal liability  
• 200 Evidentiary effect of CEO's certificate  
• 200A Legal assistance for review not funded  
• 201 Delegation by the Minister to the CEO  
• 201A Delegation by the Minister to the Commissioner  
• 202 Delegation by the CEO  
• 202A Delegation by the Commissioner  
• 202B Delegation of regulatory powers  
• 203 Application of Act to unincorporated bodies  
• 204 Time frames for decision making by persons other than the CEO  
• 204A Report by Commonwealth Ombudsman  

PART 3--CONSTITUTIONAL--MATTERS

• 205 Act binds Crown  
• 206 Alternative constitutional basis  
• 207 Concurrent operation of State laws  
• 207A State or Territory agreement required in relation to certain delegations under this Act  

PART 5--LEGISLATIVE--INSTRUMENTS

• 209 The National Disability Insurance Scheme rules  
• 210 Regulations