NDIS Registration: The Illusion of Safety and the Reality of Choice
NDIS Registration: The Illusion of Safety and the Reality of Choice The Australian government's recent announcement mandating registration for certain National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers has reignited a contentious debate about the future of disability services in the country. This move, requiring platform providers, support coordinators, and Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers to register with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, is being presented under the guise of enhancing participant safety and service quality. However, a closer examination reveals something quite different: this push for registration does little to address genuine safety concerns while decimating the diversity and flexibility of supports available to NDIS participants. The Tragic Case of Ann Marie Smith: A Failure of the System The death of Ann Marie Smith in April 2020 sent shockwaves through Australia's disability sector. Ms Smith, who lived with cerebral palsy, die