NDIS Rights: Consent, Privacy & Choice at Every Step

What your Rights mean in plain English (consent, privacy, choice)

Under the NDIS, you have rights that protect you at every step. Consent means no one can make decisions for you about your supports unless you agree (or a legally recognised substitute decision-making process applies). You should be asked clearly what you want, what’s involved, and what will happen if you say “no”. If you’re unsure, you can ask questions, ask for information in a format you prefer, and take the time you need before agreeing.

Privacy means your personal information should be handled carefully and only shared with the people who genuinely need it for your supports. Service providers must protect your records and only use your information for the purpose it was collected. If you’re asked to share information, you can ask: why it’s needed, who will see it, and how it will be stored. If your plan is managed, this can affect which providers you can use and what information is shared for payment processes. If you use MyMoney NDIS (www.planmanager.net.au) for plan management, keep your details secure and confirm what information is required for invoices and processing.

Choice means you can decide who provides your supports and how, within your plan and funding rules. You can change providers if you’re not happy, and you can request different support options. A helpful way to compare is to use My Care Finders to look at provider options and find out what different supports may look like in practice. When you’re making decisions, consider things like communication style, reliability, support workers’ experience, and whether the provider can meet your goals.

Key takeaway: Consent, privacy and choice are your protections—if something doesn’t feel right, you can ask questions, pause, and ask for it to be explained before you agree.

You can also use your rights to resolve concerns. For example, if a provider shares information without your permission, doesn’t follow your agreed plan, or tries to rush decisions, you can raise the issue. If needed, ask about the provider’s complaints process or seek independent help. Keep notes of what was said, what decisions were requested, and when. These records make it easier to advocate for yourself and get the outcome you deserve.

• Consent: agree (or decline) before supports start or change.
• Privacy: ask how information will be used and who will access it.
• Choice: you can review options and change providers if it’s not working for you.