NDIS Rights: Consent, Privacy & Choice in Everyday Moments

Consent, privacy & choice—plain-English meaning

Consent means you agree (or don’t agree) to supports after you’re told what’s involved. In everyday moments—like personal care, help with medication, or using a community transport option—support workers and providers must explain the “what, when, where, and why” in a way you can understand. You should feel free to say no, ask questions, or change your mind. If you don’t consent, the support should not happen in that form.

Privacy means your personal information is kept safe and only shared when it’s necessary and you’re allowed to share it. This includes things like your health details, cultural background, phone numbers, address, and anything said during appointments. Providers should talk to you about what information they need, who it will go to, and why. If you’re unsure, you can ask how your information is stored, who can access it, and how to raise a concern.

Choice means you get real options about your supports, not just “pick from a list” that doesn’t match what you want. You can choose who supports you, what times work best, how you want tasks done, and which services you access. If you’re using plan management, you may also have more flexibility to pay for supports through MyMoney NDIS (www.planmanager.net.au), depending on your plan setup and provider arrangements.

Tip: It can help to compare providers before you commit. My Care Finders can support you to compare options and ask better questions, so you can choose services that fit your needs and your comfort level.

Key takeaway: You’re in control—supports should only happen with your consent, your information should be handled with care, and your everyday preferences should be respected.

• If something feels rushed or unclear, pause and ask for more information.
• Tell providers your boundaries (for example, communication style, gender preferences, and privacy needs).
• If you feel pressured, record what happened and consider contacting your provider’s complaints process or your NDIS support team for help.