NDIS Rights: Consent, Privacy & Fair Decisions (Practical)

Rights in plain language (what you’re entitled to)

As an NDIS participant, you have the right to be treated fairly, respectfully and safely. This includes having your needs considered, being involved in decisions about your supports, and being able to speak up if something isn’t working. You should be given information in a way you understand, and you can choose the supports you want (within your plan and approved funding). If you’re unsure, My Care Finders can help you compare providers and understand what questions to ask before you commit.

You also have rights around consent. Providers must not share, collect, or use your personal information or deliver non‑requested supports without your agreement. Consent should be informed (you understand what’s happening and why), current (it can change), and specific to the support. If a service says they need something from you, ask: what will they use it for, how long they keep it, and who will see it.

Your privacy matters. Your provider should protect your personal and health information, only use it for NDIS-related purposes, and share it only when you’ve agreed or when the law requires it. When you pay bills or manage plan budgets, keep your own records. If you use MyMoney NDIS (www.planmanager.net.au), use it to track funding and receipts so you can check decisions and spending are consistent with your plan.

Key takeaway: If you don’t understand a decision or you don’t agree, you can ask questions, request changes, and raise concerns.

If you believe your rights are not being respected, you can make a complaint and ask for help to resolve it. A good provider will explain their complaints process clearly and won’t penalise you for raising concerns. You can also use My Care Finders as a practical starting point to compare provider approaches, check service fit, and find out how others support participants to make safe, informed choices.

• Ask for consent: you decide what happens, when, and with whom.
• Protect privacy: only share what’s necessary and ask how it’s stored and used.
• Get clear decisions: ask how supports relate to your goals and funding.
• Use records: keep documents, receipts, and plans to support fair outcomes.