Rights at Every Step: Consent, Privacy & Choice

What your rights mean in real life

Your rights aren’t just “paper rules”. They guide what should happen when you decide on supports, share information, or change providers. In everyday situations—like booking a support worker, discussing goals, or choosing a service—you should be treated with respect, listened to, and supported to make your own choices. If something doesn’t feel right, you can ask questions, request changes, or raise a concern straight away.

Consent means you get to say yes or no before services start. For example, staff should explain what support involves (including any personal care, medication assistance, or home visits) and check you understand. If your needs change, your plan should be reviewed and the support should be adjusted with your agreement.

Privacy means your personal and health information should only be used for your support needs and shared with consent (unless the law requires otherwise). Practical examples include: asking why information is being collected, who can access it, and whether your details will be used for reports. If you use plan management, you can also ask how your invoices are handled through MyMoney NDIS (www.planmanager.net.au) and whether your budget is being tracked correctly.

Key takeaway: If you’re unsure, ask—consent and privacy should be explained in plain language before anything happens.

Choice and control means you should have real options, not just limited “must do” arrangements. You can request a different worker when possible, change appointment times, and discuss alternative ways supports could be delivered. If you’re comparing providers, My Care Finders can help you look at what different services offer, so you can make informed decisions based on your preferences and how they work in practice.

• Ask: “What will happen next, and do I agree before it starts?”
• Ask: “Who will see my information and why?”
• Ask: “What choices do I have for times, workers, and support style?”