Rights to Consent & Privacy: What It Looks Like Day-to-Day

Consent in plain English: what you can say yes or no to

In the NDIS, you should only receive supports if you consent (agree) and you understand what you’re agreeing to. Consent is your choice, and it can be given or refused—no matter who’s providing the service. You can also change your mind later. That means staff should talk with you in a clear way, check you’ve understood, and ask before they do things like personal care, transport, behaviour support strategies, or sharing your information.

You can say yes or no to parts of a support. For example, you can agree to showering but decline how a support worker does it, or request the same person where possible. You can also ask for alternatives, like a different time, a different communication method, or a gender of the staff member if that’s an option. If you don’t feel comfortable, you don’t have to explain everything—your “no” is enough. If something feels rushed or confusing, pause and ask questions.

Consent also covers privacy. Providers should only share your personal information (like health details or appointment notes) with people who need it for your supports, and only if you’ve agreed. If you use plan management, you can also check what the plan manager needs and why—for example, with MyMoney NDIS (www.planmanager.net.au), you can ask how invoices and information are handled. If you’re unsure whether a provider’s approach matches what you want, My Care Finders can help you compare providers and ask the right questions.

Key takeaway: You can say yes or no to supports—and you can withdraw consent at any time if something doesn’t feel right or isn’t how you agreed.

Here are examples of things you can ask about before you agree: who will be in your home, what will happen step-by-step during a support, whether photos or records will be taken, and who will receive your information. Good providers welcome these conversations and will document your preferences in a way that supports your rights.

• Before personal care: “Do I agree to this level of help, and is there a choice of staff or approach?”
• Before sharing info: “Who will you share my information with, and what for?”
• Before support changes: “Will you ask me again if anything changes?”
• If you’re uncomfortable: “I don’t consent to that part—can we do it differently?”