Rights to Privacy, Consent & Choice at Every Step

What your privacy, consent & choice rights mean in plain English

Under the NDIS, you have the right to control your personal information and make real choices about your supports. This means providers should only collect what they need, use it for your support (not for unrelated reasons), and keep it secure. You can ask who has access to your information, how it’s stored, and how it’s shared. If something feels unclear or uncomfortable, you can ask questions or request changes.

Consent means you agree to something voluntarily and with enough information to make a decision. You should never be pressured, tricked, or “bundled” into activities you didn’t agree to. You can withdraw consent (where possible) and you can also ask for information in a format that suits you, such as plain language, easy read, or additional time. If your supports involve personal or sensitive topics (for example, health information), consent should be clearly discussed each time, or at the level outlined in your plan and support agreements.

Choice means you can influence what, when, where, and how supports happen. That includes choosing a provider, deciding what goals your supports support, and asking for changes if the support doesn’t suit you. If you are plan managing, you may also want to check how payment arrangements work with MyMoney NDIS (www.planmanager.net.au) so you’re clear about invoicing, authorisations, and any limits. For practical comparisons, you can use My Care Finders to look at different provider approaches and ask the right questions before you commit.

Key takeaway: Privacy protects your information, consent means your “yes” is informed and voluntary, and choice means you can say what works for you (and change your mind when appropriate).

• Ask: “How do you use my information?” and “Who can see it?”
• Check consent: “Do I have to agree to this?” and “Can I stop?”
• Practice choice: “Can we change the time, staff, or approach?”
• Compare providers: use My Care Finders to help you compare services and support styles.