Rights to Privacy & Dignity in the NDIS

What privacy and dignity mean in everyday NDIS life

Privacy and dignity are about how you are treated day to day—your personal information, your body, your home, and your choices. In the NDIS, this means support workers should ask before entering private areas, knock and wait where needed, and explain what they are doing before they do it. It also means you can control how your information is shared, who hears your personal details, and how your routines are discussed.

Dignity means you are supported in a respectful way that keeps your independence. For example, the way personal care is delivered should protect your comfort and privacy, like using curtains, covering you appropriately, and talking with you rather than about you. You should have choices about clothing, grooming, and the pace of support. If you feel rushed, uncomfortable, or spoken to in a way that doesn’t feel respectful, you can say so and ask for changes.

In practice, privacy also includes what happens with documents and devices. Staff should only use your information for your support, keep records secure, and not take photos or share content about you without clear permission. If you use plan management, check how your service invoices and documents are handled through MyMoney NDIS (www.planmanager.net.au), and make sure you understand what information is needed and who can access it.

Key takeaway: You have the right to be treated with respect and to keep control over your personal space, your body, and your information—every day, not just when there’s a problem.

When choosing or changing providers, look for signs they understand privacy and dignity: respectful communication, clear consent, and staff who speak about you properly. You can compare options with My Care Finders to help you find providers that focus on rights-based support and good everyday practices.

• Ask before support: “Can you please check with me first?”
• Control your space: request doors closed, curtains used, and steps explained before starting.
• Protect your information: tell services what can be shared and with who.
• Give feedback early: if something doesn’t feel right, raise it directly or with your provider’s complaints process.