Rights to Respect: Consent & Choice in Daily NDIS

Know the Rights: Consent, Choice & Respect (Plain English)

In the NDIS, you have the right to make decisions about your supports. This includes choosing what helps you, when it happens, who provides it, and how it’s delivered. Your plan should work with your goals and preferences, not around someone else’s convenience. If something feels unclear, you can ask questions and request changes. If you use a plan manager, you can also check how supports are funded and paid through MyMoney NDIS (www.planmanager.net.au).

Consent means saying “yes” freely and with enough information to understand what you’re agreeing to. You should not feel pressured, threatened, or rushed. You can still consent even if you need time to think. If you change your mind later, you can withdraw consent where it’s appropriate. Good support workers will explain the “what, why, and how” in plain language, and they should respect your boundaries, personal space, and communication style.

Choice and respect mean you’re an active part of planning and daily decisions. For example: you can choose your preferred routine, ask for a different provider or staff member when possible, and request adjustments to support methods (like different communication or pacing). If you’re comparing providers, My Care Finders can help you look at options and ask better questions so you can choose the right fit for you. You can also talk to your plan manager (if you have one) about how budgets and invoices work, so consent and choice are supported in practice.

Key takeaway: You have the right to decide. If you don’t understand, you can ask. If you’re not comfortable, you can say “no” or change your mind.

If something goes wrong—like your support is happening without your consent, or your preferences aren’t respected—document what happened (dates, times, who was there, and what you wanted). Then speak up using the provider’s complaints process, or contact your NDIS support coordinator or plan manager for help. Knowing your rights helps you stay in control of your supports and ensures you’re treated with dignity every day.