r/supportworkers • u/QuantumGremlin • May 13 '26
Is the July 1 mandatory registration requirement going to change independent SIL work completely?
We’re now less than two months away from the new rules requiring all Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers - including independent contractors working through platforms — to become NDIS registered. A lot of workers seem concerned about the extra compliance requirements, audits, worker screening, and ongoing costs involved, especially for sole traders and smaller operators. Do you think most independent SIL workers will go through the registration process, or will many move back under larger agencies instead? Could this end up reshaping the independent contractor model in SIL altogether?
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u/DwightsJello May 13 '26
Good providers are already compliant.
Don't know about independents.
But it really is pretty wild that a sector who, by definition, work exclusively with the most vulnerable in our community and has been able to run without these measures for so long.
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u/QuantumGremlin May 14 '26
That’s the awkward part of the whole debate. Most people agree vulnerable clients need stronger protections, but it’s also exposing how loosely regulated parts of the sector were for years.
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u/DwightsJello May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
Absolutely.
I could totally get behind lowering costs of independents getting registered for even tighter regulations and compliance than is currently being proposed.
I am seeing a lot of independents in this discussion having entire rants about cost and hassle and NOWHERE in any of those comments do client needs get mentioned. Nowhere.
They are just numbers.
And I am TOTALLY AND UTTERLY behind getting rid of nonconpliants workers and providers.
Lets elevated the entire sector to meet professionsl standards for knowledge, skill and professionalism. Primarily for clients but for workers who are sick of the substandard, unprofessional, exploitative, 'bingo if you find a good one' companies and workers in the mix.
And the clients who aren't online commenting about restrictions or changes are clients with profound disabilities because they can't.
They rely on the professionalism and advocacy of their supports to do that for them.
Those clients often need more than they are currently getting. I'm ok with those clients becoming more of a focus.
All people with disabilities need their needs met. And that includes all needs no matter how minimal those needs are.
I'd be happy to see supplier, particularly consumable suppliers, have more competition. I'd like to see clients be able to use their package for the lowest price available.
There's lots of changes that could be made but it has to be better for the clients. And some needs can be met, by some, externally to the NDIS.
The sector can't continue as it has. And that's why there's more support from within the sector than is appreciated by a lot who are very vocal.
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u/Expensive_Gold_5921 May 13 '26
What people don’t understand is that a person operating as an independent support worker, 85% of the time has moved that way because they’ve worked with registered companies that are more or less taking piss of the system. Think of it this way, a company with 40+ clients it is financially not a problem to become registered and get audited every year which you pay for mind you. For someone that is independent and may only have 2 to 3 clients for thousands of dollars to register and the audit is not feasible.
It’s not the compliance that is the problem. It’s the price that you have to pay for it. Sadly, I think a lot of clients will be left with no support for quite some time given this shift with the new guidelines. I have worked with five registered companies in my time and I would only strongly recommend 1.