The NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework (the Framework) set an initial vision for a nationally consistent, proportionate and whole-of-scheme approach to ensuring effective safeguards and high quality supports in the NDIS.

This issues paper provides some background on the Framework and describes issues that the disability sector, and other interested parties, have raised to date, as well as those identified in previous reviews and inquiries.

Key issues include:

• The Framework is outdated. It does not talk about what more needs to be done to make NDIS supports safe and good quality, and does not reflect how things have changed.
• The Framework only applies to NDIS supports, not other types of supports, and is not clearly linked to other systems that also keep people with disability safe.
• The Framework tries to provide clear roles but it is still confusing about who does what, and people who should be keeping participants safe do not always work well together.
• The Framework outlines developmental, preventative and corrective measures focused on NDIS participants, workers and providers. These measures were meant to be balanced and work together. This has not happened, with more focus on preventative and corrective measures, and not on developmental measures. Developmental measures help people with disability protect themselves.
• The Framework needs to balance individual choice and control with actions to provide protections for everyone. This requires choices and trade-offs.
• Participants have different levels of readiness to take control of their supports and manage risk, and should be supported to exercise choice and take reasonable risks. However, this has not happened enough under the Framework.
• Participants should have access to quality supports that are right for them. However, the Framework has not promoted good quality supports well.
• Progress has been made in implementing national regulation of NDIS providers and workers. However, concerns have been raised about these settings for providers and workers, and whether this is working well for everyone.