The right support should feel like support – not like someone else taking over. This participant rights guide is here to help you understand what you can expect from an NDIS provider, what choice and control look like in everyday life, and what you can do if something does not feel right.
Your supports should fit around your routines, goals, relationships and preferences. Whether you would like help at home, getting to an appointment, preparing meals, building confidence in the community or taking a planned break, you remain at the centre of decisions about your life.
Your participant rights guide: what you can expect
As an NDIS participant, you have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. This includes being listened to, spoken to in a way you understand and recognised as the expert in your own life. Disability does not reduce your right to make decisions, take part in your community or set goals that matter to you.
You also have the right to receive services that are safe, reliable and appropriate to your needs. A provider should work with you, rather than make assumptions about what you need or what you are capable of doing. Good support builds on your strengths and helps you live life your way.
Your rights apply whether you are new to the NDIS, have managed supports for years, live independently or have family, a guardian or other trusted people involved in your decisions. The level of support you receive may differ, but your voice should always be heard.
The right to choice and control
Choice and control means you can have a real say in who supports you, when support happens and how it is delivered. You can ask questions before agreeing to a service, request a free meet-and-greet, and decide whether a provider feels like the right fit.
For example, you might prefer a support worker who is calm and chatty, or someone who gives you space to work through tasks independently. You may want support early in the morning, after work or around your regular activities. You might have cultural, religious, communication, dietary or gender preferences that are important to you. These are valid preferences, not inconveniences.
Choice also means you can change your mind. If a roster is not working, a support arrangement no longer suits your goals, or you do not feel comfortable with a worker, you can raise it. A respectful provider will listen and work with you on practical options.
There can be limits, such as worker availability, funding in your plan or safety requirements. Even then, you deserve a clear explanation and a genuine conversation about alternatives. Choice is not just being offered one option and told to accept it.
The right to clear information
You have the right to understand the support you are receiving. Before services begin, your provider should explain what they can offer, how bookings and cancellations work, what fees may apply, how to contact them and how to make a complaint.
This information should be provided in a way that works for you. That could mean plain English, extra time to talk things through, written notes, a trusted person present, an interpreter or communication support. You should never feel rushed into signing a service agreement you do not understand.
A service agreement is there to set clear expectations. It should reflect your goals and the supports you have chosen, not lock you into services that are not right for you. Ask for clarification on anything that feels unclear. There is no silly question when it is about your own support.
Rights that protect your privacy, safety and dignity
Support workers may help with personal routines, your home, health appointments, transport and other private parts of life. That makes privacy and trust essential.
You have the right to have your personal information kept private and handled carefully. A provider should only collect information needed to deliver safe, suitable support, and should explain how it is stored and shared. Your details should not be discussed with other people unless you have given permission or there is a legal or immediate safety reason to do so.
You also have the right to privacy in your own home. Support should respect your belongings, routines, relationships and personal space. A worker may need to ask questions to understand how best to assist, but you can say if a topic feels too personal or if you would rather discuss it another time.
The right to be safe from harm
Every participant has the right to be safe from abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination, violence and inappropriate restrictive practices. You should feel safe physically, emotionally, culturally and socially while receiving support.
Safe support does not mean every decision is made for you. Everyone has the right to make reasonable choices and take everyday risks, such as trying a new activity, catching public transport with support or learning a task that feels challenging. This is sometimes called dignity of risk. The role of a provider is to discuss risks openly, plan sensibly and support your goals – not automatically say no.
If you are a child or young person, you have the right to be heard and protected in ways that suit your age, communication style and circumstances. You should be supported in safe, welcoming environments. This applies to people of every culture, faith, gender identity, sexuality, age and disability.
The right to respectful, inclusive support
You deserve support without judgement. Providers should respect your culture, language, family arrangements, identity, beliefs and community connections. They should also ask how you would like to be addressed and communicate with you respectfully.
Inclusion is practical. It can mean planning meals around your dietary needs, supporting you to attend a local group where you feel comfortable, making sure communication is accessible, or recognising that family and community connections matter deeply to your wellbeing.
You have the right to speak up
Sometimes an issue is small and can be fixed quickly. Perhaps a worker is regularly late, you are unhappy with how a task is done, or your roster has changed without enough notice. Raising concerns early can help everyone understand what needs to change.
Other concerns may be more serious. You might feel unsafe, disrespected, pressured, ignored or worried that your privacy has not been protected. In these situations, tell someone you trust as soon as you can. This could be a family member, friend, advocate, support coordinator, nominee, provider manager or another person in your support network.
You have the right to make a complaint without being punished, losing support unfairly or being treated differently afterwards. A provider should explain its complaints process clearly, take your concern seriously and keep you informed about what happens next.
You can ask for help to make a complaint if speaking up feels difficult. You may prefer to write it down, have someone speak on your behalf, use an interpreter or bring a trusted person to a meeting. The important thing is that your concern is heard in a way that works for you.
If the issue cannot be resolved with the provider, or if you do not feel safe raising it with them, you can contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. In an emergency or if someone is in immediate danger, call 000.
Making your rights part of everyday support
Knowing your rights is useful, but it is even more powerful when those rights shape everyday conversations. Before supports begin, think about what a good day looks like for you. What would you like help with? What would you like to do yourself? What routines, relationships and activities do you want to protect?
It can help to share practical preferences from the start. Let your provider know how you like to communicate, what makes you feel comfortable, what you are working towards and what you do not want. You might want workers to check before moving items in your home, encourage you to practise cooking rather than take over, or give you a reminder before an appointment instead of repeatedly calling.
Families and carers can play a valuable role by helping participants prepare questions, notice patterns and raise concerns. At the same time, the participant’s wishes should guide support wherever possible. Listening to the person is not an optional extra – it is the foundation of person-centred care.
At IncludeCare, support begins with listening: to the life you want to lead, the confidence you want to build and the choices that matter to you. Your rights are not paperwork to file away. They are the everyday standard you should feel in your home, in your community and in every conversation about your support. Your life. Your choice. Your way. Always.