Allied Health NDIS Audit Checklist
Rules / NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators
Practice StandardsNDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicatorsndis-practice-standards--core-responsive-supports
Requirement

Core module: Responsive supports

The Core module outcome responsive supports: every quality indicator the NDIS Practice Standards set for it (Core 21.1 to Core 21.4), what an auditor asks to see under each, the common gaps, and a free worksheet to fill in.

Clause

NDIS Practice Standards Core 21.1 to Core 21.4

Regulator

NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission

Edition held

Rules Schedules 1 to 8, Compilation No. 6 (F2026C00527) and Quality Indicators Guidelines Compilation No. 3 (F2026C00528), in force 1 July 2026

Checked current

6 October 2026, Federal Register: both compilations are the latest version on 6 October 2026

Who it applies to

Registered NDIS providers audited by certification: registered for early childhood supports, specialist behaviour support, implementing behaviour support plans or regulated restrictive practices, or specialised support coordination. An individual or partnership whose only certification requirement is early childhood supports meets only Core clause 7 (freedom from abuse) and Module 3 (Rules s 20(4) and (5)).

Every clause in the standards library

NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators on the standards library

Under review, not in force

The NDIS Commission's review of the Practice Standards (a proposed quality framework and changes to the standards and how they are assessed) is still being considered; nothing from it is in force.

Core 21.1Responsive supports: least intrusive, evidence-informed practicesource
Requirement, our statement of the clause

Supports are delivered using the least intrusive options and contemporary evidence-informed practice that meets the participant's needs and helps achieve their desired outcomes.

Evidence that typically shows this
  • Practice guidelines or frameworks the provider follows, with references
  • Support plans recording the least intrusive option chosen
  • Supervision or practice review notes on approach selection
Common gap to check
  • Default use of more restrictive or intrusive support without justification
  • Practice not reviewed against current guidance
Core 21.2Responsive supports: links with health, allied health and other providerssource
Requirement, our statement of the clause

With the participant's consent or direction and as set out in the service agreement, the provider builds and maintains links with other providers, including health care and allied health providers, to share information, manage risks and meet the participant's needs.

Evidence that typically shows this
  • Consent to share information with named providers
  • Case conference or care team meeting minutes
  • Correspondence with GPs, allied health and other providers in the participant file
Common gap to check
  • No contact with the participant's health practitioners despite complex needs
  • Information shared without the participant's consent
Core 21.3Responsive supports: participant involvement in choosing workerssource
Requirement, our statement of the clause

The provider makes reasonable efforts to involve each participant in selecting their workers, including their preferred gender of worker for personal care.

Evidence that typically shows this
  • Records of worker preferences, including gender for personal care, in participant profiles
  • Rostering notes showing preferences applied
  • Meet and greet or worker matching records
Common gap to check
  • Preferred gender for personal care not recorded or not followed
  • Workers changed without telling the participant
Core 21.4Responsive supports: trained workers for participants with monitoring needssource
Requirement, our statement of the clause

Where a participant has specific needs that require monitoring or daily support, the workers involved are appropriately trained and understand that participant's needs and preferences.

Evidence that typically shows this
  • Training records matched to participants with specific monitoring needs
  • Participant profiles or one-page summaries used in induction
  • Shift handover and observation records
Common gap to check
  • New workers rostered before induction to the participant's needs
  • Monitoring charts incomplete
Worksheet: what your practice holds, and where
RefHeld (yes, partly, no, not applicable)Where it is keptOwnerLast reviewedNext review
Core 21.1
Core 21.2
Core 21.3
Core 21.4
Download the worksheet (CSV)Print the worksheet (A4)

Completing this worksheet records what your practice holds and where. It does not make a practice compliant or ready for audit, and it is not legal advice.

Related requirements

NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators

See every requirement for your practiceSee the specimen practice