Certification

National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS)

NSDS certification benefits disability service providers by demonstrating quality, respecting rights, and aiding funding access.

National Standards for Disability Services.

Demonstrate your commitment to improving the quality of services for people with disabilities.

The National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS) are the underpinning standards used to assess and certify government contracted services including under the new Specialist Disability Employment Program, National Panel of Assessors (NPA) and the National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP).

Products & Services

NSDS supports people with disabilities

Promote quality disability services and focus on the rights and outcomes for people with disability.

The new Specialist Disability Employment Program

From 1 July 2025, the new program replaces DES, focusing on quality outcomes, expanded eligibility, and up to $10,000 wage subsidies per person.

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National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP)

NDAP ensures safeguarding rights of people with disabilities access advocacy. Advocates help with NDIS appeals, legal issues, Centrelink, using NSDS.

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National Panel of Assessors (NPA)

The NPA offers independent assessments to help people with disabilities find and keep jobs, using NSDS. They assess for OS, WMS and SWS.

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Build trust with NSDS certification

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Compliance with regulations to meet contractual requirements.
Improved client satisfaction with a consistent quality approach and attention to individual needs.
Continuous improvement enabling ongoing quality development.
Transparency and accountability.
Reduce administration cost.

Find answers to the most common questions about the National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS)

Information for providers seeking to obtain or maintain NSDS certification.

The standards focus on the rights and outcomes of people with disabilities.

Standard 1. Rights: People using disability services have the right to be treated fairly.
Standard 2. Participation and Inclusion: People using disability services can take part in the community and feel included.
Standard 3. Individual Outcomes: Services support people to make choices and work towards their goals.
Standard 4. Feedback and Complaints: People can tell people what they think about the services they receive.
Standard 5. Service Access: People can find and use services fairly and easily.
Standard 6. Service Management: Disability services are managed well.
The new Specialist Disability Employment Program has been designed in response to feedback on the current Disability Employment Services (DES) program. The new Specialist Disability Employment Program comes into effect from 1 July 2025.

It combines the Disability Management Service (DMS) and Employment Support Services (ESS) into a single streamlined program with a simplified structure. And it has removed the 2-year service limit for participants, supports are person-centred tailored to their individual needs and high-value wage subsidies of up to $10,000 per person will be available to help place participants in sustained employment.

And yes, certification is still assessed using the National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS).
Yes. Quality is a focus of the new Specialist Disability Employment Program. To assess and manage provider performance, the Department of Social Services (DSS) has developed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that require providers to be certified against the National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS).
From 30 June 2025 all existing NSDS (DES) certifications will no longer be recognized by the Department. Providers who successfully tender for work under the new program will be advised by the DSS of the timeframe they have to undergo certification.
The new program will enhance service quality for participants by tailoring support to their specific circumstances, including pre-employment, job search, and in-employment assistance. It will introduce new intensive and flexible services that acknowledge individual circumstances and needs.

The 2-year service limit has been removed.

Eligibility has expanded to include people who don’t receive income support payments and people who have been assessed with a future work capacity of less than 8 hours per week.

Higher value wage subsidies including up to $10,000 per person will be available, with simplified administration, to help place participants into sustained employment.
The Centre of Excellence will be an evidence-informed hub, providing resources, tools, and training to help providers deliver quality employment services to participants with disabilities and employers. It will collect and share disability employment research and best practices, using resources from both national and international sources. The Centre aims to improve service quality across various programs, including the new specialist disability employment program, Workforce Australia, Community Development Program (CDP), National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and supported employment like Australian Disability Enterprises (ADE).
The NPA program consists of a panel of independent assessment service providers contracted to support the needs of people with disabilities in the workplace.
Assessments provided by certified NPA providers include:
• Ongoing support (OS)
• Supported Wage System (SWS)
• Workplace Modification Services (WMS)
NPA providers have are required to achieve certification against the NSDS.
The National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) is for people with disabilities facing complex challenges, the program offers support in situations where they feel unable to act, speak, or write about a difficult situation on their own, or lack the necessary support to resolve an issue. Advocates can assist with a range of issues including but not limited to:
• understand and exercise their rights
• identify and address situations of violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation
• make a complaint
• understand and/or access the NDIS, Centrelink and other government services
• request extra support at school or work.
Quality assurance for NDAP requires providers to achieve certification to the National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS).
There are many types of advocacy including citizen advocacy, systemic advocacy and individual advocacy. Advocates can provide a range of activities including but not limited to:
• Understand and exercise their rights
• Self-advocate, wherever possible
• Identify and address situations of violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation
• Make a complaint
• Understand and/or access the NDIS, Centrelink and other government services
• Find and use community services, including legal services
• Request extra support (such as reasonable adjustments) at school or work.
To obtain a certificate of compliance an independent third-party certification body undertakes a certification audit. Certification bodies are accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ). Steps include:

1. Submit a Notice of Intention to Obtain a Certificate of Compliance
2. Start the process
3. Choose your certification body
4. Conduct your internal audit
5. Prepare your certification audit
6. Participate in your certification audit
7. Take follow-up action if required
8. Start 3-year funding cycle
    a) prepare for first surveillance audit
    b) prepare for second surveillance audit
    c) re-negotiate contract with CB
    d) prepare for recertification audit.

For more information visit Department of Social Services

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Why BSI

Helping you meet compliance with quality standards in disability support

We're your partner in progress, supporting healthcare providers through quality and continual improvement.

Our focus on NSDS reflects our commitment to advancing equitable, patient-centered care in Australia. Our experts are your partners for progress, with significant experience and expertise in the health and disability sector.

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