What should be discussed before support begins?
- What support will be provided.
- Usual days, times and location.
- The agreed rate and how pricing changes will be handled.
- Provider Travel and participant transport where relevant.
- Cancellation arrangements.
- Who receives invoices and how they are sent.
- Responsibilities and how changes or endings will be managed.
Keep the language easy to understand
A service agreement should not be written like a legal textbook if the participant cannot easily understand it. Clear beats complicated.
A service agreement is not an NDIS plan
A service agreement records what the participant and provider have agreed about working together. It does not itself confirm available funding.
Before the first paid shift
- Support agreed?
- Rate agreed?
- Travel discussed?
- Cancellation arrangement clear?
- Invoice recipient confirmed?
- Responsibilities understood?
Frequently asked questions
Are written service agreements compulsory for every NDIS support?
Not for every support. Written service agreements are generally recommended, while some support types have specific requirements. Check current official guidance for the support involved.
Should travel and cancellations be included?
Where relevant, yes. Making those arrangements clear beforehand can reduce confusion later.
Does signing a service agreement guarantee funding?
No. A service agreement records the working arrangement; it does not itself confirm available funding.