Providing high-quality, person-centred care under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) requires effective competence-based training to guarantee the safety, dignity, and empowerment of participants.
Proper training is not just a regulatory requirement, but a critical foundation for building trust, minimising risks, and enabling disability support professionals to meet diverse needs effectively.
Below is an overview of the minimum training requirements for several key disability supports, aligned with NDIS standards, and emphasising the critical role of comprehensive training for the welfare of participants.
PEG Feeding
Proper training in percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding is essential to safely administer nutrition and hydration, preventing complications like infections or tube dislodgement. Training must include:
- Understanding PEG tube care and functionality
- Strict hygiene and infection control protocols
- Administering feeds with correct positioning and flow rates
- Identifying and managing complications
- NDIS Alignment: Training must meet NDIS Practice Standards for high-intensity daily personal activities.
- Minimum Requirement: an NDIS-compliant course, ideally refreshed every 1-2 years.
- Importance: Inadequate training risks participant health and breaches the NDIS Code of Conduct.
Epilepsy
Comprehensive epilepsy training equips staff to manage seizures safely, reducing harm and ensuring participant safety. It covers:
- Identifying seizure types and triggers
- Providing seizure first aid
- Administering emergency medications (such as midazolam) per medical protocol
- Accurate documentation and reporting
- NDIS Alignment: Aligns with NDIS requirements for managing complex health needs.
- Minimum Requirement: an NDIS-compliant course, ideally refreshed every 1-2 years.
- Importance: Proper training prevents injury during seizures and ensures compliance with NDIS safeguarding obligations.
Mealtime Management and Dysphagia
Training in mealtime management and dysphagia is vital to mitigate risks like choking and aspiration, ensuring safe and dignified dining. It includes:
- Understanding dysphagia and associated risks
- Following speech pathologist recommendations (for example: modified textures, positioning)
- Using adaptive equipment and monitoring for distress
- NDIS Alignment: Meets NDIS standards for high-intensity support and participant safety.
- Minimum Requirement: an NDIS-compliant course with annual refreshers.
- Importance: Without proper training, workers risk participant harm, violating NDIS quality and safety standards.
Manual Handling
Manual handling training is critical to prevent injuries to participants and workers during physical support tasks. It covers:
- Safe lifting, transferring, and repositioning techniques
- Using mobility aids (for example: hoists and wheelchairs)
- Conducting risk assessments and applying proper body mechanics
- NDIS Alignment: Complies with NDIS Practice Standards for safe service delivery.
- Minimum Requirement: an NDIS-compliant course, refreshed every 1-2 years per workplace safety standards.
- Importance: Inadequate training can lead to serious injuries, breaching NDIS safety requirements.
Assisting Participants with Medication
Proper training in medication assistance ensures safe and accurate administration, protecting participant health. It includes:
- Understanding medication schedules and documentation
- Safe administration methods (for example: oral, topical, PEG)
- Recognising side effects and reporting errors
- Adhering to legal and ethical responsibilities
- Minimum Requirement: an NDIS-compliant course, updated annually. Importance: Errors due to insufficient training can cause harm and violate NDIS compliance standards.
Support Coordination
Support coordination training is essential for empowering participants to navigate NDIS services and achieve their goals. It covers:
- Understanding NDIS frameworks and participant plans
- Connecting participants with appropriate services
- Advocacy, communication, and plan monitoring
- NDIS Alignment: Meets NDIS Practice Standards for support coordination and participant empowerment.
- Minimum Requirement: an NDIS-compliant course, with ongoing professional development.
- Importance: Proper training ensures participants access tailored supports, fulfilling NDIS person-centred care principles.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
PPE training is critical for infection control and staff safety, particularly in high-risk settings. It includes:
- Correct use of PPE (for example: using gloves, masks, gowns)
- Donning and doffing procedures
- Safe disposal and infection control protocols
- NDIS Alignment: Supports NDIS requirements for infection control and workplace safety.
- Minimum Requirement: an NDIS-compliant course, with regular refreshers.
- Importance: Inadequate PPE training risks infection spread, compromising NDIS safety standards.
Autism
Autism training is vital for delivering respectful, tailored support to individuals on the spectrum. It covers:
- Recognising sensory and communication needs
- Implementing person-centred strategies
- Managing behaviours of concern and de-escalation
- Promoting inclusion and autonomy
- NDIS Alignment: Aligns with NDIS standards for positive behaviour support and inclusive care.
- Minimum Requirement: an NDIS-compliant course with annual refreshers.
- Importance: Proper training fosters participant autonomy and prevents distress, aligning with NDIS quality care principles.
Conclusion
Proper training in all of these vital care areas is a non-negotiable for NDIS providers to deliver safe, effective, and person-centred support.
Comprehensive, NDIS-aligned training ensures that disability support professionals are equipped to handle complex needs, reduce risks, and uphold the NDIS Code of Conduct and Practice Standards.
NGO Training Centre’s online courses deliver these key outcomes in a flexible, engaging and fully online format, for efficient and effective training.
By prioritising comprehensive training, providers safeguard participant well-being and demonstrate commitment to NDIS quality and safety requirements.
Check out and get started on our online NDIS training courses, browse our full course list for more information on each disability support training course we offer, or see our range of Training Packages for small to large organisations.
Alternatively, if you’re unsure where to start your training and need friendly advice, don’t hesitate to contact our team for help and support using the form below!
