Stronger protections for Victorian people with disability

Victoria’s Disability Worker Regulation Scheme begins on 1 July 

All disability workers in Victoria will need to abide by a new code of conduct as part of a plan to better protect people with disability from harm and abuse. 

Victoria’s Disability Worker Regulation Scheme begins on 1 July, bringing into effect a code of conduct, mandatory notification requirements for providers and workers around safety concerns, and an independent complaints service. 

The code of conduct will apply to all disability workers – even if they are not funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme – and is designed to complement the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework to promote a safe and skilled Victorian disability workforce. 

Mandatory notification requirements compel providers and workers to report concerns that a disability worker may be putting safety at risk, while the independent complaints service allows community members to report a Victorian disability worker. 

These changes will be enforced by a newly established regulator, the Victorian Disability Worker Commission. 

Commissioner Dan Stubbs welcomed the new regulations in a public awareness campaign video. 

“From 1 July, there will be a code of conduct that promotes safe, quality, consistent services for people with disabilities in Victoria,” Stubbs said.

“I’m really looking forward to building a stronger, safer disability sector in Victoria.”