How to change your NDIS provider
You can change NDIS providers at any time. Do it in this order: choose and verify the new provider, sign with them, give notice, settle money owed and move your records.
- 1
Choose and verify the new provider
Check registration where required and read reviews before booking.
- 2
Sign a new service agreement
Put the price, hours, and cancellation terms in writing before support starts.
- 3
Give notice in writing
Check your current agreement and state your last day of service.
- 4
Settle the money
Confirm and pay any valid final invoice.
- 5
Arrange records and handover
Request the records needed for a smooth change.
Changing providers is a normal decision
Under the NDIS, you choose who delivers your supports, and you can change your mind. Poor communication, services that no longer suit you, prices that feel too high, or simply finding someone better are all good reasons to switch. Plenty of participants do it.
A smooth change comes down to two things: put it in writing, and do it in order. Choose and check the new provider, sign the new agreement, then give the old provider notice, settle the money and arrange your records.
Read the exit terms in a service agreement on the day you sign it, not the day you want to leave.
Before you start: check your current agreement
Your current service agreement sets out how to leave: how much notice to give, how long it runs, how cancellations work and what happens to any money paid in advance. If you never signed one, ask the provider in writing what notice and fees they believe apply, and keep their reply.
It also shows you what to get right next time. Long notice periods, tricky cancellation rules or prices that were never written down are all things to fix in your next agreement.
Before you switch, have you
- Read the notice period in your current agreement?
- Confirmed whether exit or cancellation fees apply?
- Written down the reason you're leaving, so the next agreement addresses it?
- Kept a copy of the agreement and all invoices from the old provider?
- Checked what review date the agreement had — was a review already due?
Step 1Choose and verify the new provider
Check the new provider before you book a single session. Confirm they can deliver the support you need under how your funding is managed, read their reviews, and check the register where registration is required.
A clean result, meaning the right business, the right state and a group that covers your support, is your green light to sign. If the name or the group doesn't match, keep looking.
Look the new provider up
Search by business name or ABN to see their listing and registration status, and confirm the name matches who you'll pay.
Our directory is a guide. The NDIS Commission register is the official source for current registration and approved groups.
Step 2Sign the new agreement
Put the new arrangement in writing before the first session. A good agreement names the supports, sets prices against the current price limits, explains cancellations and notice, and has a review date. If anything is unclear, ask the provider to explain it in plain words before you sign.
Signing before you give notice lets the new support start as the old one ends. Our questions to ask before hiring cover what to ask first; the agreement is where the answers go.
Check or build your new agreement
Fill in what you know. The download follows the same 13 sections as the blank template, and anything you leave empty stays as a fill-in line. Your inputs stay in this browser. Check every term with the other party before signing.
General information only, not legal or financial advice. Check current rules on ndis.gov.au and ndiscommission.gov.au.
Step 3Give notice in writing
Email is fine. Date it, state the last day of support, and refer to the notice period in your current agreement. Ask the provider to confirm they received it.
Notice to end services
Fill this out, then copy or download it. Your inputs stay in this browser until you choose an output.
Step 4Settle the money
Providers are paid by claiming against your plan, so leaving one doesn't cost you funding. Money already claimed for support you received is spent. Money that hasn't been claimed stays in your plan for the new provider.
Check the final invoice against the prices in your agreement and get a receipt. The main risk is both providers claiming for the same support while they overlap, so agree the date one stops and the other starts. Your plan manager can see the claims if you're not managing the funds yourself.
Step 5Arrange records and handover
Ask the old provider for copies of progress notes, therapy reports and other records the new provider needs, and keep your old agreement and invoices on file.
Build your provider shortlist
Choose the support you need and your suburb, then save the providers worth contacting. Your shortlist stays on this device.
Search and save providers without leaving this guide. Your shortlist stays on this device.
Choose a service and enter your suburb or postcode to see providers near you.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the NDIA's permission to change providers?
Usually not. For most supports, choosing your provider is your decision, and you can switch any time. The main catch is how your funding is managed — NDIA-managed supports can only be claimed from a registered provider, so make sure the new provider fits before you switch.
Can the old provider charge me to leave?
Only if your service agreement says so, and only for something real, like an agreed exit fee. If you never signed an agreement, or it says nothing about exit fees, you can push back on a surprise charge.
What happens to funding already paid to my old provider?
Money for support you've already received is spent. Funding that hasn't been claimed stays in your plan for your new provider. If you paid ahead for sessions you didn't use, sort that out with the old provider under your agreement.
Do I need a new service agreement with each new provider?
It's strongly recommended. A written agreement isn't required for every support, but one with every new provider protects you if there's ever a dispute about price, hours or cancellations.
How do I avoid a gap in support when I switch?
Overlap where you can: sign with the new provider before you give notice to the old one. Support coordination funding can help you manage the transition, and your plan manager can confirm claims are moving across correctly.
Official sources
This guide is checked against these official pages.
- What is a service agreementWhat a service agreement covers, when it's recommended, and when it's mandatory.
- How to make a service agreementThe step-by-step guidance for creating one with a provider.
- Guide to working with providersProvider types, service agreements, and how payments work with each management type.
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