What You Need
ABN
As an independant mentor, you will be classified as being an independent contractor. An independant contractor is a person who has an Australian Business Number (ABN) and is often responsible for managing their own insurance, tax and superannuation.
Apply for an ABN
Insurance
If you wish to conduct your Mentoring services in-person, the minimun insurance you should have is Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance. Other insurances, including Personal Accident Insurance or Motor Insurance are also advised.
Professional Indemnity
Protects you against claims for alleged negligence or breach of duty arising from an act, error or omission in the performance of your duties.
Public Liability
When you are at work or out and about and a third party suffers an injury or property damage as a result of your negligence, your insurance cover protects you in the event of a claim.
Personal Accident (optional)
Personal accident cover or otherwise known as 'income protection' cover is especially relevant if you have no other form of income and are running your own small business. If you are ill or injured, personal accident cover will ensure you have an income to cover your running expenses until you are well again. This is optional and you can ask your insurance agent more about this.
You can get an instant quote for your insurance here
Police Check and Working with Children Check
Anyone working with people under the age of 18 in Australia requires a working with children check and/or a police check.
Contacts for obtaining National Police Clearance.
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State or territory |
Agency and website address |
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NSW |
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QLD |
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SA |
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VIC |
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NT |
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TAS |
Contacts for obtaining Working with Children Screening
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State or territory |
Agency and website address |
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ACT |
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NSW |
Working with Children Check | Office of the Children's Guardian (nsw.gov.au) |
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QLD |
QLD Government Blue Card: http://www.bluecard.qld.gov.au/about.html |
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SA |
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VIC |
Department of Justice: http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/ |
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WA |
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NT |
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TAS |
Department of Justice: http://www.justice.tas.gov.au/working_with_children |
NDIS CODE OF CONDUCT
All registered and unregistered NDIS providers and their workers are required to comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct. There are guidelines available to help both NDIS providers and workers understand their obligations under the NDIS Code of Conduct.
NDIS Worker Screening Check
As an unregistered NDIS provider, you have the option of asking workers that you employ or otherwise engage to demonstrate they have an NDIS Worker Screening clearance, or to ask them to obtain a clearance by undergoing an NDIS Worker Screening Check.
As an unregistered provider, you must be able to effectively manage complaints about the quality and safety of supports and services being provided. This includes worker screening. Self-managed participants can also choose to not use the services of an unregistered provider or worker who does not hold an NDIS Worker Screening Check clearance
The NDIS Worker Screening Check is an assessment of whether a person who works, or seeks to work, with people with disability poses a risk to them. The assessment determines whether a person is cleared or excluded from working in certain roles with people with disability.
The NDIS Worker Screening Check is conducted by the Worker Screening Unit in the state or territory where a person applies for it. The Worker Screening Unit also decides whether a person is cleared or excluded. Registered NDIS providers are required to ensure that they only engage workers who have been cleared in certain roles, called risk assessed roles.
Before the NDIS Worker Screening Check started, registered NDIS providers were required to ensure that their workers in risk assessed roles had an acceptable check that met the transitional and special arrangements that apply to the state or territory where they provide supports and services. Now that the NDIS Worker Screening Check has commenced, registered NDIS providers may be able to continue recognising a person’s acceptable check if the person does not have an NDIS worker screening clearance. The period of time that an acceptable check can continue to be recognised depends on the state or territory where the person provides supports or services. Please visit the transitional and special arrangements page for more information.
How to apply for an NDIS Worker Screening Check
Workers engaged to provide NDIS supports and services to registered NDIS providers, unregistered NDIS providers and self-managed participants can apply for an NDIS Worker Screening Check through a state or territory agency. Each agency has a ‘Worker Screening Unit’. The Worker Screening Unit is responsible for accepting and processing NDIS Worker Screening Check applications from workers, and will undertake risk assessments to determine whether a worker receives a clearance.
When a worker applies for an NDIS Worker Screening Check, a fee is payable (which is set by the state or territory in which the application is made).
Workers must prove their identity for their application to proceed. The process for this will depend on the state or territory in which a person makes their application.
Workers will nominate the NDIS provider or self-managed participant that engages them (or intends to engage them) to provide NDIS supports and services. The NDIS provider or self-managed participant then needs to verify that they engage (or intend to engage) the worker, for the purposes of delivering NDIS supports and services. The application will not proceed to assessment until the relevant NDIS provider or self-managed participant has verified the application.
It is a condition of registration for registered NDIS providers that they ensure that workers in risk assessed roles have an NDIS Worker Screening Check or an acceptable check under the transitional and special arrangements. This provides a level of safeguarding for NDIS participants by helping to ensure that those in risk assessed roles do not pose an unacceptable risk to the safety and wellbeing of NDIS participants.