Social Services Regulations

All service providers funded by the TAC to deliver a disability service for a client with disability in Victoria must comply with the requirements of the new Social Services Regulator that came into effect on 1 July 2024.

The new Social Services Regulator:

oversees strengthened protections for disability service users in Victoria
streamlines registration and reporting requirements for providers
establishes a consistent set of requirements for social service providers where they had previously been subject to different requirements under different laws
ensures social services providers meet standards to protect the rights of service users and prevent abuse or neglect in the delivery of social services.

The main elements of the scheme are:

Registration: All in-scope providers must register with the Social Services Regulator.
Social Services Standards: All registered providers must comply with the six Standards.
Notifications: All registered providers have requirements to notify the Social Services Regulator about certain things.

The scheme has been implemented in stages from 1 July 2024, with a focus on supporting service providers during the transition. For details, access information on the Social Services Regulation transition timeline.

If a provider does not fall under the transitional requirements, they must follow the TAC disability services registration requirements, including first contacting the TAC claims manager.

Services in scope of the new scheme

To learn which services are in scope of the Social Services Regulator, visit the services in scope webpage.

In-scope service providers must follow the transitional registration arrangements of the Social Services Regulator between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025.

Social Services Regulator registration

Providers of social services in Victoria in scope of the new Social Services Regulator must:

register with the Social Services Regulator
meet the Social Services Standards when providing services they are registered for.

The purpose of registration is to make sure service providers demonstrate their suitability to provide safe services before they offer those services, with the aim of protecting service users and preventing harm. There is no cost for registration.

Service provider groups for registration

There are three different service provider groups for registration. The registration process and timeframes are different for each group.

Group 1

Includes TAC-funded providers registered with the Human Services Regulator:

These providers automatically transitioned to the Social Services Regulator on 1 July 2024.
They can continue to deliver disability services to TAC clients in Victoria.

Group 2

Includes providers not registered with the Human Services Regulator that meet all of the following (providers funded by DFFH only; not applicable for most TAC and WorkSafe funded disability providers):

funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH)
currently operating
in scope of the new scheme.

Group 3

Includes providers who delivered TAC or WorkSafe-funded disability services in Victoria in the period 1 April 2024 to 30 June 2024, but did not need to register with the Human Services Regulator:

1. In June 2025, providers should have received and responded to an email from the Social Services Regulator transition team requesting details for an ‘Active Admin User’.

Completing this step ensures providers continue to be covered by transitional registration arrangements until the registration process is complete.
If providers have not received this email, it is important that they let the Social Services Regulator know as soon as possible by emailing registration@ssr.vic.gov.au.
If providers choose not to register with the Social Services Regulator, they must let the TAC know at sectors@tac.vic.gov.au and the Social Services Regulator at transition@ssr.vic.gov.au. The TAC will support client/s to transition their services to a new provider as providers not registering with the Social Services Regulator will be unable to continue providing this service.

2. The Social Services Regulator will invite providers to register in groups using a staged approach. They will let each provider know when they’re ready to invite them. This will be an email with guidance and a link to create a provider profile in the Objective registration management system.

3. When registration guidance material has been received, providers should create a portal account and a provider profile.

Evidence of funding in the form of a TAC remittance with client details redacted, will be required at this point.
Providers delivering services to a client with a TAC Individual Funding Agreement who are unable to access a TAC remittance should email sectors@tac.vic.gov.au for support with evidence of funding.

4. The Social Services Regulator will review your provider profile and confirm that the services the provider delivers are in-scope. Providers can then commence their registration application.

5. If a TAC or WorkSafe-funded provider who has successfully registered with the Social Services Regulator wants to deliver a new in-scope disability service, they need to first contact the TAC at sectors@tac.vic.gov.au to confirm this change and next steps. The provider may be required to apply to the Social Services Regulator to vary their registration, by contacting registration@ssr.vic.gov.au. More information is available on the Social Services Regulator website.

Further information

Information on how to register Social Services Regulator webpage

Queries regarding a Group 3 provider invitation to register with the Social Services Regulator transition@ssr.vic.gov.au.
Questions specifically about registering with the Social Services Regulator registration@ssr.vic.gov.au.
Information on how to report a notifiable incident to the Social Services Regulator.
General queries for the Social Services Regulator enquiries@ssr.vic.gov.au.

If a provider is not registered with the Social Services Regulator, they should follow the TAC disability services registration requirements.


Social Services Regulations All service providers funded by the TAC to deliver a disability service for a client with disability in Victoria must comply with the requirements of the new Social Services Regulator that came into effect on 1 July 2024. The new Social Services Regulator: oversees strengthened protections for disability service users in Victoria streamlines registration and reporting requirements for providers establishes a consistent set of requirements for social service providers where they had previously been subject to different requirements under different laws ensures social services providers meet standards to protect the rights of service users and prevent abuse or neglect in the delivery of social services. The main elements of the scheme are: Registration: All in-scope providers must register with the Social Services Regulator. Social Services Standards: All registered providers must comply with the six Standards. Notifications: All registered providers have requirements to notify the Social Services Regulator about certain things. The scheme has been implemented in stages from 1 July 2024, with a focus on supporting service providers during the transition. For details, access information on the Social Services Regulation transition timeline. If a provider does not fall under the transitional requirements, they must follow the TAC disability services registration requirements, including first contacting the TAC claims manager. Services in scope of the new scheme To learn which services are in scope of the Social Services Regulator, visit the services in scope webpage. In-scope service providers must follow the transitional registration arrangements of the Social Services Regulator between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025. Social Services Regulator registration Providers of social services in Victoria in scope of the new Social Services Regulator must: register with the Social Services Regulator meet the Social Services Standards when providing services they are registered for. The purpose of registration is to make sure service providers demonstrate their suitability to provide safe services before they offer those services, with the aim of protecting service users and preventing harm. There is no cost for registration. Service provider groups for registration There are three different service provider groups for registration. The registration process and timeframes are different for each group. Group 1 Includes TAC-funded providers registered with the Human Services Regulator: These providers automatically transitioned to the Social Services Regulator on 1 July 2024. They can continue to deliver disability services to TAC clients in Victoria. Group 2 Includes providers not registered with the Human Services Regulator that meet all of the following (providers funded by DFFH only; not applicable for most TAC and WorkSafe funded disability providers): funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) currently operating in scope of the new scheme. Group 3 Includes providers who delivered TAC or WorkSafe-funded disability services in Victoria in the period 1 April 2024 to 30 June 2024, but did not need to register with the Human Services Regulator: 1. In June 2025, providers should have received and responded to an email from the Social Services Regulator transition team requesting details for an ‘Active Admin User’. Completing this step ensures providers continue to be covered by transitional registration arrangements until the registration process is complete. If providers have not received this email, it is important that they let the Social Services Regulator know as soon as possible by emailing registration@ssr.vic.gov.au. If providers choose not to register with the Social Services Regulator, they must let the TAC know at sectors@tac.vic.gov.au and the Social Services Regulator at transition@ssr.vic.gov.au. The TAC will support client/s to transition their services to a new provider as providers not registering with the Social Services Regulator will be unable to continue providing this service. 2. The Social Services Regulator will invite providers to register in groups using a staged approach. They will let each provider know when they’re ready to invite them. This will be an email with guidance and a link to create a provider profile in the Objective registration management system. 3. When registration guidance material has been received, providers should create a portal account and a provider profile. Evidence of funding in the form of a TAC remittance with client details redacted, will be required at this point. Providers delivering services to a client with a TAC Individual Funding Agreement who are unable to access a TAC remittance should email sectors@tac.vic.gov.au for support with evidence of funding. 4. The Social Services Regulator will review your provider profile and confirm that the services the provider delivers are in-scope. Providers can then commence their registration application. 5. If a TAC or WorkSafe-funded provider who has successfully registered with the Social Services Regulator wants to deliver a new in-scope disability service, they need to first contact the TAC at sectors@tac.vic.gov.au to confirm this change and next steps. The provider may be required to apply to the Social Services Regulator to vary their registration, by contacting registration@ssr.vic.gov.au. More information is available on the Social Services Regulator website. Further information Information on how to register Social Services Regulator webpage Queries regarding a Group 3 provider invitation to register with the Social Services Regulator transition@ssr.vic.gov.au. Questions specifically about registering with the Social Services Regulator registration@ssr.vic.gov.au. Information on how to report a notifiable incident to the Social Services Regulator. General queries for the Social Services Regulator enquiries@ssr.vic.gov.au. If a provider is not registered with the Social Services Regulator, they should follow the TAC disability services registration requirements.