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 parts of the scheme are:
- Registration: All in-scope providers must register with the Regulator.
- Social Services Standards: All registered providers must comply with the six Standards.
- Notifications: All registered providers have requirements to notify the Regulator about certain things.
The scheme will be implemented in stages, with a focus on supporting service providers to be ready. For details, access information on the Social Services Regulation transition timeline.
Services in scope of the new scheme
To learn which services are in scope of the Social Services Regulator, visit the 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 – even for only one service or a part of their services:
- 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):
- funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH)
- currently operating
- in scope of the new scheme.
Group 3
Includes TAC-funded providers that delivered TAC-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 you have not received this email, it is important that you let the Regulator know as soon as possible by emailing registration@ssr.vic.gov.au.
- If you choose not to register with the Regulator, you must let the TAC know at sectors@tac.vic.gov.au. The TAC will support your client/s to transition their services to a new provider.
2. The 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 Regulator will review your provider profile and confirm that the services you provide are in-scope of the Regulator. Providers can then commence their registration application.
5. If a TAC- funded provider 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 submit a Section 47 notification to the Regulator to vary their registration
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.
- General queries for the Social Services Regulator enquiries@ssr.vic.gov.au.