The TAC may consider paying for services provided by an outreach provider who does not meet the TAC’s disability service provider registration requirements if:

• the client does not have a disability, or

• the provider is ineligible to register with the Social Services Regulator because they are not providing services to a client with disability.

For WorkSafe only providers, please refer to the WorkSafe attendant care policy.

Attendant care providers must have a Recruitment and Retention Policy that outlines preferred qualifications (Certificate III in Disability or equivalent for attendant care) and training requirements, monitoring and evaluation for personnel.

Service providers are responsible for ensuring attendant care support workers meet the following minimum requirements and for ensuring that competence in these requirements is maintained over time.

• CPR
• First aid - including anaphylaxis
• Food safety
• Infection control
• Manual handling
• Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council (AFAC) Fire Safety Awareness Training
• Administration of medication

Adequate notice must be given to the TAC and WorkSafe to withdraw or terminate services. The timeframe will vary according to the situation but cannot be less than 28 days unless negotiated with the TAC.

Respite care

The attendant care policy applies where respite care is delivered as attendant care.

Post-acute support

Post-acute support must be delivered by a provider that has met the TAC’s attendant care provider registration requirements. Post acute support providers who are supporting clients without disability may be exempt from the TAC disability service provider registration requirements in exceptional circumstances.

Shared supported accommodation

See additional requirements for Shared Supported Accommodation (SSA).

Substitute care services

Substitute care services can be provided by:

• an attendant care provider who has met the TAC’s attendant care registration requirements, or
• another provider authorised by the TAC if the provider is not eligible to register with the Social Services Regulator because the client does not have a disability.

You can provide services if you are a case management provider, and:

• you are registered with the TAC to deliver case management services, and
• you are qualified and experienced in delivering case management interventions to clients. Minimum qualifications are required to be at a diploma level and can include social work, community service work, disability work, allied health or nursing.

A community group program must provide proof of experience in providing programs for people with disabilities, to be registered by the TAC to provide services.

Respite services

The community access support services policy applies where respite is delivered as a community group program.

A community access planner must meet the following criteria to be registered by the TAC to provide services:

• Completed a minimum Certificate IV in either Disability or Recreation Studies.
• At least three years relevant experience in working with people with a disability.

If you are a Client Independence Skills Services (CISS) provider, workers must:

• possess either an Associate Diploma or Certificate IV qualification in disability, community services or equivalent, and
• provide SMART client goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely) that are consistent with the client's MyPlan focus on empowering the client to achieve pre-defined independence outcomes, and
• use a model of supported repetitive functional task practice.

The registration requirements and service standards of respite services depend on the services being delivered. See information for Attendant Care, Community Group Programs and Shared Supported Accommodation.

This information should be read in conjunction with our attendant care requirements.

In addition to Shared Supported Accommodation (SSA) providers being registered, properties where shared support is delivered must be enrolled with the TAC and meet the TAC’s Shared Supported Accommodation Property Enrolment requirements .

SSA provider registration and property enrolment

The purpose of the SSA provider registration and property enrolment process is to enable providers to understand the requirements of the TAC that relate:

• to the quality of support provided to clients,
• the minimum standards for the properties in which services are delivered, and
• the provider’s registration obligations.

The TAC places the highest priority on quality and safeguarding for our clients, enabling clients to lead safe lives free from abuse, neglect, exploitation and preventable injury. Consistent with contemporary disability practice and standards, the TAC expects services to facilitate individuals’ autonomy, respect, wellbeing and participation.

How to apply

1. Secure TAC registration as an authorised disability service provider. You must first be authorised to deliver attendant care services. If you do not have TAC disability services provider registration, please do not proceed with SSA registration.
2. Meet the TAC’s SSA provider registration requirements.
3. Read and complete the Shared Supported Accommodation Provider Registration form . This includes:
   • Property enrolment criteria
   • Terms and conditions of registration
   • Signing the Declaration and Consent
4. Complete and sign a Shared Supported Accommodation Property Enrolment Application for each property at which SSA services will be provided to TAC/WorkSafe funded residents.
5. Submit forms and documents to the TAC. Email the completed forms and all supporting documents (as PDF files) to sectors@tac.vic.gov.au.

What happens next

The TAC will review your application and notify you of the outcome in writing. If a discrepancy arises with your submission, one of our representatives will contact you directly.

Registration will be for a three-year duration, after which time providers will need to complete registration renewal and property re-enrolment attestation and may be required to provide updated third-party verification documentation to support re-registration.

If you have any questions, please contact us at sectors@tac.vic.gov.au.

Respite services

The TAC can pay for short-term stays in supported accommodation, to allow carers to have a break. This is called respite care. The supported accommodation policy applies in these circumstances.

To deliver Supported Employment Services to TAC clients, a provider must be an Australian Disability Enterprise that is registered with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) under the category of ‘specialised supported employment’ and/or are independently assessed and certified under the National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS) criteria.

Australian Disability Enterprises must demonstrate the provision of an accessible working environment and have undertaken a third-party quality assessment by way of certification or verification against the NDIS Practice Standards and/or the NSDS criteria.

An Australian Disability Enterprise must produce their certificate or verification listing the category ‘specialised employment support’ for delivering supported employment services if requested by the TAC.

Three-yearly recertification by an approved NDIS Approved Quality Auditor (AQA) must be provided to the TAC upon request.

You must notify the TAC immediately if at any time the NDIA revoke your status as a provider of ‘specialised supported employment’ and/or your certification under the NSDS criteria is revoked.