Many NDIS providers also operate under other regulatory or funding frameworks. Whether you’re a large multi-service provider or a growing sole trader, managing multiple audits can drain resources. The solution? Combining and aligning audits.
What is Combined Certification?
Combined certification means being assessed for multiple standards in a single audit event. For example, an NDIS provider that is also funded by Queensland Government (HSQF) or seeks quality assurance under ISO 9001 can be assessed across all frameworks at once.
Why Combine and Align?
- Save Time: One audit activity = fewer disruptions to your team and client services.
- Save Money: Combining assessments reduces auditor time and travel, saving you audit costs.
- Streamline Compliance: Fewer systems to maintain means better oversight and less duplication.
- Improve Quality Culture: Integrated standards foster cross-functional thinking and deeper organisational alignment.
How Combining Works
- Engage a certification body like IHCA that is approved to audit across multiple quality standards.
- Map the common requirements (e.g., complaints management, governance, risk and incident management, continuous improvement).
- Create unified policies and evidence folders.
- Prepare your team once, instead of multiple times.
Case Study Example
A mid-sized Brisbane provider supporting participants under NDIS and also funded through HSQF used combined audits to reduce annual compliance costs by 35%. Staff were engaged more meaningfully during a single, well planned audit event, rather than stretched thin over multiple audit events.
