NDIS Auditors Under Scrutiny

Why We All Must Hold the Line

In October 2025, the NDIS Commission announced that it had imposed conditions on JPS Audit Specialists Pty Ltd as part of regulatory action. The statement cited serious concerns about the company’s conduct, including that it had promoted an NDIS consultancy business to providers it was auditing. This action, the Commission said, undermined impartiality and breached the standards expected of Approved Quality Auditors.

In simple terms, the audit process had lost its independence, and the Commission acted quickly to stop it.

This is not just a story about one auditing firm. It is a reminder for all of us that the integrity of the NDIS system depends on every player in the sector holding the line.

What Happened

According to the Commission’s public statement, JPS Audit Specialists was found to have breached auditor independence standards. Conditions were immediately imposed to stop the company from conducting new audits, except those already contracted and lodged before 17 October 2025.

The company was also required to provide written assurances to the Commission regarding conflicts of interest and was prohibited from promoting other business interests in relation to the audit function.

In addition, the accreditation body Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JASANZ) suspended JPS’s accreditation on 13 October 2025.

It was the first time such strong action had been taken against an Approved Quality Auditor under the scheme.

Why This Matters for the Sector

This is not something to read and scroll past. It is a red flag for all of us: providers, auditors, consultants and leaders.

If the audit system loses its integrity, the consequences ripple across the entire sector.

When auditors are compromised:

• Audits become meaningless tick box exercises.

• Unsafe providers can slip through without detection.

• Participants may be placed at risk.

• Public trust in the NDIS declines.

When integrity falls, people get hurt. This is not paperwork. It is people’s lives.

It Is Not Just About Being a Good Human

In this sector, compassion matters deeply. But compassion without accountability is not enough.

Being kind or well intentioned does not replace the need for strong governance, transparent business practices and ethical decision making.

Every provider, auditor and consultant has a duty to do the right thing, even when it is uncomfortable or inconvenient. The NDIS has no space for fraud, neglect or rule breaking. Because one person’s shortcut can lead to another person’s suffering.

This is not a game.

What We Must Do as Providers and Leaders

1. Own Your Responsibility
You are not just a service provider. You are part of a national system that supports human lives. Take your role seriously. Keep your policies current, your records clear and your audits honest. Operate as if every decision will be reviewed tomorrow.

2. Choose Your Auditors and Consultants Carefully
Do not pick the cheapest or the easiest. Choose the most credible. Confirm that your auditor is approved by the NDIS Commission and has no conflicts of interest.

3. Speak Up When You See Wrongdoing
If you come across a provider, auditor or consultant cutting corners or engaging in misconduct, report them. Contact the NDIS Commission. Accountability is a collective responsibility.

4. Build a Culture of Integrity, Not Just Compliance
Compliance is the foundation, but culture is the goal. Lead your team to care about doing the right thing, not just avoiding penalties. Teach them the why, not just the how.

A Call to Action

If you are a leader in this sector, this is your reminder that integrity is not negotiable.

The NDIS was built to create opportunity, safety and independence for people with disability. Every time someone in the sector bends the rules, that trust erodes.

We must all hold the line. Refuse to tolerate shortcuts. Refuse to normalise unethical behaviour. Commit to transparency, honesty and service.

Because the work we do touches lives in ways that last forever.

The NDIS Commission’s action against JPS Audit Specialists is not just about one company. It is about all of us. It is about leadership. It is about accountability. It is about what happens when we forget that compliance exists to protect people, not to create paperwork.

If you are truly committed to your purpose, then you are also committed to the standards that make that purpose possible.

So ask yourself today:
Would I pass the integrity test if no one was watching?

Because responsibility in this sector is not optional. It is essential. And the people we serve deserve nothing less.