Subcontracting, done with heart.
We started Good Shepherd because we've lived this side of disability. We know how much a great support worker can change a life. Our subcontracting service connects NDIS participants across the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Hunter with registered providers, unregistered providers and independent support workers we genuinely believe in. You bring the care and the skill. We handle the paperwork, compliance and everything in between, so you can show up fully for the people in front of you.
You bring the heart. We hold everything around it.
Thoughtful matching
We take the time to pair participants with the right worker: the right skills and the right personality.
Compliance, carried
Service agreements, support plans, risk assessments and NDIS correspondence are all handled, so you can focus on the work.
Weekly payments
We pay you weekly. Predictable cash flow means you can focus on the work, not the invoice chase.
Insurance & screening
We diarise every renewal and screening date for you. Nothing slips through. You stay covered.
Secure software
Shared tools for shift notes, incidents and participant goals. Audit-ready, and easy to actually use.
Warm introductions
Participants meet you knowing who you are and why we chose you. Good Shepherd stays their provider of record for all subcontracting arrangements.
A real example
- Support cost billed to the participant's plan$1,000
- Good Shepherd fee (20%)$200
- Paid to you (provider or independent worker)$800
Illustrative only. The 20% covers coordination, compliance and administration: the behind-the-scenes work that keeps everyone safe. Your actual rates are set in your subcontractor agreement.
Sign one agreement, receive steady referrals and have the space to do your best work.
No chasing NDIA paperwork at 10pm, no writing service agreements between shifts. You won't carry the compliance weight alone. We handle it with you, so your energy goes where it belongs: with the person you're supporting.
Good Shepherd stays the participant's provider of record. Your work flows through our framework, your name is introduced warmly, and you're set up to build the kind of long, trusting relationship that can genuinely change someone's week.
Starting strong, side by side.
A few small things keep everyone safe and looked after. Our team walks with you through each step, in plain language and without the runaround. Most partners are ready to go in about a week.
Who you are
- ABN and business details
- 100 points of ID
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- Working With Children Check (if relevant)
- Current police check
Skills & experience
- Qualifications for the supports you deliver
- NDIS Worker Orientation Module
- First aid and CPR
- Specialised training where needed
Peace of mind
- Public liability insurance
- Professional indemnity insurance
- Personal accident or workers comp
- We diarise your renewal dates so you can rest easy
Our agreement
- Signed Subcontractor Agreement + rates schedule
- Confidentiality deed
- Policies and Code of Conduct acknowledged
- A friendly induction, kettle on
Set up for success
- Supports matched to our NDIS registration groups
- Access to our secure software
- Recorded in our compliance register, audit-ready
Participants at the centre
- Written participant consent. Participant choice always comes first
- A warm introduction, so they know exactly who's turning up
- Good Shepherd stays their provider, every step
Built on lived experience.
Good Shepherd was born from lived experience with disability. We know what it feels like on both sides of the referral. As the family waiting for the right person to walk in the door, and as the worker giving everything they have. That's why empathy, honesty and safety guide every subcontracting relationship we build, with participants and with the providers we're lucky enough to partner with.
The questions providers and independent workers ask us first.
OnboardingHow long does onboarding take?
How long does onboarding take?
Most providers are ready to take referrals within 5–7 business days. Send us your ABN, insurances, screening checks and qualifications and we'll take it from there, including diarising every renewal date so nothing slips through.
OnboardingDo I need to be NDIS-registered? What about independent support workers?
Do I need to be NDIS-registered? What about independent support workers?
No registration required. We subcontract to registered providers, unregistered providers and independent support workers. Good Shepherd is the registered provider of record, and your work flows through our framework so every participant stays fully covered. The onboarding is the same friendly walk-through either way.
PaymentsWhen and how do I get paid?
When and how do I get paid?
Weekly, like clockwork. Submit your shift notes through our secure software by Sunday night and payment lands in your nominated account the following week. Rates are set in your subcontractor agreement. No surprises, no chasing invoices.
PaymentsHow does the 20% fee work?
How does the 20% fee work?
On a $1,000 support, $200 covers our coordination, compliance and admin and $800 is paid to you. The fee is transparent, applied uniformly across every partner, and explained in full in your agreement before you sign anything. What you see is what you get.
ComplianceWho carries the compliance burden?
Who carries the compliance burden?
We do, together. Good Shepherd holds the service agreement with the participant, manages NDIS correspondence and feedback, and keeps the compliance register audit-ready. You stay responsible for the quality of your own practice and for reporting incidents promptly. Nobody carries this alone.
ComplianceWhat happens if an incident occurs on shift?
What happens if an incident occurs on shift?
Log it in our secure software the same day and our team takes it from there. NDIS Commission notifications, family communication and any follow-up are handled by Good Shepherd. You'll have someone alongside you every step, and you'll never be left to figure it out alone.
CommunicationWho do I contact day-to-day?
Who do I contact day-to-day?
You get a dedicated coordinator, a real person with a genuine relationship. They're your first call for rosters, participant updates and anything tricky. Phone, email or in-app messaging, whichever works for you. We reply within one business day, usually much sooner.
CommunicationHow are participants introduced to me?
How are participants introduced to me?
We share your bio and approach with the participant and their family first, then arrange an introductory meet by phone, video or in person. Participants always know exactly who is turning up, and that Good Shepherd stays their provider through it all.
Let's build something real, together.
Email info@goodshepherds.com.au or call 1300 210 776. For providers and independent support workers alike, most partners are onboarded within a week. We'd love to meet you.