As an Independent Support Worker on Kynd, it's important to understand what a conflict of interest is and how to manage it. Being aware of these situations helps protect the people you support and ensures your work stays ethical and transparent.
What is a Conflict of Interest?
A conflict of interest happens when your personal interests (or the interests of someone close to you) could affect your ability to support an NDIS Participant fairly.
There are different types of conflict:
Actual – It’s happening now.
Potential – It could happen.
Perceived – It might look like it’s happening, even if it’s not.
Even if you mean well, if someone else thinks you’re not being fair or independent, it can be a problem.
Examples of Conflicts
Here are some examples of situations that could create a conflict of interest:
Relying on one Participant for all your income
⚠️Potential/Perceived Conflict – This can compromise the Participant’s freedom to make choices without pressure, especially if you rely heavily on them financially.
Recommending only friends or family for other support
⚠️Actual/Potential Conflict – This limits Participant choice and introduces bias.
Encouraging a Participant not to cancel bookings or reduce hours
⚠️Actual/Perceived Conflict – Even subtly, this can pressure a Participant to continue unwanted or unneeded support.
Offering or receiving gifts or incentives
⚠️Actual/Perceived Conflict – This can be seen as influencing decisions unfairly and is clearly discouraged under the NDIS Code of Conduct. It can be interpreted as a “sharp practice.”
Having a close personal relationship with a Participant
⚠️ Actual/Potential Conflict – Close relationships can blur boundaries and impact your ability to make impartial decisions, especially where money or influence is involved.
Providing different services to the same Participant (e.g. support coordination and support work)
⚠️Actual Conflict – This is directly referenced by the NDIS as a high-risk practice and support coordination should be unbiased.
Note: On Kynd, a family member can only provide paid support services if they have documented permission from the NDIA.
Your Responsibilities
As a Support Worker using Kynd, you must:
Act in the Participant’s best interest – always.
Be transparent – be open and honest if a conflict comes up.
Give choice and control – make sure a Participant knows all their options and has freedom to make independent choices.
Avoid pressure – don’t push someone into using a service they don’t want, including your own.
You are also expected to follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, which includes acting with honesty and integrity, and respecting Participants’ rights and choices.
What to Do if a Conflict Happens
Sometimes, conflicts might be hard to avoid. That’s okay, as long as you manage them properly.
Here’s how:
Let the Participant know about the conflict, proactively where possible.
Be clear that they have a choice and don’t have to use your services.
Keep a record of the situation and what steps you took to be fair.
The NDIS website provides tools and resources to help you identify and manage conflicts.
Why It Matters
Managing conflicts of interest helps build trust, supports Participant choice and control, and protects everyone, including you.
If you're ever unsure whether something could be a conflict of interest, ask for advice.
The Kynd Team is here to help.