Solotude vs Facebook groups
Plenty of independent support workers and participants find each other in Facebook groups. It’s free and busy, but nobody checks who is on the other end.
Facts checked on 10 October 2026 from official NDIS sources. Rules change, so check the NDIS Commission website for the latest.
At a glance
| Solotude | Facebook groups | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Connection platform. Find a provider, talk to them through fast, anonymous in-platform messaging, then arrange support directly. | Public or private community groups where people post jobs and ads. |
| Cost to participants and families | Free. No fee on top of the provider’s rate. | Free. |
| Cost to providers | Flat weekly subscription from $12 a week per profile. No commission. Cancel any time. | Free. |
| Who is on it | Registered and unregistered independent providers, from sole traders to growing small businesses, across 12 professions: support workers, nurses, cleaners, gardeners, OTs, psychologists, physios, speech pathologists, behaviour support practitioners, counsellors, exercise physiologists and dietitians. | Anyone who joins the group. |
| Provider checks | Every provider: identity, ABN and NDIS Commission compliance records, plus Ahpra registration for nurses, OTs, physios and psychologists, and NDIS registration for behaviour support practitioners. Also verified when a provider adds them, and searchable as filters: NDIS Worker Screening Check, Working with Children Check and NDIS registration. | None by default. Unregistered providers are not required to hold an NDIS Worker Screening Check, although a participant can ask for one. |
| Payments and invoicing | Not handled by Solotude. You and your provider invoice and pay each other directly. | Arranged directly. |
| Where | Greater Sydney first, expanding Australia-wide. | Anywhere. |
The risks to know about
- Posts can share personal details about a participant with a large group of strangers.
- There is no identity or business check on the people who reply.
- The NDIA warns that scammers use social media to collect NDIS details.
- All providers, registered or not, must still follow the NDIS Code of Conduct. You can complain to the NDIS Commission for free.
How to stay safe if you use Facebook groups
- Never post a participant’s full name, address, diagnosis or NDIS number.
- Ask for an NDIS Worker Screening Check and check it on the NDIS Commission’s worker screening database.
- Meet before support starts and put a service agreement in place.
Why use Solotude instead
- Signing up takes minutes. No long forms or piles of personal information.
- Still free for participants, families and coordinators.
- Every provider is checked for identity, business and NDIS compliance records before they can connect with anyone on Solotude.
- Fast, anonymous in-platform messaging, so you never have to post your details publicly.
- Providers have a proper profile with their profession, location and availability.
Common questions
Is it legal to find a support worker on Facebook?
Yes. Self-managed and plan-managed participants can choose unregistered providers. The NDIS Code of Conduct still applies to them.
Do unregistered support workers need a Worker Screening Check?
It is not required for unregistered providers, but the NDIS Commission strongly encourages it and participants can ask for one.
Is Solotude free?
Yes, for participants, families and support coordinators.
Find support on Solotude
Search verified independent NDIS providers and message them directly. Free for participants, families and support coordinators.
Sources
- NDIS Commission: Unregistered providers
- NDIS Commission: Self-managed participants
- NDIS Commission: Worker screening
- NDIA: How to find and choose a provider
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