NDIS Terms Explained
Dictionary of NDIS Terms
AAT (Administrative Appeals Tribunal)
An independent body that reviews decisions made by the NDIA if you disagree with them.
Access Request
The formal process of applying to join the NDIS.
Accessible
A place or service that can be used by everyone, including people with disabilities.
Accommodation
Housing options and supports for people with disabilities.
Advocate
Someone who supports you to express your views and protect your rights. (Learn more about Advocacy on the CCA Blog)
Agency-Managed
When the NDIA manages your NDIS funds and pays providers directly.
Allied Health
Health professionals like physiotherapists, speech therapists, and occupational therapists.
Applicant
Someone who has applied to the NDIS but hasn't been accepted yet.
Approved Provider
A service provider registered with the NDIS to deliver supports.
Assistive Technology (AT)
Devices or equipment that help you do things you can't do because of your disability.
Behaviour Support Plan
A strategy to help manage challenging behaviours.
Budget
The amount of funding allocated in your NDIS plan for supports.
Building Independence
Supports that help you become more self-reliant.
Bullying Prevention
Programs aimed at preventing bullying of people with disabilities.
Business Services
Support for people with disabilities to engage in business activities.
CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse)
Refers to people from different cultural or language backgrounds.
Capacity Building Supports
Funding to help you build skills and independence.
Carer
Someone who provides unpaid support to a person with a disability.
Case Manager
A professional who coordinates your supports and services.
Check-in
A conversation with your NDIS planner to see how your plan is going.
Child Representative
An adult who makes decisions for a child under 18 in the NDIS.
Choice and Control
Your right to make decisions about your NDIS supports.
Community Access
Supports that help you participate in community activities.
Community Connections Australia (CCA)
A disability support provider with almost 40 years experience servicing Greater Western Sydney.
Community Engagement
Activities that help you connect with your community.
Community Participation
Involvement in community activities and events.
Complaint
A formal expression of dissatisfaction with a service or support.
Consent
Permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.
Core Supports
Funding for everyday activities, like personal care or transport.
Correspondence Nominee
Someone who receives NDIS communications on your behalf.
Crisis Support
Immediate assistance during a crisis situation.
Cultural Competency
The ability of providers to understand and respect cultural differences.
Daily Living Skills
Skills needed for everyday life, like cooking and cleaning.
Data Collection
Gathering information to assess and improve services.
Decision-Making Support
Assistance to help you make informed decisions.
Developmental Delay
When a child takes longer to reach developmental milestones.
Disability
A condition that affects your ability to do everyday activities.
Disability Advocate
Someone who supports and represents people with disabilities.
Disability Support Worker
A person who helps you with tasks and activities.
Discrimination
Unfair treatment based on disability.
Duty of Care
The responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of others.
Early Childhood Approach
Support for children under 9 yrs old with developmental concerns.
Early Intervention
Providing support early to reduce the impact of disability.
Education Supports
Assistance to help you participate in education.
Eligibility Criteria
Requirements you must meet to access the NDIS.
Emergency Plan
A plan for how to respond in an emergency situation.
Employment Supports
Assistance to help you find and keep a job.
Equipment
Tools or devices that help you with daily activities.
Equity
Fairness in access to supports and services.
Ethical Standards
Guidelines for professional conduct.
Exercise Physiology
Support to improve physical health and fitness.
Family Support
Assistance provided to families of people with disabilities.
Financial Intermediary
An organisation that manages your NDIS funds.
Funding
Money provided in your NDIS plan to pay for supports.
Functional Assessment
An evaluation of your ability to perform daily activities.
Functional Capacity
Your ability to do everyday tasks.
Future Planning
Preparing for future needs and goals.
Goals
Things you want to achieve with the help of your NDIS plan.
Governance
The way organisations are managed and controlled.
Grievance
A formal complaint or concern.
Guardian
Someone legally appointed to make decisions for you.
Health Liaison Officer (HLO)
A staff member that provides a link between hospital staff and the NDIA.
Health Supports
Assistance related to health and medical needs.
Home Modifications
Changes to your home to make it safer or more accessible.
Housing Supports
Assistance to help you live independently.
ILO (Individualised Living Options)
Flexible living arrangements tailored to your needs.
Inclusion
Being part of the community and participating fully.
Independent Living
Living on your own or with minimal support.
Informal Supports
Help you get from family or friends without payment.
Information Sharing
Exchanging information to improve support.
Innovation
New and creative ways to provide support.
Innovative
Seeking new ideas to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Internal Review
A process where the NDIA reviews a decision you've asked them to reconsider.
Job Coach
Someone who helps you learn and succeed in a job.
Justice Liaison Officer
An NDIA staff member who helps people in the justice system access the NDIS.
Key Worker
A main contact person who coordinates your supports.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Measures used to assess performance.
LAC (Local Area Coordinator)
Someone who helps you understand and access the NDIS.
Language Services
Translation and interpretation services.
Learning Supports
Assistance to help you learn new skills.
Legal Capacity
The ability to make legal decisions.
Level 1 Support Coordination
Basic support to help you start using your NDIS plan.
Level 2 Support Coordination
More help to manage and coordinate your supports.
Level 3 Support Coordination
Specialist support for complex needs.
Lived Experience
Personal experience of living with a disability.
Mainstream Services
Services provided to everyone in the community, like schools, public transport, and hospitals. These are not disability-specific but are still important for inclusion.
Mandatory Reporting
A legal requirement for certain professionals (like teachers or support workers) to report abuse or harm if they suspect it’s happening to someone vulnerable.
Market (NDIS Market)
Refers to the range of disability service providers available for participants to choose from.
Meaningful Life
A life that aligns with a person’s goals, values, interests, and social connections.
Mental Health Condition
A diagnosed mental illness that may be considered a psychosocial disability under the NDIS if it’s severe and ongoing.
Mobility Aids
Equipment that helps people move around, such as walkers, canes, or wheelchairs.
Multidisciplinary Team
A group of professionals from different areas (like health, education, or social work) who work together to support a participant.
MyGov
The government’s online platform where people can access multiple services, including linking to their NDIS portal.
MyPlace Portal
The NDIS’s online system where people can manage their plans, see funding, and make claims.
Medium Term Accommodation (MTA)
Temporary housing for participants who are waiting for permanent housing arrangements to be set up.
Modification
A change made to a home, car, or device to make it safer or easier for a participant to use.
Milestones
Developmental stages or goals that mark progress, especially for children and young people.
Monitoring
Ongoing checking to make sure supports are being delivered properly and are still suitable.
Mentor
A support person who provides guidance, often based on their own lived experience of disability.
Mental Health Recovery Coach
A type of support coordination available under the NDIS for people with psychosocial disabilities. They provide coaching and help coordinate supports.
NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency)
The government organisation that runs the NDIS.
NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme)
Australia's system for providing support to people with permanent and significant disabilities.
Nominee
A person appointed to act or make decisions on behalf of a participant.
Needs Assessment
An evaluation to determine the supports a person requires.
Natural Supports
Unpaid help from family, friends, and community.
Non-Registered Provider
A service provider not registered with the NDIS but can still offer services to self-managed participants.
Occupational Therapist (OT)
A professional who helps people develop or regain daily living skills.
Outcome
The result or effect of a plan or support.
Overfunding
Receiving more funds than necessary for supports.
Out-of-Pocket Costs
Expenses not covered by the NDIS that the participant must pay.
Participant
Someone who has been accepted into the NDIS.
Plan
A documented agreement outlining the supports and services a participant will receive.
Plan Manager
A person or organisation that helps manage NDIS funding.
Plan Nominee
A person appointed to manage a participant's plan.
Planning Meeting
A discussion with the NDIA to develop or review a participant's plan.
Psychosocial Disability
A disability that arises from a mental health issue.
Quality and Safeguards Commission
An independent body that oversees the quality and safety of NDIS services.
Quota
A fixed share or portion allocated.
Reasonable and Necessary Supports
Services and items the NDIS considers essential for a participant's needs.
Registered Provider
A service provider approved by the NDIS to deliver supports.
Review
An evaluation of a participant's plan to ensure it meets their needs.
Respite Care
Short-term care that gives the usual carer a break.
Risk Assessment
Identifying potential risks and how to manage them.
Self-Management
When a participant manages their own NDIS funding.
Service Agreement
A contract between a participant and a service provider.
Short-Term Accommodation (STA)
Temporary housing support, often used for respite.
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Housing designed for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs.
Support Coordinator
A person who helps participants understand and implement their NDIS plan.
Supported Independent Living (SIL)
Help with daily tasks to live independently in shared or individual arrangements.
Therapeutic Supports
Services like speech therapy or physiotherapy to help improve functional skills.
Transport Funding
Support to help participants travel to work, study, or community activities.
Transition Planning
Preparing for changes, such as moving from school to work.
Third-Party Provider
An external organisation that delivers services.
Unregistered Provider
A service provider not registered with the NDIS but can work with self-managed participants.
Urgent Review
A fast-tracked evaluation of a participant's plan due to significant changes in circumstances.
Vehicle Modifications
Changes made to a car to accommodate a participant's needs.
Vocational Support
Assistance to help participants find and maintain employment.
Workplace Modifications
Adjustments made to a work environment to support a participant's employment.
Wellbeing Supports
Services aimed at improving mental and emotional health.
X-ray Services
Medical imaging services; typically covered by Medicare, not the NDIS.
Youth Services
Supports specifically designed for young people transitioning to adulthood.
Young Carer
A person under 25 who provides care for a family member with a disability.
Zone
A designated area or region, often used in planning and service delivery.