NDIS Glossary
A
Advocacy
Supporting participants to understand and protect their rights.
Assessment
Process of reviewing needs to decide eligibility or supports.
Assistive Technology (AT)
Equipment or devices that help participants live independently (wheelchairs, hearing aids, software).
B
Behaviour Support
Specialist service to reduce challenging behaviours.
Budget
Amount of NDIS funding allocated to a participant’s plan.
Boundaries
Professional limits support workers must maintain in services.
C
Capacity Building Supports
Funding to build skills and independence.
Carer
Person who provides unpaid care (family, friend, relative).
Core Supports
Everyday support needs like transport, consumables, assistance with daily activities.
Complaint
A formal way to raise concerns about services.
D
Daily Living Supports
Assistance with personal care, cooking, cleaning
Disability
Permanent impairment that impacts everyday activities.
Decision-Making Supports
Help participants make informed choices.
Developmental Delay
When children take longer to reach milestones.
E
Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI)
NDIS support for children under 7 with developmental concerns.
Eligibility
Meeting NDIS access requirements.
Evidence
Medical or professional reports proving disability needs.
F
Funding
NDIS money provided for supports.
Formal Supports
Paid support services (e.g., therapists, support workers).
Functional Capacity
How disability affects day-to-day activities.
g
Goals
Outcomes participants want to achieve (e.g., get a job, learn skills).
Guardianship
Legal authority to make decisions for someone else.
Guidelines (NDIS)
Rules explaining how funding can be used.
H
Housing Supports
Assistance with accommodation, including SIL and SDA.
Health Professionals
Therapists, doctors, nurses providing assessments.
Home Modifications
Changes to make a home accessible.
I
Incident Management
Recording and handling of safety issues.
Independent Living
Living with choice and control over daily life.
Informal Supports
Unpaid help from family or friends.
Individualised Plan
Participant’s personal NDIS plan.
J
Job Support
Employment-related supports under NDIS.
Justice Liaison
Supports for participants involved with justice systems.
K
Keyworker
A main professional working with a child/family in ECEI.
Kinship Carer
Relative providing care to a child with disability.
L
Local Area Coordinator (LAC)
Helps participants connect with NDIS and community services.
Living Arrangements
Housing and support setup for a participant.
Low-Cost AT
Simple, low-price assistive devices (e.g., shower chair).
M
Mainstream Services
Non-NDIS services like schools, hospitals, and transport.
Mental Health Supports
Supports for psychosocial disabilities.
Myplace Portal
Online portal for participants and providers.
N
NDIA
National Disability Insurance Agency (manages NDIS).
Nominee
A person chosen to act on behalf of a participant.
Needs Assessment
Review to identify disability-related needs.
O
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Helps participants improve daily living skills.
Overheads
Provider business costs not directly billable to NDIS.
Outcome
Result achieved from supports (e.g., more independence).
P
Participant
Person with disability receiving NDIS supports.
Plan Manager
Manages funding and pays invoices on behalf of participant.
Provider
Business/individual registered to deliver NDIS supports.
Psychosocial Disability
Disability from mental health condition.
Q
Quality and Safeguards Commission
Regulator ensuring safe, quality services.
Qualification
Formal training/certification needed for some supports.
Quote
Cost estimate for supports or services.
R
Reasonable and Necessary
NDIS test for funding supports.
Registered Provider
Approved to deliver NDIS-funded supports.
Respite
Short-term care to give carers a break.
Review
Formal reassessment of participant plan.
S
Self-Management
Participant manages their own NDIS funds.
Support Coordinator
Helps participants implement their NDIS plan.
Supported Independent Living (SIL)
Daily living support in shared housing
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Housing for people with extreme functional needs.
Service Agreement
Contract between participant and provider.
T
Therapy Supports
Services like physiotherapy, speech therapy, psychology.
Transport Funding
Supports travel to work, education, community activities.
Transition
Moving from one stage of life to another (school to work, etc.).
U
Unregistered Provider
Can deliver NDIS services but not directly claim from NDIS.
Urgent Review
Fast-tracked request for plan change.
Universal Design
Products/services usable by all people without adaptation.
V
Volunteer Supports
Assistance from community volunteers.
Violence, Abuse, Neglect
Behaviours the NDIS Commission protects participants against.
Value for Money
Supports must be cost-effective under NDIS rules.
W
Workplace Health and Safety (WHS)
Legal requirement for safe workplaces.
Wellbeing Supports
Services to improve physical, mental, and social health.
Worker Screening
Background checks for NDIS workers.
X
X-Plan Review
Term sometimes used for cross-checking participant progress across multiple providers. (rare but used in audits)
X-Factor in Supports
Refers to unique participant goals or needs that make supports personalised.
Y
Young People in Residential Aged Care (YPIRAC)
NDIS initiative to support young participants to move out of aged care.
Youth Supports
Services designed for children and young people.
Z
Zero Tolerance
NDIS policy against abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Zone of Regulation
Framework used by therapists to teach emotional control.