The ultimate list of NDIS terms.

Access Request Form.

This is a form that can be used to apply for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). It’s mostly used by people who don’t have access to an NDIS planner, early childhood partner or local area coordinator.

The NDIS recommends people applying for the first time contact them by phone first on 1800 800 110 so you can be connected with an NDIS partner. The partner can help you to apply if you’re likely to be eligible.

 

Advocate.

An advocate is a person or organisation that provides independent support to people who feel they are not being heard or may not be able to explain their wishes. They may act or speak on your behalf if you give them permission to do so.

 

Agency managed (also called NDIA managed).

One of the ways you can choose to manage your NDIS Plan. If you’re Agency managed, the NDIS pays support providers on your behalf and manages your paperwork. You can only use NDIS registered providers for supports and services.

 

Assistive technology (AT).

Assistive technology is any device or system that allows you to do something that you can’t otherwise do. AT can also make it easier and safer to do things like everyday tasks. AT can include a broad range of items from adaptive cutlery through to communication devices.

 

Capacity Building supports.

Capacity Building funding is one of the support budgets in an NDIS Plan. It’s used for supports to enable you to become more independent and assist you to learn new skills. These should be connected with your goals. Examples may include living more independently, finding a job, or getting help to manage your NDIS Plan.

 

Capital supports.

Capital supports funding is one of the support budgets in an NDIS Plan. It’s used to fund more expensive assistive technology or one-off purchases such as specialist disability accommodation (SDA). Capital supports are the least flexible NDIS budget category. Your budget for this support is restricted to specific items identified in your NDIS Plan.

 

Choice and control.

This term is used to describe your right to make decisions about your own supports. This includes choosing the supports you receive, how and when they’re provided and how to manage your NDIS funds.

 

Community supports.

Activities, programs, and services provided by local clubs, groups, and organisations that are open to everyone in the community.

 

Core supports.

Core supports funding is one of the support budgets in an NDIS Plan. Core supports provides funding for things that help with everyday activities and your disability-related needs. They can be used to purchase physical items or assistance for activities you undertake in daily life. Core supports are the main support category and most people will have this budget in their NDIS Plan.

 

Developmental delay.

Developmental delay is a term used to describe a delay in a child’s development. It means that a child finds it much harder to do everyday things than other children their age, for example, dressing themselves, talking or walking.

 

Early childhood approach (ECA).

The NDIS early childhood approach is a nationally consistent approach for early childhood intervention. It’s for children under 6 with developmental delay or children under 9 with disability and their families. It may include mainstream (non-NDIS) supports, NDIS supports or a combination of both. Children don’t need to be eligible for the NDIS or have a diagnosis to get assistance.

 

Foundational supports.

In addition to the supports provided through your NDIS Plan, the Australian Government is introducing foundational supports. These are new, non-NDIS supports designed for people with disability, including those not eligible for the NDIS.

 

Impairment notice.

An ‘impairment notice’ is a new type of document issued by the NDIA that says you have a permanent disability or significant impairment. It will list impairment(s) that meet the disability and/or early intervention requirements.

From 1 January 2025, all new NDIS participants will receive an impairment notice. People already on the NDIS will receive an impairment notice when they transition to a new plan. Any supports purchased with your NDIS funds must meet the new definition of NDIS supports and relate to the impairment listed on your impairment notice.

 

Mainstream supports.

Services provided by government and non-government organisations that are available to everyone in the general population. The NDIS is designed to work alongside mainstream services, not replace them.

 

NDIS supports.

NDIS supports are items that you can spend your NDIS funding on. The NDIS released two new lists that apply from 3 October 2024.

• What you can spend your NDIS funding on (what IS an NDIS support)
• What you are not allowed to spend your NDIS funds on (what is NOT an NDIS support).

There will be a ‘transition period’ for the first year of the new NDIS supports lists to ensure participants aren’t penalised for simple mistakes.

 

Nominee.

A nominee is a person appointed to act or make decisions on behalf of someone on the NDIS aged 18 or over. This is most often done at the request of the person with the NDIS Plan and should be someone you trust and know personally (often a parent, family member or friend).

 

Participant check-in.

Participant check-in is where the NDIS checks with you to see how your plan is going. An early childhood partner, LAC or planner will usually call you to see if your supports meet your needs and if you’re having any trouble using your plan. This can be done at any time and may also occur before your plan reassessment date.

 

Plan management.

Plan management is one of the options you can choose to manage your NDIS Plan. You can ask the NDIS to add funding to your plan to pay for a plan manager – like Leap in! – to help you to find supports and to take care of things like payments, budgeting and reporting. This option means you can access registered and non-registered providers.

 

Plan reassessment.

A plan reassessment is a review of your NDIS Plan which takes place in a meeting with your LAC, early childhood partner or NDIS planner. It can be done in person, over the phone or via a video call. All NDIS Plans have a plan reassessment date. You can also ask for a plan reassessment at any time.

 

Plan variation.

Specific changes can be made to your plan without doing a plan reassessment or creating a new plan. The NDIS can vary your plan if you ask them to, or if they think a plan variation is required.

Your plan can be varied in the following situations:

• To fix a small or technical error
• Vary your total budget amount (limitations apply)
• Vary your funding component amount(s) and funding periods
• Change how your funds are managed
• Change the reassessment date of your plan
• Update how the funds or other aspects of your plan are managed
• Update which specific provider must provide a support or how a support must be provided
• Change the statement of participant supports in your current plan, or the funding of supports under the plan.

 

PACE.

PACE is a computer system used by the NDIS to manage plans and services. It’s designed to enhance the participant and provider experience by offering clearer and more consistent information on decision-making processes. It also includes changes to NDIS processes and the way the NDIS works with participants and providers.

 

Provider.

A provider is a person or organisation that delivers products or services to help people on the NDIS to achieve the goals in their plan.

 

Reasonable and necessary.

The NDIS funds “reasonable and necessary supports” relating to your disability to help you live an ordinary life and achieve your goals. Simply put, reasonable is something that is fair and necessary is something you need because of your disability. 

Every item purchased with your NDIS Plan must meet all of the reasonable and necessary criteria:

• Necessary to address the needs of the participant arising from the impairment that met the disability requirements – every support purchased with your NDIS funds needs to be directly connected to the impairment that gains you entry to the scheme.
• Related to your disability needs
• Help you pursue your goals
• Help improve economic and community participation
• Value for money
• Effective and beneficial
• Takes into account what is reasonably expected for families and communities to provide
• The support is an ‘NDIS support’ for the participant.

 

Replacement support.

A replacement is a service, item or equipment you would like to use instead of an existing NDIS support or supports in your plan. There is a substitution process that allows participants to request a replacement support for items that are generally considered not NDIS supports.

There are two types of supports where this applies.

• Standard commercially available household items in certain circumstances
• Smart watches, tablets, smartphones or an app used for accessibility or communication purposes.

 

Self manage.

Self management is one of the options for managing your NDIS Plan. This is the hands-on option where you pay all your own invoices and keep all your own records. For more information on the options for managing your NDIS Plan, check out our article, What is plan management?

 

Service agreement.

A service agreement is a written document or contract that sets out how and when you receive supports from a service provider. It explains your responsibilities and the responsibilities of the service provider so everyone is clear on how the supports will be provided. For more information, read The importance of service agreements.

 

Support coordinator.

A support coordinator is a person who connects people with NDIS Plans to organisations that provide supports and services including community, mainstream and government services. Their job is to help you get access to the right supports and find the right mix of activities to achieve the goals set in your NDIS Plan. To find out more, read What is support coordination?

 

 

Originally published 22 Jan 2021, updated 27 November 2024.