Understanding NDIS Terminology: A Plain-English Glossary
The NDIS comes with its own language, acronyms, roles, and terms that don't always explain themselves. Bookmark this quick-reference glossary for whenever you need a fast, honest answer.
7 minute read
This isn't the full picture on any single term, it's a fast lookup. Where a fuller explanation exists on our site, we've linked straight to it, and where it's genuinely worth going to the source, we've linked directly to the official NDIS website too.
The Basics
- NDIS
- The National Disability Insurance Scheme, Australia's funding scheme for eligible people with disability. Full guide here.
- NDIA
- The National Disability Insurance Agency, the government body that runs the scheme.
- Participant
- Someone who has been found eligible and is receiving NDIS funding.
- Access Request Form
- The official application used to apply for the scheme. See our full application guide.
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
- The independent body that regulates providers and handles complaints, separate from the NDIA. Visit the Commission's site.
People & Roles
- Local Area Coordinator (LAC)
- Someone who helps participants connect with the scheme and community supports, particularly for those aged 9 and over.
- Early Childhood Partner
- The equivalent support role for families of children younger than 9, guiding them through the early childhood approach.
- Support Coordinator
- Someone who helps a participant connect with providers and make the most of their plan. See the 3 levels explained.
- Support Worker
- The person who delivers hands-on, day-to-day support, different from a support coordinator, who helps manage the plan itself.
- Nominee
- Someone formally appointed to make decisions or manage funding on a participant's behalf, where needed.
- Plan Manager
- A registered professional who handles invoice payments and record-keeping under plan-managed funding. Compare all 3 management options.
Funding & Plans
- Core Supports
- A flexible funding budget for everyday activities and community involvement. Full funding breakdown here.
- Capacity Building
- Funding aimed at building skills and independence towards specific goals.
- Capital Supports
- Funding for higher-cost items, like equipment, home modifications, or specialist accommodation.
- Recurring Supports
- Funding paid on a regular, ongoing basis, transport funding is a common example.
- Reasonable and Necessary
- The official test every funded support has to pass. See what this actually means.
- Self-Managed / Plan-Managed / NDIA-Managed
- The 3 ways plan funding can be administered. Compare the options here.
- NDIS Price Guide
- The official document setting maximum prices for supports under NDIA-managed funding, published on the official NDIS website.
- Plan Reassessment
- A full new plan built from updated information, as opposed to a smaller plan variation. Full explanation here.
- Informal Supports
- Unpaid help from family or friends, acknowledged in a plan but not funded by the scheme.
- Mainstream Supports
- Services already available to everyone, like health, education, or public transport, separate from NDIS-funded supports.
Services & Support
- SIL
- Supported Independent Living, funding for support workers to help with daily living, usually for people needing around-the-clock support. Full guide here.
- SDA
- Specialist Disability Accommodation, the actual housing itself for people with very high support needs, distinct from SIL.
- Registered Provider
- A provider approved by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Required for anyone using NDIA-managed funding.
- Unregistered Provider
- A provider not formally registered, still bound by the Code of Conduct, but only usable with self-managed or plan-managed funding.
- Home and Living Supports
- The broader category covering SIL, SDA, and related accommodation-based supports.
Rights & Process
- Code of Conduct
- The rules every paid provider must follow, covering respect, safety, and honesty. Read your rights here.
- Internal Review
- The required first step after a decision you disagree with, handled by a different NDIA staff member.
- ART
- The Administrative Review Tribunal, the independent body that handles external reviews of NDIS decisions. See the full appeals process.
- Service Agreement
- A written agreement between a participant and a provider, setting out what's been agreed to.
Still confused by a term? Our full Understanding the NDIS library covers every one of these in genuine depth, and the official NDIS website is always worth checking directly for the latest updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between SIL and SDA?
SIL funds support workers' time, SDA is the actual housing itself. They're separate but often used together.
What does LAC stand for in the NDIS?
Local Area Coordinator, someone who helps participants aged 9 and over connect with the scheme and community supports.
What is the difference between a support worker and a support coordinator?
A support worker delivers hands-on, day-to-day support. A support coordinator helps manage the plan itself and connect with the right providers.
What's the difference between a registered and unregistered NDIS provider?
Registered providers are approved by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and required for NDIA-managed funding. Unregistered providers can only be used with self-managed or plan-managed funding.
What does ART mean in the NDIS?
The Administrative Review Tribunal, the independent body that handles external reviews of NDIS decisions, replacing the former AAT in October 2024.
Where can I find the official NDIS Price Guide?
It's published directly on the official NDIS website, and sets maximum prices for supports under NDIA-managed funding.