Plain-language definitions for every term you will encounter — from your first access request to your annual plan review.
The NDIS has its own language. Words like "reasonable and necessary," "Capacity Building," and "SIL" are used constantly — but they are rarely explained clearly in official documents. This glossary gives you plain-language definitions for every term you are likely to encounter as a participant, family member, or carer.
Terms are grouped by topic so you can read an entire category at once, or use the jump links below to go directly to the section you need. If you hear a term from your planner, a provider, or in a letter from the NDIA, you should be able to find it here.
This page covers the Australian NDIS as it operates in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, and the Hunter Region. Some local organisations and contacts specific to the Hunter are included where relevant.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme. Australia's federal program that funds individualised supports for people with permanent and significant disability. Introduced in 2013 and fully rolled out nationally by 2019, the NDIS provides participants with a plan that contains a budget for disability supports. The scheme is based on the idea of insurance — investing in people early so they can live as independently and fully as possible over their lifetime, reducing the long-term cost of disability on individuals and society.
See also: NDIA, NDIS Plan, Participant, Registered Provider
The National Disability Insurance Agency. The federal government agency that administers the NDIS. The NDIA makes eligibility decisions, creates participant plans, manages funding allocations, and oversees the scheme. You deal with the NDIA when applying to join the NDIS, during your planning meetings, and when requesting plan reviews. The NDIA can be contacted on 1800 800 110. The NDIA is separate from the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, which regulates providers.
See also: NDIS, NDIA Planner, Plan Review, NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
An NDIA staff member who conducts planning meetings with participants and creates their NDIS plan. Your planner will ask about your goals, daily life, disability, and support needs to determine what funding your plan should include. You may have different planners over time. Some participants have their planning meetings conducted by a Local Area Coordinator (LAC) on behalf of the NDIA.
See also: LAC, NDIS Plan, Planning Meeting
A Local Area Coordinator. LACs are staff from partner organisations contracted by the NDIA to support participants in the community. They assist people to access the NDIS, can conduct planning meetings for participants with lower support needs, and help connect people with mainstream and community services in addition to NDIS supports. In the Hunter Region, LAC services are delivered through local partner organisations. LACs are not the same as Support Coordinators — they provide a lighter-touch coordination role and are funded by the NDIA, not by your plan.
See also: Support Coordinator, NDIA Planner, ILC
An organisation contracted by the NDIA to deliver the Early Childhood approach for children under 7 with developmental delay or disability. Early Childhood Partners can provide short-term supports directly or connect families with mainstream services, without needing a full NDIS plan. They assess whether a child needs NDIS supports or whether community services can meet their needs. In the Hunter Region, Early Childhood Partners operate across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, and surrounding areas.
See also: Early Childhood Approach, LAC
The independent federal regulator of NDIS providers and workers. The Commission registers providers, handles complaints about provider conduct, oversees the behaviour support framework, and can investigate and take action against providers who fail to meet NDIS Practice Standards. If you have a concern about the quality or safety of the supports you are receiving, you can contact the Commission on 1800 035 544. The Commission is separate from the NDIA — the NDIA manages your plan, while the Commission regulates how providers deliver supports.
See also: Registered Provider, NDIS Practice Standards, Complaints
The NDIA's online portal for NDIS participants. Accessible via the NDIS website, Myplace allows participants to view their current plan and funding balances, manage payment requests (if self-managed), search for registered providers, submit plan review requests, and update contact and personal details. Agency-managed and plan-managed participants can use Myplace to track their spending but do not process payments themselves. The NDIS mobile app provides the same functions on a smartphone.
See also: Self-Managed, Plan-Managed, Agency-Managed
Information, Linkages and Capacity Building. ILC is a component of the NDIS that funds community-level projects to improve inclusion and participation for all people with disability — not just NDIS participants. ILC funding goes to organisations (not individuals) to deliver information sessions, capacity-building programs, peer support networks, and initiatives that help the broader community become more disability-inclusive. ILC does not appear in individual NDIS plans; it is a separate funding stream administered by the NDIA.
See also: NDIA, LAC
The formal application to join the NDIS. An Access Request Form (ARF) is submitted to the NDIA with supporting evidence from a doctor, specialist, or allied health professional demonstrating that the person meets the NDIS eligibility criteria. The NDIA has a legislated target of 21 days to process an access request once all required information is received. You can start an access request by calling 1800 800 110 or through a LAC or Early Childhood Partner.
See also: Eligibility, NDIA, Functional Capacity Assessment
To be eligible for the NDIS, a person must meet all of the following criteria: (1) be aged under 65 at the time of first applying; (2) be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a Protected Special Category visa; (3) live in Australia; and (4) have a permanent and significant disability caused by an impairment that substantially reduces their ability to participate in everyday activities. Early intervention eligibility applies where early supports would reduce the long-term impact of a disability or developmental delay, particularly for young children.
See also: Access Request, Permanent Disability, Early Childhood Approach, List A / List B
A disability or impairment that is, or is likely to be, permanent — meaning it is not expected to resolve or be cured. The impairment must also be significant, substantially reducing functional capacity. A disability does not need to be visible or caused by a single event — acquired brain injuries, chronic pain conditions, mental health conditions, and intellectual disabilities can all meet the permanent and significant test, provided evidence demonstrates the permanence and functional impact. Conditions on the NDIS List A are automatically accepted as permanent without needing further evidence.
See also: List A / List B, Eligibility, Functional Capacity Assessment
The NDIA maintains two lists of conditions to streamline eligibility decisions. List A conditions are automatically accepted as permanent and significant — if you have a List A diagnosis, the NDIA does not require further evidence of permanence (though you still need evidence of functional impact). Examples include Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder (level 2 or 3), bilateral congenital limb absence, and most chromosomal conditions. List B conditions are automatically accepted as requiring early intervention — diagnoses like global developmental delay, cerebral palsy, and vision impairment. Most other conditions can still be approved through standard evidence.
See also: Eligibility, Permanent Disability, Early Childhood Approach
A specialised NDIS pathway for children under 7 with developmental delay or disability. The Early Childhood approach recognises that early investment in supports produces better long-term outcomes. Children under 7 do not need to meet the full NDIS eligibility criteria — they access the scheme through an Early Childhood Partner who assesses their needs and connects them with appropriate supports. Some children receive NDIS-funded supports; others may be connected with mainstream services. Children with autism, developmental delay, or hearing loss are commonly supported through this pathway in the Hunter Region.
See also: Early Childhood Partner, Eligibility, Early Intervention
Supports provided at an early stage to reduce the impact of a disability or developmental delay over a person's lifetime. Early intervention is an alternative eligibility basis for NDIS — you do not need a permanent disability; you need evidence that early supports would produce better long-term functional outcomes. This is most relevant for young children, but adults with newly acquired disabilities (e.g., after a stroke or traumatic brain injury) may also access early intervention supports where there is evidence of likely functional improvement.
See also: Early Childhood Approach, Eligibility, Capacity Building
A formal assessment — usually conducted by an Occupational Therapist, physiotherapist, or other allied health professional — that documents how a disability impacts a person's ability to perform everyday tasks. FCAs are used to support NDIS access requests, to justify funding in plans, and to inform recommendations for supports and equipment. A comprehensive FCA assesses mobility, communication, self-care, social participation, and domestic activities. FCAs are often funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living in an existing NDIS plan, or may be arranged through a GP referral before accessing the NDIS.
See also: Occupational Therapist, Capacity Building, Access Request
If you disagree with an NDIA decision — including an eligibility refusal or plan funding decision — you have the right to request a review. An internal review asks the NDIA to look at the decision again with fresh eyes. If the internal review maintains the original decision, you can appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), an independent body that reviews government decisions. Both processes are free. A disability advocate or lawyer can help you prepare. Hunter Community Legal Centre and Disability Advocacy NSW provide support in the Hunter Region.
See also: Plan Review, Complaints, NDIA
The official document produced by the NDIA that outlines an NDIS participant's goals and the funding allocated to achieve them. A plan includes your personal goals, your statement of supports (what funding you have and what it can be used for), and information about how the plan is managed. Plans are typically reviewed annually, but you can request a review at any time if your circumstances or needs change significantly. Your plan is confidential — you choose who can see it.
See also: Plan Review, Core Supports, Capacity Building, Capital Supports, Plan-Managed
The largest and most flexible budget category in most NDIS plans. Core Supports fund everyday assistance that helps you with daily life and community participation. The four Core subcategories are: (1) Daily Activities — personal care, domestic assistance, community participation workers; (2) Transport — getting to appointments and activities (fixed, cannot be moved between subcategories); (3) Consumables — low-cost items like continence aids and low-cost assistive technology under $1,500; (4) Social, Economic & Community Participation — group programs, community access, supported employment. Within Core (except Transport), you can generally move spending between subcategories based on your current needs.
See also: Capacity Building, Capital Supports, Daily Activities, Community Participation
Funding for supports that build your skills and independence over time, with the goal of reducing reliance on paid supports in the future. Capacity Building (CB) is not flexible — each CB line item must be spent on its specific purpose. CB support categories include: Support Coordination, Improved Living Arrangements, Increased Social & Community Participation, Finding & Keeping a Job, Improved Learning, Improved Health & Wellbeing, Improved Life Choices, Improved Daily Living Skills, and Improved Relationships. Therapies (OT, speech, physiotherapy, psychology) are typically funded under CB — Improved Daily Living.
See also: Core Supports, Capital Supports, Support Coordinator, Therapeutic Supports
Funding for higher-cost items that are purchased rather than ongoing services — specifically Assistive Technology and Home Modifications. Capital Support items must be individually approved (usually requiring a quote and an assessment from an allied health professional) and cannot be redirected to other support types. Capital Supports also include funding for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) for participants with extreme functional impairment who need specially designed housing. Capital items are owned by the participant, not the provider.
See also: Assistive Technology, Home Modifications, SDA, Core Supports
A plan management type where the NDIA manages a participant's funding directly. Providers claim payment from the NDIA through the Myplace portal — the participant does not handle money or invoices. The restriction is that agency-managed participants can only use NDIS-registered providers. Agency management is the simplest option administratively and is common for new participants, those with higher support needs, or where financial management is difficult.
See also: Plan-Managed, Self-Managed, Registered Provider
A plan management type where a registered Plan Manager receives your NDIS funding, pays provider invoices on your behalf, and sends you monthly financial statements. Plan management gives you the ability to use both registered and unregistered providers, significantly broadening your provider choice compared to agency management. The cost of plan management is funded separately in your NDIS plan — it does not come from your other support budgets. Most participants benefit from plan management and should request it at their planning meeting.
See also: Agency-Managed, Self-Managed, Plan Manager, Unregistered Provider
A plan management type where the participant (or their nominee/representative) receives NDIS funding directly and manages all payments themselves. Self-management offers maximum flexibility — you can use registered providers, unregistered providers, and even informal supports such as a community member or family friend (with some conditions). You are responsible for keeping receipts, paying invoices, reporting to the NDIA, and ensuring all spending meets NDIS rules. Self-management suits participants with strong capacity for financial administration or those needing highly specialised unregistered providers.
See also: Plan-Managed, Agency-Managed, Nominee
A registered NDIS provider who manages the financial administration of a participant's plan-managed funding. A Plan Manager receives invoices from providers, checks they are NDIS-compliant, pays them, and provides the participant with monthly statements of expenditure. Plan Managers charge fees that are separately funded in your NDIS plan. They do not decide how your funding is spent — that is your choice and your provider's role. A good Plan Manager can also advise on what is and is not fundable under NDIS rules.
See also: Plan-Managed, Registered Provider
The process of reassessing a participant's NDIS plan and funding. A scheduled review happens annually, in advance of the plan end date. An unscheduled review can be requested at any time if your circumstances change significantly — such as a major change in disability, family situation, or support needs. To request a review, contact the NDIA on 1800 800 110 and explain the change in circumstances. Bringing written evidence from providers, therapists, or doctors significantly strengthens a review request. A Support Coordinator can help you prepare for a plan review.
See also: NDIS Plan, Support Coordinator, Internal Review / AAT Appeal
NDIS funding that has not been used by the end of a plan period. For agency-managed plans, unspent funds generally return to the NDIA and are not carried over to the next plan — though the NDIA may take prior usage into account when setting the new plan budget. For plan-managed and self-managed participants, some unspent funds in a Core budget may be carried over at the NDIA's discretion. It is important to actively use your plan funding, as consistent underspending can result in the NDIA reducing your budget at the next review.
See also: NDIS Plan, Plan Review, Core Supports
A personal outcome that a participant wants to achieve — the foundation of an NDIS plan. Goals are written in your plan and guide what supports are funded. Goals should be written in your own words and reflect what matters to you: independence, employment, social connection, health, housing. The NDIS funds supports that are "reasonable and necessary" to help you achieve your goals. Vague or underspecified goals can result in under-funded plans — preparing clear, specific goals before a planning meeting is one of the most important things you can do.
See also: NDIS Plan, Planning Meeting, Reasonable and Necessary
Equipment, devices, or systems that help a person with disability perform tasks they could not otherwise perform — or perform them more safely or independently. AT ranges from low-cost items (a non-slip mat, a large-key keyboard, a shower chair) to high-cost specialist equipment (power wheelchairs, AAC communication devices, standing frames, stair climbers). Low-cost AT (under approximately $1,500) is funded under Core Supports — Consumables. Higher-cost AT is funded under Capital Supports and requires an assessment by a relevant allied health professional and a supplier quote. AT assessments are typically done by an Occupational Therapist.
See also: Capital Supports, Occupational Therapist, Home Modifications
A written plan developed by a registered Behaviour Support Practitioner to address behaviours of concern — actions that put the participant or others at risk of harm, or that significantly restrict the participant's participation in daily life. BSPs identify triggers, functions, and underlying reasons for behaviours, and outline positive support strategies. Under NDIS rules, any use of restrictive practices (physical restraint, mechanical restraint, environmental restraint, chemical restraint, seclusion) must be authorised, documented in a BSP, and regularly reviewed. BSPs are funded under Capacity Building — Improved Relationships.
See also: Capacity Building, NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
Supports that help participants engage with their community — attending events, joining clubs or programs, accessing public spaces, building friendships, and contributing to community life. Community participation can be funded under Core Supports (for the cost of the support worker) or Capacity Building — Increased Social & Community Participation (for programs that build skills and confidence for independent community access). Safe Hands Disability provides community access workers in Newcastle and the Hunter Region who support participants to pursue personally meaningful activities in the community.
See also: Core Supports, Capacity Building, Lifestyle Support
Supports with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) — the fundamental self-care tasks that most people do every day. These include personal hygiene (showering, grooming), dressing, eating, toileting and continence management, mobility within the home, and meal preparation. NDIS funding for daily activities (also called Assistance with Daily Life) is under Core Supports — Daily Activities (Support Category 01). The intensity and frequency of daily activity supports should reflect your actual needs and what is documented in your plan as reasonable and necessary.
See also: Core Supports, Reasonable and Necessary, Support Worker
Physical changes to a participant's home to make it safer, more accessible, or more functional given their disability. Minor modifications (under approximately $20,000) include grab rails, non-slip flooring, lever tap handles, ramp construction, and door widening. Major modifications include accessible bathroom conversions, ceiling hoist systems, lowered kitchen benches, and external access changes. All home modifications require an assessment from an Occupational Therapist and (for major modifications) relevant quotes. Home modifications are funded under Capital Supports and can only be made to a property the participant owns or has long-term secure tenure over.
See also: Capital Supports, Assistive Technology, Occupational Therapist
Specialist Disability Accommodation. Funding for specially designed housing for people with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs who require purpose-built or significantly modified accommodation. SDA is not available to all NDIS participants — it is targeted at a small proportion of participants with very complex needs. SDA covers the cost of the property (bricks and mortar), not the support services provided within it. Providers must be registered as SDA providers, and properties must meet NDIS SDA design standards. SDA is funded separately from SIL (in-home support).
See also: SIL, Capital Supports, Supported Independent Living
Supported Independent Living. Funding for paid support delivered in a participant's home to assist them with daily tasks — typically used by participants who live in shared supported accommodation or who require 24/7 support at home. SIL covers the cost of support workers but not the housing itself (that may be SDA, a shared house, or the participant's own property). SIL is funded under Core Supports and requires detailed documentation of the hours and type of support needed. SIL arrangements involve a quote process with the NDIA.
See also: SDA, Core Supports, Support Worker
Short-Term Accommodation (STA), commonly called respite, provides temporary support away from home for participants — giving carers a break while ensuring the participant is well-supported. STA can be in a dedicated respite house, a hotel, a supported holiday, or another community setting. It is funded under Core Supports — Assistance with Daily Life. STA funding in an NDIS plan is typically expressed as a number of nights per year (commonly 28 nights). Carer Gateway also funds separate carer-specific respite arrangements, independent of NDIS.
See also: Core Supports, Carer Gateway, For Families
Independent Living Options. A flexible NDIS housing support that enables participants to live in their own home or a community setting with tailored, individualised supports — rather than in a group or shared setting. ILOs are funded under Core Supports. Unlike SIL (which typically involves structured rosters of support), ILOs are designed around the participant's own living situation and may include a mix of paid workers and informal support from family or community. ILO arrangements require a detailed "good life plan" and are negotiated with the NDIA.
See also: SIL, SDA, Core Supports
A broad category of Capacity Building support covering therapy and clinical services aimed at improving functional capacity. Funded under CB — Improved Daily Living (Support Category 15), therapeutic supports include Occupational Therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology, psychology, behaviour support, dietetics, music therapy, and other allied health interventions. The goal of therapeutic supports is always to improve the participant's functional independence and quality of life, not just to maintain the status quo. Reports and assessments from therapists are also fundable under this category.
See also: Capacity Building, Occupational Therapist, Functional Capacity Assessment
NDIS funding to help participants get to appointments, activities, work, or education when they cannot use public transport due to disability. Transport funding is a fixed subcategory of Core Supports — it cannot be moved to other Core subcategories. It may be paid directly to participants (as a regular transport budget they use as needed) or used to pay providers for transport services. Some participants receive a set weekly transport budget to cover taxis, rideshare, or a support worker's travel time. Transport funding is separate from the travel costs of support workers, which come from the relevant service budget.
See also: Core Supports, Daily Activities
An organisation or individual that has been approved by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission to deliver NDIS supports. Registered providers must meet the NDIS Practice Standards, pass audits, employ workers who have passed NDIS Worker Screening checks, and comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct. Only registered providers can be used by participants whose plans are agency-managed. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can use both registered and unregistered providers. Safe Hands Disability is a registered NDIS provider in the Hunter Region.
See also: Unregistered Provider, NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, Agency-Managed
An individual or organisation that delivers disability supports but has not completed NDIS registration. Unregistered providers can be used by plan-managed and self-managed participants but not by agency-managed participants. Unregistered providers are not audited against NDIS Practice Standards, though they are still bound by the NDIS Code of Conduct. Examples include many allied health solo practitioners, tutors, and some smaller community organisations. Participants using unregistered providers carry more responsibility for checking quality and safety.
See also: Registered Provider, Plan-Managed, Self-Managed
A paid worker who directly delivers hands-on support to an NDIS participant — assisting with daily activities, community access, personal care, or other supports as outlined in the participant's plan and service agreement. Support workers are employed or contracted by registered providers (or directly by participants in self-managed plans). All support workers must hold or be working toward an NDIS Worker Screening clearance and comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct. In paid disability work, support workers are covered by the SCHADS Award (Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award).
See also: SCHADS Award, Worker Screening, NDIS Code of Conduct, Registered Provider
A registered provider who helps participants implement their NDIS plan — finding suitable providers, negotiating service agreements, setting up supports, resolving service issues, and preparing for plan reviews. Support Coordination is funded under Capacity Building — Support Coordination (Support Category 07). Not every NDIS plan includes Support Coordination funding; participants with more complex needs are more likely to have it included. A Support Coordinator works across all aspects of a participant's life and supports them to build their own capacity to eventually coordinate their own supports.
See also: Specialist Support Coordinator, Capacity Building, Plan Review
A higher-intensity level of Support Coordination for participants with complex needs — such as involvement with multiple government systems (child protection, justice, mental health), crisis situations, or very high support requirements. Specialist Support Coordinators are typically social workers or allied health professionals with specialist knowledge. SSC is funded under Capacity Building — Support Coordination at a higher hourly rate than standard Support Coordination. The distinction between Support Coordination and Specialist Support Coordination is based on the complexity of the participant's situation, not their disability type.
See also: Support Coordinator, Capacity Building
A health professional who works with people with disability to maximise their ability to participate in daily activities. In the NDIS context, OTs conduct Functional Capacity Assessments to support access requests and plan reviews, assess and recommend Assistive Technology and Home Modifications, provide therapeutic interventions to build skills and independence, and write supporting reports for the NDIA. OT is one of the most commonly funded allied health disciplines in NDIS plans. OT services are funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living (Support Category 15). Safe Hands Disability provides OT services in Newcastle and the Hunter Region.
See also: Therapeutic Supports, Functional Capacity Assessment, Assistive Technology
A written contract between an NDIS participant (or their representative) and a registered provider. A Service Agreement sets out the supports to be delivered, the hours and schedule, the cost per support item (aligned to the NDIS Price Guide), cancellation policies, and the rights and responsibilities of both parties. NDIS rules require registered providers to have a Service Agreement with each participant before delivering services. You should read your Service Agreement carefully — particularly the cancellation policy — before signing. You can negotiate the terms and have a Support Coordinator or advocate assist you.
See also: Registered Provider, Support Coordinator, NDIS Price Guide
The NDIA's published schedule of maximum prices that registered providers can charge for NDIS supports (formally called the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits). Providers cannot charge more than the Price Guide rate for any support item. Rates vary by support type, time of day, day of week (weekday/Saturday/Sunday/public holiday), and whether the support is delivered by a qualified or unqualified worker. Participants should be aware of Price Guide rates to understand their funding — particularly for high-intensity or overnight supports where rates differ significantly.
See also: Service Agreement, Registered Provider, Support Worker
A mandatory background check for NDIS workers in risk-assessed roles — particularly those who deliver direct supports or have unsupervised access to participants. In NSW, the NDIS Worker Screening Check is administered through Service NSW. It checks criminal history, apprehended violence orders, workplace misconduct findings, and child protection records. Workers must be cleared before working in a risk-assessed role. Participants in agency-managed and plan-managed plans can rely on their registered provider to employ screened workers. Self-managed participants hiring workers directly must verify workers have or are obtaining their clearance.
See also: Support Worker, Registered Provider, NDIS Code of Conduct
The Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010. The federal industrial award that sets minimum pay rates, penalties, allowances, and working conditions for workers in disability support, community services, and home care. The SCHADS Award applies to most support workers employed by disability providers including Safe Hands Disability. It sets rates for day shifts, evenings, weekends, public holidays, sleepovers, and broken shifts. Participants in self-managed plans who employ workers directly as employees (rather than contractors) must comply with SCHADS Award minimum entitlements.
See also: Support Worker, Registered Provider
The central test the NDIA applies when deciding what to fund in an NDIS plan. A support is "reasonable and necessary" if it: (1) is related to your disability; (2) helps you achieve your goals or increases your independence; (3) represents value for money; (4) is effective and beneficial (there is evidence it works); (5) takes into account what family members, carers, and the community would reasonably be expected to provide; and (6) does not duplicate another government program's responsibility. The NDIA will not fund supports that are the responsibility of the health system, education system, or mainstream services. Understanding this test helps you advocate effectively for your plan.
See also: NDIS Plan, Goal, Plan Review
A set of standards that all NDIS providers and workers must comply with when delivering NDIS supports. The Code requires workers to act with respect and dignity, provide supports safely, promptly raise and act on concerns about abuse or neglect, take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to violence, exploitation, neglect, and abuse, and maintain required qualifications. The Code applies to registered and unregistered providers, and to all NDIS-funded workers. Complaints about breaches of the Code can be made to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission on 1800 035 544.
See also: NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, Registered Provider, Complaints
Quality standards that registered NDIS providers must meet in their service delivery. Practice Standards cover: rights and responsibilities, governance and operational management, the provision of supports, and support provision environment. Providers are audited against these standards as part of registration and re-registration. Higher-risk providers (delivering complex or high-intensity supports) undergo more rigorous certification audits. Participants can ask providers for evidence of their most recent audit outcome. The Practice Standards complement the NDIS Code of Conduct.
See also: Registered Provider, NDIS Code of Conduct, NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
NDIS participants have the right to raise concerns about any aspect of their supports or the NDIA's decisions. Complaints can be made: (1) directly to the provider — all registered providers must have an accessible complaints process; (2) to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (1800 035 544) if you are unhappy with the provider's response or the concern involves safety; (3) to the NDIA (1800 800 110) about decisions relating to your plan; (4) to the Commonwealth Ombudsman if you are unhappy with the NDIA's handling of your matter. Raising a complaint should not affect your supports — providers are prohibited from retaliating against participants who complain.
See also: NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, Internal Review / AAT Appeal
A person who has been approved as eligible for the NDIS and has an active NDIS plan. The NDIS is built on the principle of participant choice and control — meaning participants (or their nominees/representatives) direct their own supports, choose their providers, and decide how their funding is spent within NDIS rules. The rights of participants are central to all NDIS interactions: the right to make informed decisions, the right to be treated with dignity, the right to raise concerns, and the right to seek a review of decisions that affect them.
See also: NDIS Plan, Nominee, Reasonable and Necessary
A person or organisation formally appointed by the NDIA to act on behalf of an NDIS participant who cannot manage their plan independently. A nominee may be appointed for legal reasons (e.g., a guardian or financial administrator appointed by a court or tribunal) or informally nominated by the participant to assist with administrative functions. A Plan Nominee manages plan decisions; a Correspondence Nominee receives NDIA communications on the participant's behalf. Having a nominee does not remove the participant's rights — their wishes must still be considered and respected in decision-making.
See also: Participant, Self-Managed, NDIS Plan
Services that exist for all Australians — regardless of disability — that are the responsibility of other government systems. The NDIS does not fund mainstream supports. Examples include: GP and hospital services (health system); school education for school-age children (education system); public housing (state housing departments); family violence services; legal aid; and aged care (for those over 65). The NDIA may decline to fund a support if it determines the support is the responsibility of a mainstream service. Understanding the boundary between NDIS and mainstream is important when advocating for plan inclusions.
See also: Reasonable and Necessary, ILC, LAC
Unpaid support provided to a participant by family members, friends, neighbours, carers, or the community. The NDIS will generally not fund supports that informal supports are already providing — particularly where it would be "reasonable and necessary" for a family member or carer to provide that support. Understanding what informal supports currently exist is important for plan preparation. Importantly, the NDIS should not be reducing plan funding simply because a family member is available — carers have their own capacity limits, and their sustainability should be considered. Carer supports (including respite) are funded to protect carer wellbeing.
See also: Reasonable and Necessary, Carer, Short-Term Accommodation
This glossary covers the most commonly used NDIS terms. If you have encountered a word, acronym, or concept that is not here, contact Safe Hands Disability — we will explain it to you directly and add it to this glossary. You can also call the NDIA on 1800 800 110 or consult the official NDIS website for additional resources. For Hunter Region participants, your LAC can also explain any NDIS terminology in plain language.