NDIS resources

NDIS glossary

Plain-English definitions of the terms, codes, and acronyms you meet across the NDIS.

Reviewed 9 November 2026. Definitions are general guidance. Follow the linked official source and your current plan or decision notice.

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A

Access requestAccess and participation

The formal application to become an NDIS participant.

An access request is an application to join the NDIS, supported by evidence of the relevant age, residency and disability or early intervention requirements. If refused, check the decision notice for internal review rights and deadlines. Following the required internal review, eligible decisions can be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal, which replaced the AAT on 14 October 2024.

Agency-managed fundingPlans and funding

Funds held by the NDIA and paid directly to registered providers.

For NDIA-managed funding, registered providers submit eligible payment requests and the NDIA pays them directly. Participants choose providers registered for the required supports. Check the plan’s management arrangements and portal requirements; a service booking is not required for every newer plan.

Assistive technologyPlans and funding

Equipment or devices that help participants manage their disability.

Assistive technology (AT) is any equipment, device, or system that helps a person with disability to participate more fully in daily life. It ranges from low-cost items (such as bathroom grab rails) to high-cost items (such as power wheelchairs or communication devices). Higher-cost or complex AT is funded under capital supports and typically requires a quote and sometimes an assessment or trial.

B

Behaviour support planCompliance

A written plan to address challenging behaviour with least restrictive strategies.

A behaviour support plan is a document developed by a qualified behaviour support practitioner that sets out strategies to address a participant's behaviours of concern in the least restrictive way possible. For regulated restrictive practices, plan lodgement and any required state or territory authorisation for the practices are separate requirements. The Commission does not authorise the practices by receiving a plan. Providers delivering supports under a behaviour support plan must be familiar with its contents and implement it consistently.

C

Cancellation (short notice)Pricing and claiming

A charge a provider may claim when a participant cancels with little warning.

When a participant cancels a scheduled support at short notice, the NDIS allows providers to claim a cancellation fee to cover costs that could not be recovered (such as staff already rostered). The notice period, eligible support item, other claiming conditions and permitted amount are set out in the current Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits document. The service agreement should also reflect the agreed cancellation terms.

Capacity Building supportsPlans and funding

Supports that build skills and independence over time.

Capacity Building supports are designed to help participants build skills, relationships, and independence so they can achieve their long-term goals. Unlike core supports, this budget is divided into sub-categories (such as support coordination, improved living arrangements, and improved daily living) and funding generally cannot be moved between them. The intent is to invest in outcomes that reduce reliance on paid supports over time.

Capital supportsPlans and funding

Funding for higher-cost items and home or vehicle modifications.

Capital supports cover one-off or infrequent purchases that are higher in value, such as assistive technology, home modifications, and specialist disability accommodation. Funding in this budget is not flexible; it can only be used for the specific item or purpose approved in the plan. Quotes are often required before the NDIA will approve a capital support.

Claim typePricing and claiming

A code that tells the NDIS system the nature of a payment request.

When submitting a payment request, providers must select a claim type to indicate the nature of the service being claimed. Common claim types include standard service delivery, provider travel, non-face-to-face time, and short notice cancellations. Using the wrong claim type can result in a rejected payment request or an audit query, so providers must follow the current PAPL guidance when selecting a claim type.

ComplaintsCompliance

Concerns about an NDIS provider or the NDIS that can be formally reported.

Concerns about provider quality, safety or conduct can be raised with the NDIS Commission. Complaints about NDIA service can go to the NDIA. Disagreeing with an NDIA funding or access decision uses a separate review process: seek internal review where required, then eligible decisions may be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal. A complaint does not replace a review application or its deadline.

ConsumablesPlans and funding

Everyday, low-cost disability-related products used regularly.

Consumables are everyday items that a participant uses because of their disability and that need to be regularly replaced, such as continence aids, wound care supplies, or gloves for a manual wheelchair. They are funded within the core supports budget and generally do not require prior approval for low-cost items. More specialised consumables may still need to pass the reasonable and necessary test.

Core supportsPlans and funding

The most flexible budget, for everyday disability-related assistance.

Core supports help a participant with everyday activities and their disability-related needs. It is usually the most flexible part of a plan, so funding can often move between support categories within it. Common uses include assistance with daily life, social and community participation, consumables, and transport.

E

Early childhood partnerBodies and roles

An NDIA partner who supports young children with developmental concerns.

Early childhood partners help children younger than nine with developmental concerns or disability and their families connect with appropriate supports. The access criteria for developmental delay and disability differ, so the age range of the early childhood approach does not itself establish eligibility for a funded plan.

Early interventionAccess and participation

NDIS supports for people where early action can reduce future need.

Early intervention is one of the two main pathways into the NDIS (the other being the disability requirements pathway). Under the early intervention pathway, a person may access the NDIS if early support is likely to reduce their future need for supports or help a child achieve better developmental outcomes. It is particularly relevant for young children with developmental delays. Early intervention supports are funded with the goal of achieving measurable outcomes over time.

F

Flexible fundingPlans and funding

Plan funds that can be used across more than one support type.

Flexible funding refers to budgets (most commonly within core supports) where a participant can choose how to spend across several support categories without needing plan approval for each decision. This gives participants more choice and control over how their supports are delivered. Not all budgets are flexible; capital supports and some stated items are fixed to their approved use.

Functional capacityAccess and participation

A measure of how disability affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities.

Functional capacity describes the extent to which a person's disability or developmental delay affects their ability to undertake daily activities, participate in the community, and achieve their goals. It is a key consideration in NDIS access decisions and plan funding, because the NDIS funds supports based on functional need rather than diagnosis alone. Assessments of functional capacity may be conducted by occupational therapists, speech pathologists, or other allied health professionals.

G

GoalsPlans and funding

What a participant wants to achieve, recorded in their NDIS plan.

Goals are the outcomes a participant hopes to achieve with the support of the NDIS. They are documented in the participant's plan and guide which supports are considered reasonable and necessary. Goals can be short-term or long-term and are reviewed at each plan review to check on progress.

H

Home modificationsPlans and funding

Structural changes to a home that help a participant live more independently.

Home modifications are physical changes to a participant's home that are required because of their disability, such as installing ramps, widening doorways, or fitting a hospital-grade bathroom. They are funded as a capital support and are distinct from minor assistive technology. Major modifications typically require a quote and an occupational therapist assessment before approval.

I

Informal supportsPlans and funding

Unpaid help from family, friends, or community members.

Informal supports are the assistance provided to a participant by family members, friends, carers, or community networks without payment. The NDIA considers what informal supports are available when determining what funded supports are reasonable and necessary. Informal supports are not replaced by NDIS funding; rather, NDIS funding complements them.

L

Local Area Coordinator (LAC)Bodies and roles

A community-based partner who helps participants plan and connect to supports.

A Local Area Coordinator is an NDIA partner (usually from a community organisation) who works with participants and their families to develop NDIS plans, connect them to mainstream and community supports, and review plans over time. LACs are the primary point of contact for most NDIS participants. They are not NDIA employees but are funded by the NDIA to deliver these services.

M

Mainstream supportsPlans and funding

Services available to all Australians that the NDIS does not replace.

Mainstream supports are services funded by government systems other than the NDIS, such as health, education, housing, or transport. The NDIS is not intended to fund supports that are the responsibility of these other systems. When assessing what is reasonable and necessary, the NDIA considers whether a mainstream service should or could provide the support instead.

Medium Term Accommodation (MTA)Plans and funding

Temporary housing for participants waiting for a longer-term home.

Medium Term Accommodation is a time-limited support that funds accommodation costs for participants who need a temporary place to stay while waiting for their long-term housing solution (such as SDA) to become available. It bridges a gap rather than being a permanent arrangement. MTA covers the accommodation component only; support costs are funded separately.

myplace portalAccess and participation

The online portal for participants and providers to manage NDIS transactions.

myplace is the earlier NDIS portal used for relevant participant and provider transactions. The newer my NDIS participant and provider portals serve plans in the newer system. Portal access and available functions depend on the role and plan. Follow the NDIA’s current sign-in instructions rather than assuming one login process or portal applies to everyone.

N

National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)Bodies and roles

The government agency that manages the NDIS and participants' plans.

The National Disability Insurance Agency administers the NDIS, including access decisions, participant plans and payments. It publishes pricing material and operational guidance. Current maximum prices are set through the Minister’s pricing determination. The separate NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission regulates provider quality and safety.

NDIA plannerBodies and roles

An NDIA staff member who approves and creates a participant's plan.

An NDIA planner is a staff member employed directly by the NDIA who is responsible for conducting planning conversations with participants, assessing their support needs, and approving NDIS plans. Planners make funding decisions based on the reasonable and necessary criteria. In practice, many participants have their planning meetings facilitated by a LAC, with the planner formally approving the plan.

NDIS auditCompliance

An assessment of a registered provider's compliance with the Practice Standards.

An NDIS audit is a formal assessment conducted by an approved quality auditor to determine whether a registered provider meets the NDIS Practice Standards. The type and scope of audit (certification or verification) depends on the registration groups a provider holds and the risk level of the supports they deliver. Providers must pass an initial audit to become registered and undergo re-audits at regular intervals to maintain registration.

NDIS Code of ConductCompliance

Behavioural obligations applying to all NDIS providers and workers.

The NDIS Code of Conduct applies to registered and unregistered providers and their workers. It covers rights, privacy, safe and competent service, honesty, action on safety concerns, prevention of abuse and sexual misconduct, and fair pricing. The current guidance includes the requirement against unjustified higher goods prices for NDIS participants.

NDIS planPlans and funding

The formal document that records a participant's goals and funded supports.

An NDIS plan is a personalised document created by the NDIA for each participant. It records the participant's goals, the supports that have been approved as reasonable and necessary, and the budget allocated to each support category. Plans are reviewed regularly and can be changed if a participant's circumstances or needs change.

NDIS Practice StandardsCompliance

The quality benchmarks all registered NDIS providers must meet.

The NDIS Practice Standards set quality and safety requirements for registered providers. The core module applies to higher-risk supports, supplementary modules apply to particular services and a verification module covers lower-risk supports. The applicable audit scope depends on the supports and registration groups.

NDIS Quality and Safeguards CommissionBodies and roles

The independent body that registers providers and handles complaints.

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (the Commission) is an independent government body responsible for registering and regulating NDIS providers, setting and enforcing the Practice Standards and Code of Conduct, handling complaints and reportable incidents, and overseeing behaviour support and restrictive practices. It operates separately from the NDIA and has its own powers to investigate and take action against providers.

NDIS Worker Screening CheckCompliance

A background check that clears workers to deliver NDIS supports.

The NDIS Worker Screening Check assesses whether a person poses an unacceptable risk to people with disability. State and territory authorities conduct the check. Registered providers must verify clearance for risk-assessed roles, including key personnel, subject to specific lawful exceptions. Clearances expire after five years; a provider cannot issue its own interim clearance.

NomineeBodies and roles

A person appointed to act on a participant's behalf with the NDIA.

A nominee is a person or organisation appointed by the NDIA to act on behalf of a participant when that participant is unable to manage their NDIS interactions independently. There are two types: a plan nominee (who manages the plan and funding) and a correspondence nominee (who handles communications). Nominees have legal responsibilities and must act in the participant's best interests.

Non-face-to-face supportsPricing and claiming

Provider work done for a participant that does not involve direct contact.

Non-face-to-face supports are activities a provider undertakes for a participant without directly engaging with them. Examples include participant-specific reports or preparation that forms part of the agreed support. Remote direct support is not non-face-to-face merely because it is delivered from another location; general administration and overheads are not separately billable. These supports are claimable under certain support items but must be explicitly permitted in the relevant support item description and the participant's service agreement.

P

PACEAccess and participation

The NDIA's current case management and planning system.

PACE is the name commonly used for the newer NDIS system supporting participant plans and provider interactions. It brought changes to plan structures, funding periods and provider relationships. Check which participant and provider portal applies to the plan; service bookings from the earlier system are not used for newer plans.

ParticipantBodies and roles

A person who has been accepted into the NDIS and has an active plan.

A participant is an individual who meets the NDIS access criteria and has been approved to receive funded supports through the scheme. Participants have an NDIS plan that documents their goals and approved funding. The term is used to distinguish people actively receiving NDIS supports from those who may be applying (applicants) or who use general community supports.

Payment requestPricing and claiming

A claim submitted by a provider or plan manager to access NDIS funds.

A payment request asks the NDIA to pay for eligible delivered supports using the correct participant, service date, support item, unit, quantity and price. Providers can use the applicable portal or bulk-upload process. The required plan and provider records depend on the participant’s system; newer plans do not require service bookings.

Plan budgetPlans and funding

The total funding allocated across all support categories in a plan.

The plan budget is the funding approved for the plan. Current plans may include Core, Capacity Building, Capital and Recurring Supports budgets. Funding periods can release that money in stages, so the total plan amount is not necessarily available to spend immediately. Check the current plan, category conditions and available funding period.

Plan managementPlans and funding

A funded intermediary who pays providers and tracks budgets on your behalf.

Plan management is an NDIS-funded support where a registered plan manager handles financial administration on behalf of a participant. The plan manager pays provider invoices, tracks spending, and provides financial reporting. Using a plan manager gives participants access to both registered and unregistered providers without the administrative burden of self-management.

Plan nomineeBodies and roles

A nominee specifically appointed to manage a participant's plan funds.

A plan nominee is a type of NDIS nominee who is specifically authorised to manage a participant's plan funding and make decisions about how supports are used. This role is distinct from a correspondence nominee, who only handles communications. Plan nominees are responsible for ensuring supports remain reasonable and necessary and that the participant's best interests are upheld.

Plan reviewPlans and funding

A scheduled or requested reassessment of a participant's NDIS plan.

Plan review is a broad older term. A plan reassessment considers a replacement plan; a plan variation changes particular parts of an existing plan. An internal review challenges a reviewable NDIA decision and has separate rights and deadlines. Check the decision notice and current NDIA guidance for the correct pathway.

Price guide (former name)Pricing and claiming

The earlier name for what is now called the PAPL.

Price guide is an older name still used informally for NDIS pricing documents. For a current claim, check the pricing schedule, catalogue and published claiming guidance that apply to the service date. The 2026-27 Ministerial pricing schedule took effect on 24 September 2026.

Price limitPricing and claiming

The maximum amount a provider can charge for a support item.

A price limit is a maximum payable amount for a support. The current Ministerial pricing determination applies to NDIA-managed and plan-managed funding and includes any applicable GST. The applicable item, region, service date and time band matter. A maximum is not a required price or an entitlement to claim.

Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (PAPL)Pricing and claiming

The official NDIS document that sets claiming rules and price caps.

PAPL is the familiar abbreviation for the NDIA’s Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits guidance. The current 2026-27 maximum amounts are set in the pricing schedule effective 24 September 2026. At review on 9 November, the NDIA still linked 2025-26 claiming guidance while preparing an update. Check the current schedule and the published conditions for the service date.

Provider travelPricing and claiming

Claimable travel costs when a provider goes to a participant's location.

Provider travel refers to the time and/or distance costs a provider incurs when travelling to deliver a support to a participant. The NDIS allows certain provider travel costs to be claimed under specific conditions and within the rules set out in the Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits document. Providers must have agreed travel arrangements documented in the service agreement before claiming travel.

Q

Quote requiredPricing and claiming

A support item that needs a formal quote before the NDIA will approve funding.

Some support items, particularly in the capital supports budget, are marked as quote required in the Support Catalogue. This means a provider or supplier must submit a detailed quote to the NDIA before funding for that item can be approved and included in a plan. Quotes required items commonly include complex assistive technology, major home modifications, and specialist disability accommodation.

R

Reasonable and necessaryPlans and funding

The test NDIS supports must pass to be funded in a plan.

For a support to be funded through the NDIS, the NDIA must be satisfied it is reasonable and necessary. This means the support must be related to a participant's disability, not something that is the responsibility of another service system (such as health or education), and represent value for money relative to its expected benefit. The support must also meet the current definition of an NDIS support and the conditions in the participant’s plan.

Registered providerBodies and roles

An organisation or individual that has registered with the NDIS Commission.

A registered provider is an organisation or sole trader that has been approved by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission to deliver specific types of NDIS supports. Registration requires passing an audit against the NDIS Practice Standards and complying with ongoing obligations including the Code of Conduct, worker screening, and incident reporting. Only registered providers can deliver supports to agency-managed participants.

Registration groupPricing and claiming

A cluster of related supports that defines a provider's registration scope.

A registration group is a category used by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission to define the types of supports a registered provider is approved to deliver. Providers must be registered in the relevant group to deliver those supports under agency-managed funding. Each registration group may carry different audit requirements depending on the risk level of the supports involved.

Reportable incidentCompliance

A serious event involving an NDIS participant that must be reported to the Commission.

A reportable incident is an event or allegation connected with NDIS delivery that a registered provider must notify to the Commission. Most categories require notification within 24 hours of awareness. Unauthorised restrictive practice without harm has a five-business-day window; where it causes harm, notification is due within 24 hours. Recording an internal incident does not notify the Commission.

Restrictive practiceCompliance

Any practice that restricts a participant's rights or freedom of movement.

A restrictive practice restricts a person’s rights or freedom of movement. Regulated restrictive practices have specific registration, behaviour support, authorisation and reporting requirements. Where state or territory authorisation is required, the implementing provider must obtain it and lodge evidence with the Commission. Using a practice without the required plan, authorisation or plan conditions can be a reportable incident; a saved plan alone does not authorise its use.

S

Self-managementPlans and funding

When a participant manages their own plan funds and pays providers directly.

Self-management means the participant (or their nominee) takes responsibility for managing their NDIS funding, hiring workers, and paying invoices. Self-managed participants have the most flexibility and can engage unregistered workers, negotiate prices, and choose how supports are delivered. In return, they are responsible for record-keeping, budget tracking, and ensuring supports remain reasonable and necessary.

Service agreementPlans and funding

An agreement about the supports a provider will deliver.

A service agreement sets out the supports a provider will deliver to a participant, the agreed price, how and when services will be delivered, and the rights and responsibilities of each party. Having a service agreement is strongly recommended and is required for some funded arrangements. It should be reviewed whenever circumstances change or the plan is renewed.

Service bookingPlans and funding

A record in the NDIS portal that reserves funds for a specific provider.

A service booking reserves funding for a provider in the earlier myplace system. It is used for relevant older NDIA-managed plans. Plans in the newer NDIS system do not use service bookings; check the required provider relationship and claiming records instead. A service booking is separate from a participant’s service agreement.

Short term respite (formerly STA)Plans and funding

Respite or short stays away from home, including care and accommodation.

Short term respite is the current name for the support previously called Short Term Accommodation (STA). It gives participants and their usual informal supports time apart where the NDIS funding conditions are met. It is not general holiday funding. Check the participant’s plan and current guidance before agreeing or claiming an arrangement.

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)Plans and funding

Specially built or modified housing funded for participants with high needs.

Specialist Disability Accommodation is a capital support that funds the cost of purpose-built or significantly modified housing for participants who require a very high level of physical support or have an extreme functional impairment. SDA funding contributes to the housing cost rather than the in-home supports (which may be funded separately through SIL or other supports). Eligibility for SDA requires assessment and approval by the NDIA.

Stated supportsPlans and funding

Funds locked to a specific support or provider in the plan.

A stated support is one where the NDIA has specified the exact purpose or provider the funding must be used for. Unlike flexible core funding, stated supports cannot be redirected to other uses. The NDIA typically states a support when it has approved something specific, such as a named assistive technology item or a particular accommodation arrangement.

Support CataloguePricing and claiming

The full list of NDIS support items, codes, price limits, and units.

The Support Catalogue is a spreadsheet published by the NDIA alongside the Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits document. It lists support items with their item number, name, category, registration group, unit and applicable pricing or quote requirements. A listed item is not by itself approval to claim it for a participant. Providers and plan managers use the Support Catalogue to identify the correct item and price when creating payment requests or service bookings.

Support categoryPricing and claiming

A broad grouping of supports (such as daily activities or transport) in a plan.

Support categories organise the supports and conditions in a participant’s plan. Examples include Assistance with Daily Life and Improved Daily Living. Current plans can have Core, Capacity Building, Capital and Recurring Supports budgets. Whether money can move between categories depends on the plan’s flexible or stated conditions.

Support coordinationPlans and funding

Help connecting participants to providers and making the most of their plan.

Support coordination is a funded capacity building support that helps participants understand and implement their NDIS plan. A support coordinator assists with finding and connecting to providers, resolving service issues, and building a participant's own ability to manage their supports. It is time-limited in most plans and is distinct from plan management.

Support itemPricing and claiming

A specific fundable service or product listed in the Support Catalogue.

A support item is a specific type of service or product that the NDIA has classified as fundable under the NDIS. Each support item sits within a support category and registration group and has a unit of measure. Its pricing may use a maximum amount, an approved quote or other applicable conditions. Providers and plan managers use support items to identify what is being claimed for when submitting payment requests.

Support item numberPricing and claiming

The unique code that identifies a support item in the NDIS system.

Each support item in the NDIS Support Catalogue has a unique identifier called a support item number. This code is used in payment requests and service bookings so that the NDIS system can match claims to the correct budget and price limit. Support item numbers change over time as the catalogue is updated, so providers should always refer to the current catalogue for the correct code.

Support workerBodies and roles

A person employed to deliver direct care or assistance to a participant.

A support worker is an individual who provides direct, hands-on assistance to a participant as part of their NDIS supports. Support workers may be employed by a registered provider or engaged directly by a self-managing participant. All support workers delivering NDIS supports must comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct and, depending on the role, may need to hold a valid NDIS Worker Screening Check.

Supported Independent Living (SIL)Plans and funding

Funded in-home support for participants living in shared or individual settings.

Supported Independent Living is an NDIS-funded support that covers the cost of assistance with daily living tasks for participants who need a high level of support at home. It commonly operates in shared living environments, though it can also apply to individual settings. SIL is assessed separately from accommodation (SDA) and requires a detailed support needs assessment.

U

Unit of measurePricing and claiming

The billing unit (hour, day, each, etc.) associated with a support item.

Each support item in the NDIS Support Catalogue has a designated unit of measure that determines how claims are calculated. Common units include hours (for attendant care), days (for short-term accommodation), and each (for single items or tasks). Providers must use the correct unit of measure when submitting payment requests to ensure claims are processed accurately.

Unregistered providerBodies and roles

A provider that has not registered with the NDIS Commission.

An unregistered provider has not registered with the NDIS Commission. Self-managed and plan-managed participants may use one where the service does not require registration. Some supports, including SIL and specialist behaviour support, have mandatory registration requirements regardless of funding management. The Code of Conduct still applies, and worker screening obligations depend on the applicable role and jurisdiction.