A Simple Guide to NDIS Terminology (For Families New to the System)
- carli215
- Jul 12, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 16
Starting your journey with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) can feel like learning a whole new language. If you are a parent, carer, or new participant, it is completely normal to feel overwhelmed by acronyms, technical terms, and government jargon.
The good news is that you do not need to understand everything straight away.
This guide breaks down common NDIS terminology in clear, everyday language so you can feel more confident navigating the system, talking with providers, and making informed decisions for yourself or your loved one.
Common NDIS Terms Explained Simply
Below are some of the most frequently used NDIS terms you are likely to hear.
NDIS
NDIS stands for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. It is a government program that provides funding and supports to Australians with a permanent and significant disability. The aim of the NDIS is to increase independence, choice, and participation in everyday life.
NDIA
The National Disability Insurance Agency is the government body responsible for running the NDIS. The NDIA decides who is eligible, approves plans, and oversees how the scheme operates.
Participant
A participant is a person who has been approved to receive supports through the NDIS. Participants can be children or adults and each participant has their own individual NDIS plan.
Support Coordinator
A Support Coordinator helps participants understand their NDIS plan and connect with appropriate services. They can assist with finding providers, coordinating supports, problem-solving when things are not working, and building confidence to manage supports over time.
Support Coordination is not included in every NDIS plan. It must be funded separately under Capacity Building.
Local Area Coordinator (LAC)
Local Area Coordinators often support people when they first enter the NDIS. They can help with applications, goal setting, and connecting to community supports. LACs generally provide less hands-on support than a Support Coordinator.
Plan Manager
A Plan Manager helps manage the financial side of your NDIS plan. They pay provider invoices, track your spending, and provide regular budget statements. Plan management is funded by the NDIS and does not come out of your support budgets.
Being plan-managed allows you to use both registered and unregistered providers.
Stakeholder
A stakeholder is anyone involved in a participant’s support journey. This may include family members, carers, support workers, therapists, support coordinators, plan managers, teachers, or community members. All stakeholders play a role in supporting the participant’s goals.
Understanding NDIS Funding Categories
NDIS plans are divided into different funding categories, each with specific purposes.
Core Supports
Core Supports are the most flexible part of an NDIS plan. They may include:
Assistance with daily living such as personal care or routines
Community access and social participation
Transport funding
Consumables such as continence aids or low-cost assistive technology
Capacity Building
Capacity Building funding is designed to help participants build skills and independence. This may include:
Therapy supports such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, or psychology
Support Coordination
Employment supports
Life skills programs and training
Capital Supports
Capital Supports cover larger purchases such as:
Assistive technology like wheelchairs or communication devices
Home modifications such as rails or accessibility changes
This funding must be used exactly as stated in the plan.
Other Important NDIS Terms to Know
Goals
Every NDIS plan is built around goals. These are the outcomes a participant wants to work toward, such as building friendships, improving communication, increasing independence, or developing daily living skills.
Goals do not need to be complicated. They just need to be meaningful. Supports funded in the plan should link back to one or more goals.
Service Agreement
A service agreement is a written agreement between a participant and a provider. It usually outlines:
What supports will be provided
Costs and hourly rates
Start and end dates
Cancellation and notice periods
How supports will be delivered
Service agreements are not legally required but are considered best practice and help avoid misunderstandings.
Reasonable and Necessary
This is a key NDIS term used to decide whether a support can be funded. To be considered reasonable and necessary, a support must:
Be related to the participant’s disability
Be effective and evidence-based
Represent value for money
Not be more appropriately funded by another system such as health or education
The support must also help the participant work toward their goals or improve participation and independence.
Line Item
Every support in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits has a line item number. Providers use these codes when claiming from your plan. Participants do not need to memorise line items, but understanding them can help with budgeting and transparency.
Plan Review
Most NDIS plans are reviewed every 12 months. A plan review allows you to:
Reflect on what is working and what is not
Update goals
Request changes to funding or supports
If your circumstances change significantly, you can request a Change of Circumstance review earlier.
Feeling Overwhelmed Is Normal
Even families who have been in the NDIS for years can still find the terminology confusing. You should never feel embarrassed to ask for clarification. Understanding your plan and supports matters.
Working with providers who take the time to explain things clearly can make a huge difference to your experience.
Need Help Navigating NDIS Terminology?
If you are looking for trusted Support Coordinators or Plan Managers who can help you understand your plan and funding, you can explore our NDIS Provider Directory. It includes carefully selected providers across the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
📍 Based on the Gold Coast
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