NDIS glossary for providers.

The NDIS has its own language. Here are the terms providers and coordinators run into most, in plain English.

NDIS

The National Disability Insurance Scheme — the Australian scheme that funds supports for eligible people with disability.

NDIA

The National Disability Insurance Agency — the body that runs the NDIS.

Participant

A person with an approved NDIS plan who receives funded supports.

PACE

The NDIA’s newer computer system, gradually replacing the older provider portal, including the “my providers” model and updated claim handling.

PRODA

Provider Digital Access — the secure login used to access NDIS provider systems and submit claims.

Plan-managed

A plan where a plan manager pays providers’ invoices on the participant’s behalf.

NDIA-managed

A plan where providers claim payment directly from the NDIA (often via the portal/PACE).

Self-managed

A plan where the participant (or their nominee) manages their own funding and pays providers directly.

Support coordination

A funded support that helps participants understand and use their plan and connect with providers. Billed under support coordination (07_) item codes.

Direct support

Hands-on supports delivered to participants, such as personal care or community access.

Support item

A specific line in the NDIS support catalogue, with its own code and price limit, that you claim against.

Service agreement

An agreement between a provider and participant setting out the supports to be delivered and the terms.

Progress note

A record of what happened on a shift — the service record that backs a claim. Also called a case note or shift note.

Claim

A request for payment for a support delivered, submitted against a participant’s plan.

Bulk upload

Submitting many claims at once via a single file, rather than entering them one by one.

SCHADS Award

The Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award — the main award covering pay and conditions for many disability support workers.

NDIS plan

A participant’s approved plan of funded supports, usually running 12 months, split into Core, Capacity Building and Capital budgets.

Plan manager

A provider that handles the money side of a plan-managed participant’s plan — paying provider invoices and tracking the budget.

Plan review

The scheduled reassessment of a participant’s plan, where funding for the next period is decided. Also called a plan reassessment.

Nominee

A person formally appointed to make decisions or act on a participant’s behalf in their dealings with the NDIA.

LAC

Local Area Coordinator — a partner organisation that helps participants understand the NDIS, build their plan and connect with supports.

Core Supports

The most flexible NDIS budget — everyday supports like assistance with daily life, social and community participation, consumables and some transport.

Capacity Building

An NDIS budget for supports that build a participant’s skills and independence, including support coordination. Allocated to specific outcome areas.

Capital Supports

An NDIS budget for higher-cost items like assistive technology, equipment and home modifications, usually tied to specific quotes.

Reasonable and necessary

The test the NDIA applies to decide whether a support is funded — it must relate to the disability, represent value for money and help the participant pursue their goals.

Price guide

The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits — the rulebook of maximum prices for each support, updated at least once a year.

Support category

A grouping of related support items in a participant’s plan (for example daily activities, or social and community participation) that a budget is allocated to.

Payment request

The formal request a provider lodges to be paid for an NDIA-managed claim, usually through the portal or a bulk upload.

Short-notice cancellation

When a participant cancels with less than the required notice (commonly seven clear days for many supports). The provider can generally claim the agreed price if the rules and service agreement allow.

Service booking

A reservation of part of a participant’s funding for a provider, used in the older portal to set money aside for agreed supports.

Provider

A business or person that delivers funded supports to NDIS participants.

Registered provider

A provider registered with, and audited against the NDIS Practice Standards by, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

Support worker

A worker who delivers hands-on supports to participants, such as personal care, community access and daily living assistance.

Specialist support coordination

A higher, more intensive level of support coordination for participants in complex situations, delivered by a suitably qualified practitioner.

Support coordinator

The person who delivers support coordination — helping a participant put their plan into action and connect with providers.

Worker screening clearance

The NDIS Worker Screening Check clearance a worker must hold to deliver certain supports — a national check of whether they pose a risk to people with disability.

NDIS Code of Conduct

The standards every NDIS provider and worker must follow when delivering supports.

Restrictive practice

Any practice that restricts the rights or freedom of movement of a participant. It is regulated, and unauthorised use is a reportable incident.

Reportable incident

A serious incident — such as death, serious injury, abuse, neglect or an unauthorised restrictive practice — that a registered provider must report to the NDIS Commission within set timeframes.

NDIS Commission

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission — the national body that regulates registered providers, worker screening, complaints and reportable incidents.

SIL

Supported Independent Living — funded help with daily tasks for participants who live in shared or individual arrangements, often including overnight support.

SDA

Specialist Disability Accommodation — funding for housing designed for participants with extreme functional impairment or very high support needs.

Short-term accommodation

Funding for support and accommodation for a short stay away from a participant’s usual home, including respite. Often called STA.

Provider travel

The time a worker spends travelling to deliver a support, plus vehicle running costs — claimable under the price-guide rules and the service agreement.

Roster of care

A document used in Supported Independent Living that sets out the planned supports and staffing for a participant over a typical period.