NDIS demystified: key terms explained

If you’re not used to it, the NDIS can be really hard to understand. The language used can often be confusing and intimidating and everyone you ask can have a different interpretation of what things mean.

The good people at Leap in! have helped us out by taking us right back to the beginning with a short and practical glossary of some key NDIS terms that often leave people stumped.

NDIA

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is a Commonwealth government organisation whose role is to implement the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

NDIS

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is the new way of providing funding support for Australians with disability, their families and carers.

PARTICIPANT

When a person is eligible for NDIS support, they are called a participant.

NDIS PLAN

This can also be known as a Support Plan or just a Plan and is a written agreement which is developed with a participant. It states their goals and needs, and the support and funding that the NDIS will provide.

PROVIDER

A provider is someone who has products or services (supports) to help participants achieve the goals in their plan

SUPPORTS

Supports are different to providers. They are a thing that can help a person undertake daily life activities and can enable them to reach their goals.

FORMAL SUPPORTS

Formal supports are paid supports. These may have a formal agreement or contract in place.

INFORMAL SUPPORTS

Informal support refers to unpaid support given by family members or friends.

MAINSTREAM SERVICES

These are the government systems that provide services to the general Australian public (outside the NDIS) like Health, Mental Health, Education, Justice, Housing and Employment services.

CORE SUPPORTS

Core supports in the NDIS are things that help you in your day-to-day life. The Core supports budget is the most flexible part of your budget, with funding often able to be used across any of the four categories issued to you which are: Consumables, Assistance with Social and Community participation, Transport and Assistance with Daily Life.

CONSUMABLES

Everyday items that you rely on because of your disability fall under the consumables category. These products may give you more confidence or help you to become more independent.

CAPACITY BUILDING

Improving someone’s ability to carry out an activity or task, eg – therapy.

NOMINEE

A Nominee is a person (often a parent, family member or friend) who an NDIS participant has nominated to assist with the unpaid management and organisation of supports.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Assistive technology is any device or system that allows you to do something that you wouldn’t be able to do without it (or can be used to increase the ease or safety of things that you do).

SUPPORT COORDINATOR

A person who works to assist a participant understand their plan, find and engage with formal supports. This is a funded support available to participants who have the Support Coordinator category in their plan.

SIGNIFICANT, PERMANENT DISABILITY

A disability that a person will have for the rest of their life and that affects their ability to take part in everyday activities.

REASONABLE AND NECESSARY

In order to be considered reasonable and necessary, a support must:

• Be related to your disability
• represent value for money
• be likely to be effective and beneficial
• take into account any informal supports given to you by your family, friends, support crew (including support workers, support networks and the community
• be funded by the NDIS

Leap in! is a registered charity and a NDIS-registered plan manager. Call them on 1300 05 78 78 to have your questions answered, to book your free NDIS pre-planning session or sign up to Leap in! plan management today. leapin.com.au