Keep this page nearby when you're reading a plan or preparing for a meeting. You don't need to learn the whole vocabulary before asking for support.
If someone uses a term that isn't clear, ask them to explain what it means for your situation. These short explanations are a starting point, not a substitute for the conditions in your plan.
People and organisations
NDIS: the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which funds eligible disability supports for participants.
NDIA: the National Disability Insurance Agency, which administers the scheme and makes access and funding decisions.
Participant: a person who has been accepted into the NDIS.
My NDIS contact: your contact for questions about the scheme and your plan. Your plan and NDIA correspondence explain how to reach them.
Provider: a person or organisation delivering a support. A registered provider is registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission for specified supports.
Support coordinator: someone who works with you on understanding your plan and arranging supports. Read what the role involves.
Plan manager: a provider handling claims and payments for plan-managed funding. They have a different role from your coordinator.
Funding language
Core, Capacity Building, Capital and Recurring: the four support-budget types described in current NDIS guidance. Your plan may not fund every type.
Stated support: funding that must be used as described in your plan.
Flexible support: funding with some flexibility within the rules and boundaries of your plan. It isn't unrestricted money.
Funding period: the period for which a portion of funding is made available. Check dates as well as the total budget.
Self-managed: you manage claims, payments and records for that funding. Plan-managed: a plan manager does that payment work. NDIA-managed: eligible providers claim from the NDIA.
Our budget guide explains these terms together.
Planning and reviews
Goal: something you want to work towards in your life. A goal doesn't automatically make every related expense fundable.
Check-in: a conversation about your situation and how your plan is working.
Plan variation or reassessment: different ways a plan may be changed. Check which process applies before gathering evidence.
Internal review: the NDIA reviews an eligible decision you disagree with. ART: the Administrative Review Tribunal, which can review certain decisions after internal review. See the decision-review guide for the distinctions and deadlines.
Home and living
SDA: Specialist Disability Accommodation, concerning eligible specialist housing.
SIL: Supported Independent Living, concerning personal support at home.
ILO: individualised living options, a distinct type of home and living support.
These aren't interchangeable. Our housing guide helps you work out which questions to ask.
If the two roles are getting mixed up, our plan management and support coordination comparison sets out who to contact for each kind of question.
Still unclear?
Bring the sentence you want explained to your my NDIS contact or coordinator. You can also talk with NIR about working through your plan together.
